Cooper Johnson

2025 U25 USAW Nationals Recap TLDR; Snatch 115kg/253 (comp pr)🥈 Clean and Jerks 140kg/308 Total 255kg/561 (comp pr) 🥉 This was probably the strongest ive been going into a meet, I hit a 268kg total in training and although I had higher hopes we had a dog fight so we had to play the game. After missing my last warmup on snatch and absolutely freaking out we decided to play it safe and go with the smaller jumps. After my 2nd snatch i felt both my knee and lower back pop- which initially I thought I’d have to pull out of clean and jerks for but then remember i got that dawg. I hit my 3rd snatch which solidified silver. Clean and Jerks were surprisingly ok, even though warming up to 115kg hurt but my attempts were ok, I hit 2 of my Clean and Jerks, and I pressed out my 145. Overall I’m very happy with how I performed and beating out some tough competition- the next goal will be to qualify for Finals 2026. Thank you to my coach/athlete/friend @_thelastbarbender for being the goat. Thank you @tiffanyongnutrition for at least getting me to not eat like a total dumpster. @ottodpt for making sure I don’t explode my knees every time. @j.zillaa for the videos. Thank you to my friends and family for all their support Onto the next 🚀

I was never naturally strong. I was a small kid, and growing up I always admired strength. Honestly my whole life, I never really felt like I fit in or belonged anywhere, feeling lonely even surrounded by people and things. I never knew how to feel just default happy and normal like so many others. I felt so fundamentally different from everyone. I lived the life of an elite athlete most of my life, all the way up to college, giving me some sense of normalcy and the endorphins from exercise kept me feeling ok. When I got to college and stopped boxing, I had a hard time adjusting to normal life on top of all the other life changes that come with that time. I was majorly depressed, feeling lost and empty. I felt less empty when I got into martial arts in my 2nd year of college, however when covid struck I was left without that and stuck back in that same rut. I began lifting in my family home. Soon, I moved out on my own and found a barbell gym nearby. It was here that I finally found a sense of community and belonging. It gave me that purpose I was used to. It brought me a sense of self again.  It was here I met my coach and friend Jean, and I told him that my goal was Nationals, and soon enough he believed in me. Every time I got close however, the totals rose. It felt forever out of reach, but still I pursued.  I worked tirelessly, sacrificed blood sweat and tears to improve. To maybe feel accepted and like I belong. To feel normal the only way I knew how. When I started I was 170 with a 308 squat, 264 bench, and a 440 deadlift. This past year however, has been full of accomplishments: Qualifying for U23/25 Weightlifting Nationals, Qualifying for Powerlifting Nationals, Winning Powerlifting Regionals. My numbers now sit at a 220 snatch, 275 clean and jerk, 606 squat, 363 bench, 617 deadlift and I myself am 230.  Ive made friends and family along the way- I’ve lost some too but that’s ok; I thank and love all of them: past, present and future. I want everyone to believe in themselves. It doesn’t matter if you’re gifted. If you really want it, you can do it. If I can do it, so can you. If no one else believes in you, I believe in you.   Only up from here 🚀

2023 Northeast Regionals Recap TLDR: Squats: 250kg/551 265kg/584 (no lift; depth) 265kg/584 (comp pr match Bench 155kg/341 162.5kg/358 (pr comp match) 167.5kg/369 (no lift) Deadlift 260kg/573 270kg/595 (10kg comp pr) 280kg/617 (20kg comp pr, 5kg lifetime pr) Total 707.5kg/1559 (20kg meet pr) 1st place jr, 1st place open 110kg/242 * * This meet was very important to me, after 3 years of chasing the QT, with the help of the 50kg handicap from winning regionals, I have now qualified for powerlifting nationals and am registered and competing in 7 weeks. This has been my major pursuit and cost me many things in my life, but finally it has been done. Thank you to the whole @murderofcrowsbarbellclub squad for helping me, @_thelastbarbender for being the GOAT coach, and also a great friend and mentor. Thank you to everyone who supports me: past, present and future. See yall at nationals * * * @usapowerlifting @usapowerliftingny #powerlifting #usapl #squats #bench #deadlifts #lifting #gym

Arnold’s 2026 - Cooper Johnson #photography #sports #weighlifting #oly

“Everybody here is fantastic” A testimonial from our student Cooper @cjjohnson710 We strive to create not only an environment that hones your athletic abilities within martial arts but to also be a place of peace. Peace here is on the mats in good company 🙏🏼 #Judo #bjj #nyc #martialarts #combattraining

Shout out that crepe spot in Colombus, and shout out 2% milk 📸 @j.zillaa

Arnold ‘26 Snatch 110/115/120x Clean and Jerk 140x/140/150x Total 255kg Shout out everyone who supports me. Not the best not the worst performance, back to training #gym #weightlifting #olylifting #olympicweightlifting gymmotivation

NYC Championships Recap 1st place 110kg 115kg/150kg/265kg 253/330/583 Comp pr cj, pr total Pretty solid meet to go into the arnold so just gonna ride the momentum Shout out everyone who came and supported 🎥 @savchuk._.artur #gym #weightlifting #olylifting #olympicweightlifting #gymmotivation

We’re excited start the year off by officially welcoming Coach Cooper to the team! @_.coojo._ 🥊🏋🏻‍♂️ With over a decade of boxing experience, competitive accolades, and a deep background in strength and hybrid performance, Cooper brings high-level, intentional coaching to every athlete he works with. Our journey together started back in 2020. We trained for his first Powerlifting Nationals in 2023 and his first Junior Weightlifting Nationals in 2024. As his hybrid path came full circle, we’d often joke about how closely our journeys and philosophies aligned. After a particularly rough stretch of injuries and frustration with my own training, Cooper stepped in and offered to help me rebuild, on my own terms. That’s where something new was born. In September 2024, we officially began working together to bring me back to Powerlifting Nationals and USAW Finals. What we’ve built since then is the hybrid dream I’ve always wanted, and I couldn’t be more proud of the athlete and coach Cooper has grown into. I’m beyond excited to have him by my side as a Barbender coach and can’t wait to see what’s next. #powerlifting #oly #weightlifting #boxing #strength

(Dec)ember but its the 12th month.

One more time for 2025 ** See y’all this Sunday, 3:45pm on the Stars Platform @usa_weightlifting ** Livestream: /live

El veloz murciélago hindú comía feliz cardillo y kiwi. La cigüeña tocaba el saxofón detrás del palenque de paja.