Instagram story viewer> @swolechong> Tagged

Joel Chong | ATL | B.S. Exercise Science

@swolechong

3K

followers

2359

following

@forgesnp Owner, Meet Director, & Head PL Coach
@barbellsandcats
@110percent “SWOLECHONG” (save 10% 😛)
Forge a Stronger You
Inquire below

POSTS STORIES REELS TAGGED

Swipe to read more about the staff. Interested in working with a specific coach? DM us!

Joel Chong is a powerlifting coach and fitness professional with a B.S. in Exercise Science from Georgia State University and a diverse athletic background. He began with seven years of Taekwondo, and later branched off to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, rock climbing, and now badminton.

Since 2021, he has guided lifters to state records and national and international meets, driven by a passion for growth, connection, and problem-solving.

Joel specializes in coaching intermediate to advanced level powerlifters and strength & conditioning for high school/college athletes.

- Georgia State University 2023 B.S. Exercise Science
- USA Powerlifting and Powerlifting America Referee
- Competitive Powerlifter

Barbara Morales is a bodybuilder and former powerlifter and women’s fitness expert all bundled in one. She has over seven years of experience in the industry and specializes in women’s health, post partum, menopause, weight loss, and strength training.

Barbara has collected five first placements in powerlifting, and 3rd place in her first NPC bodybuilding show. In high school she ran cross country.

She is a mother of 2 beautiful children and juggles being a full time strength/health coach and mother.

Barbara works best with middle aged and older women, specializing in post partum, perimenopause, menopause, and weight loss.

- Bilingual in Spanish & English
- Competitive Bodybuilder
- Former Competitive Powerlifter

Paula Rivera Rocha is a fitness coach with a Bachelor’s in Exercise Science from Kennesaw State University. With an athletic foundation from an early age, she is passionate about helping others through exercise.

Her background in competitive road cycling, swimming, dance, and Olympic weightlifting has given her a diverse set of knowledge in development as an athlete. Paula competed in road cycling for four years, which sparked her interest in competing. During this time, she developed an injury that led her to physical therapy. Seeing the different ways in which strengthening could help heal the body led her to become more interested in lifting and competing in Olympi

115

6

Regionals Recap‼️

Squat: 319lbs (+16lb meet PR)
Bench: 182lbs (+12lb meet PR)
Deadlift: 391lbs

First time competing in the 70kg weight class and first time pulling conventional in competition. Considering the circumstances leading up to the meet, it was a pretty solid day! Placed 2nd in my weight class and qualified (again) for nationals. HUGE shoutout to the best training crew @the_iron_union , @ethanlong._ for all the help, and @swolechong for coaching!

3

16

Yesterday was an amazing day💫

One of my main goals when I started powerlifting 3 years ago was to earn a Pro Card. I competed at USAPL Southeast Regionals in Raleigh, NC yesterday for my 6th meet and I achieved my goal!

I’m in meet prep for IDFPA World’s in Houston in November, so this meet was supposed to be for fun with my friends and teammates @cocoabuttercupj @angiszele @steady_grind333 @squatimusprime @jdmflaw @we_are_rnc, so I didn’t go all out and I had the most fun I’ve had competing but I wasn’t putting so much pressure on myself.

I ended up:

✨First place in 82.5kg Masters
✨First place in 82.5kg Open
✨Best Lifter Masters Women
✨GA State Record Bench (115kg)
✨Masters Full Power Pro Card✨

Thank you to @quocstrengthsystems for being a great coach! Thank you @swolechong @marvgotkickz @jdmflaw for handling me and getting me warmed up. And thank you to my friends for being the LOUDEST in the audience and biggest supporters!!! @cocoabuttercupj @angiszele @steady_grind333 @squatimusprime . I love you guys🤍

Thank you also to @getflexfit and @kellydavis_dpt for keeping my body (knee and hip in particular) in as best shape as possible to keep me doing this sport I love!!

Lastly, thank you to @lelewebb13 who has been my powerlifting inspiration since I started this journey. She also holds EVERY GA state record in like 3 weight classes and I’ve been fighting for my life to get just one🤣 I told her at Nats that j was coming for her bench and she said “go get it, just makes me work harder” and gave me a hug🥺 I finally got one and I feel so proud and honored to even have my name next to hers in the record books (and don’t worry, you got that squat record cause my knees could never🤣).

On to Worlds💪🏽🤍💫✨

#womenwholiftheavy #powerlifting #benchpressing #usapl

282

72

leveled up! please address me as ivan “10x bodyweight” liu now!

Total: 740kg/1631lbs (+42.5kg PR)
BW: 169lbs, ~535 DOTS

Squat: 557lbs (+6lb PR)
Bench: 402lbs (+11lb PR)
Deadlift: 673lbs (+23lb “PR”)

Gotta clean up execution a little better! I compete in 9 weeks heh. @dungygains @gtbarbell

271

53

Three training days left until Regionals, but here are some training PR’s from prep! Conveniently got sick before my peak week squat and bench but took what we could get.

Squat: 314lbs
Bench: 182lbs
Deadlift: 402lbs

S/O to the BEST training crew @the_iron_union

3

11

Wishing the BEST MEET WEEK for @smith8_tay ‼️‼️
.
She has worked extremely hard this prep and inspite of being sick she’s showed grit to finish prep strong. We know you’ll do great and put up another strong performance for yourself and the crew. We are behind you. LOAD THE RED ‼️‼️‼️
.
#powerlifting #compete #focus #strength #motivation

62

8

Obe is an extremely talented upcoming soccer player in a youth developmental program in Spain.

For the past 6-weeks while he is back in the US for a break, we have been working on strength and power development. His strength, power output, and technique have seen impressive improvement working with Joel

Interested in being a bigger, faster, and stronger athlete? DM us to get started

24

0

MEET RECAP
Forge Classic II
Squat: 92.5kg 2.5kg meet and ATPR
Bench: 50kg meet and ATPR match
Deadlift: 145kg meet and ATPR
Total: 287.5kg 5kg total PR
Plus an unintended 56kg debut

Big shoutout to @swolechong for being an incredible meet director and coach AND running @forgesnp which is an awesome gym and venue, @pwrdbydonuts__ for meet day handling, the refs and meet staff, and all of the athletes who made this meet so fun and supportive. The first half of my “off season” leading up to this was super rough and I didn’t post about it a lot but I’m really happy with this comeback and getting even stronger for future meets.

Videos by @calibratedcinema
Still photos by @obregonproductions

63

6

@usaplga Forge Classic last weekend at @forgesnp under Joel's direction and Tommy and David's coaching. I may have struggled with my opener after not feeling comfortable beforehand, but I got it up the 2nd time and told @gymratstunna that my 2nd lift was 42.5kg using @texaspowerbars and my personal record back in April was 40kg 🙂 I also have a feeling that Grannie Jo was watching from heaven especially because I felt like wearing her favorite colored shirt on the platform 🤗❤🕊
📷&📹:dad and @calibratedcinema

63

1

Big dogs eat.

Use code JosephOk at @oktaneco

90

20

The real star of the show here is the pad I put down because I was scared to hit my face on the floor that I put not underneath my face at all whatsoever 😎

63

5

The return to the platform

Performances were low but vibes were high

@swolechong ran an amazing meet, glad to be part of it

Squat: 205kg // 451lbs

Bench: 137.5kg // 303lbs

Deadlift: 245kg // 540lbs

#Powerlifting #powerlifter #forgestrength #sbd #gym

108

15