Danielle Sidell

Danielle Sidell (born August 31, 1988) is an American professional CrossFit athlete. She is considered one of the physically strongest female CrossFitters, with a deadlift of 405 lbs and a backsquat of 315 lbs. Sidell is an accomplished weightlifter.

Early life
Sidell was born in Norwalk, a small town in northern Ohio. She was brought up surrounded by sports, and competed with all the teams she could in her schools. Sidell was known as a highly competitive athlete through her childhood. She played flag football with her two brothers. Sidell also participated in pee wee basketball and volleyball. She spent much of her upbringing on travel basketball and volleyball teams. In high school, Sidell competed with the volleyball, basketball, and track and field teams. She earned All-State awards for all sports. In basketball, she became the 2nd female in the school's history to break the 1,000-point barrier. She won three state titles in track and field as well, in the mile, 800m, and 4x400m relay. Sidell was quickly thrown into an intense recruiting period due to her athletic success. She accepted a Division I scholarship in cross country and track and field to the University of Akron.

While at Akron, Sidell earned all-conference recognition in the 800m run. She graduated with a Master’s degree in Exercise Physiology in 2012. Seeking a disciplined lifestyle and a more structure, Sidell joined the Ohio National Guard in September 2012.