Mike Choi is the head coach and founder of DC Weightlifting Club — the longest continuously running club in the District since the 1980s. He has coached over one hundred athletes from local meets to the USAW National Championships.

Passionate about grassroots competition, he established meet infrastructure in and around Washington, DC and Baltimore. He’s singularly focused on athlete development, bringing the highest level of local competition to the groups he serves. His weightlifting leadership experience includes national and international technical officiating, national competition secretary work, meet directorship, and mentoring local USAW members who want to elevate to higher levels of weightlifting volunteerism.

As a LWC and WSO local competition leader, he supported and unified the major local meets to cooperate, plan, and schedule their events throughout the year. In this time, he mentored dozens of meet directors, competition secretaries, and technical officials who then supported thousands of athletes over the last decade. These local meets now prepare their participants for national level competitions.

• Strength and Power Hall of Fame (Virginia, 2019)
• UMWF General Secretary (2024-2028)
• USAW Board of Directors (2020-2028)
• USAW Masters Committee Liaison (2020-present)
• IWF Category 1 Technical Official (2018-present)
• USAW National Coach (2014)
• WSO/LWC Committee (2013-23, former President)
• Cap City Open meet director and athlete (2011-present)

Member since January 2024

Fitness and sport have been interests of mine since joining my high school strength training class and following my parents’ P90X videos on my back porch. Through high school and into college, I was most interested in distance running and obstacle course races. However, while studying Exercise Science at the University of South Carolina, I became engrossed in strength and conditioning, strength and power sports, and most specifically the sport of weightlifting. I moved from SC to CO to pursue an internship with the high performance team at USA Weightlifting. I’ve remained within the Olympic movement at other organizations such as USADA, the USOPC, and now Special Olympics International here in DC. 

I developed a passion for coaching and programming, and I’ve been coaching and competing in weightlifting for 7 years. The ideals of sportsmanship and competition are things I hold close, and sharing what sport can do and mean for others is incredibly meaningful and fulfilling to me.

Outside of work and weightlifting, I love listening to and playing music—learning cello in middle school and many other stringed instruments since. I’m an avid TTRPG player (mostly D&D and Warhammer 40k currently) and love a good game night. While in CO I hiked 7 fourteeners, two of them with my wonderful pup Ophelia who I’ve had for the last 8 years.

• BS Exercise Science (2018)
• USA Weightlifting Level 2 Coach (2018)
• NSCA Certified Personal Trainer (2016-2019)
• ASEP Certified Coach (2018)

Member since October 2018

I have been a lifelong competitive athlete since my cheer and collegiate rugby days. After a significant rugby injury, I transitioned to a new competitive stage by participating in IFBB and WBFF physique competitions. I discovered CrossFit in 2011 and became a “full-time crossfitter” in 2014. During my years of training and competing in CrossFit, I eventually found my way to weightlifting–participating in my first weightlifting meet in 2016 and then transitioning to full-time training in 2018. 

I am currently a full-time graduate student studying Human Clinical Nutrition originally from Baltimore, MD. Inside the gym, I enjoy doing bro things (still hoping to earn that illustrious IFBB pro card one day). Outside of the gym, I enjoy being touristy in DC, modeling, and spending time with my two adult children and one granddog. I also have an insane obsession with horror movies, so evenings on the couch surfing Netflix is always a vibe. 

• Former Cap City Competition Secretary
• USA Weightlifting Level 1 Coach (2021)
• USA Weightlifting National Referee (2021)
• Precision Nutrition Level 1 Nutrition Coach (2020)
• USA Weightlifting Nationals Masters Athlete

Member since January 2023

My passion for living actively started at an early age and transformed in college. I sought to explore new ways to stay fit while also helping others find how they like to move. Between coaching and my own training, I have tried almost everything – running, barre, yoga, obstacle course races, CrossFit, and weightlifting!

Outside of the gym, I am a Health and Fitness Specialist at the Architect of the Capitol. I have 10 years of experience in the health and wellness industry across various sectors including private, nonprofit, academia, healthcare, technology, and state and federal government. When I’m not working to make the world a healthier place, I enjoy spending time in nature (hiking, kayaking, paddle boarding), going to concerts, baking, traveling, watching & participating in sports, and binge-watching the latest shows.

I am originally from Coral Springs, FL. I earned my Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology and Political Science and Master of Public Health at the University of Florida. Additionally, I am Certified in Public Health through the National Board of Public Health Examiners. 

• USA Weightlifting Level 2 Coach (2019)
• Precision Nutrition Level 1 Nutrition Coach (2020)
• CrossFit Level 1 Trainer (2018-2023)
• Registered Yoga Teacher – RYT 200 (2015)
• NASM Certified Personal Trainer (2014)
• ACE Certified Group Fitness Instructor (2014)

Member since October 2021

I came to Olympic weightlifting as many do: via CrossFit. I participated in DCW’s technique program back in 2019 and fell in love with the sport. I officially joined the team in 2021, and my first competition was the Just Strong Open, a women’s-only meet hosted by DCW. I have since competed in multiple meets, including my first national-level meet (American Open Series 1) in March 2024. I enjoy coaching my teammates during training and at meets, as well as coaching beginners in our 6-week weightlifting technique course.

More fun facts about me: I am a plant-based masters athlete (vegan since 1999). I have been making (and eating!) sugary things for 20 years as the Wedding Consultant and Custom Cake Designer for Sticky Fingers Bakery in DC. I do copy editing and research for a local, critically-acclaimed novelist. Cats are the best, and I live with two. Hollow Knight is the greatest video game ever made. I love tacos, sandwiches, and cake (not necessarily in that order). I make ridiculous faces while lifting weights and am doing my best to correct this shortcoming so as not to continue embarrassing my teammates in public (and so I can have usable photos of myself).

• USA Weightlifting Level 1 Coach (2024)
• Cap City Open Competition Secretary (2024)

Member since March 2024

Despite my people inventing the Olympics (I am Greek) and being a Pyrros Dimas fan from the age of 11, I didn’t get involved with the sport of weightlifting until 2015. I was immediately hooked and competed for the first time at the 2016 Baltimore Open. Since then, I’ve competed in many more meets and shared my passion for the sport with the dozens of athletes I’ve coached in class and at local meets.

After a long training hiatus, I’m thrilled to find a new home at DCW where I can continue to grow as a (Masters) athlete and as a coach.

I grew up outside of Philadelphia and have been in DC for 20+ years. Outside of the gym I work in seafood – if you’re interested in the merits of farmed vs wild salmon, I’m happy to talk your ear off about it!

• USA Weightlifting Level 2 Coach (2024)
• MS, Nutrition Education (2018)
• Tough Temple Open Comp Secretary (2018-2023)