Although born in Canada, she spent a significant portion of her gymnastics career training in the United States.

Her mother, dissatisfied with her progress at a Vancouver gymnastics club, sent her to train under coach Dick Mulvihill in Oregon.

Kelsall quickly advanced, eventually ranking in the top five by the Canadian Gymnastics Federation, despite previously not even being considered for the Olympic team.

The Canadian Gymnastics Federation applied for, and received, a special exception for Kelsall to compete, because she would turn fourteen by the end of the year.

[1] At the Olympics, Kelsall placed a modest 27th in the all-around, but was a key member of the ninth-place Canadian team.