Today we’d like to introduce you to Chad Cahoy.
Hi Chad, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Jacksonville Strength was born out of resilience, passion, and a belief that strength changes lives.
We officially opened our doors on May 18th, 2020—the very day after the state of Florida allowed gyms to reopen following the COVID-19 shutdown. At a time when uncertainty was everywhere and many fitness businesses were closing their doors, Jacksonville Strength took its first bold step forward. What began with just two dedicated athletes training in a small, focused environment quickly grew into something far bigger than anyone could have imagined.
From day one, the mission was clear: build a community-driven strength club where athletes of all levels could train with purpose, receive elite-level coaching, and feel supported both inside and outside the gym.
Word spread fast. Athletes didn’t just come for the equipment or the programming—they came for the culture. The energy, accountability, and results created an environment people wanted to be part of. Over time, Jacksonville Strength evolved into a true performance hub, now serving over 100 athletes across multiple disciplines, including: Olympic Weightlifting, Powerlifting, Functional Strength, and Strength & Conditioning for Sports.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The growth of Jacksonville Strength didn’t happen overnight, and it definitely wasn’t easy.
Opening a gym in May of 2020—literally the day after Florida reopened from COVID—came with enormous uncertainty. There were no guarantees people would return to gyms, no clarity on future shutdowns, and no safety net. Every decision in those early months carried real risk. Membership was small, finances were tight, and every new athlete felt like a win worth celebrating.
With only two athletes at the start, one of the biggest struggles was simply survival mode—keeping the lights on, covering rent, and reinvesting every dollar back into equipment and facility improvements. There were long days, early mornings, late nights, and weekends that blurred together. Coaching sessions, cleaning, marketing, programming, admin work—it all fell on the same shoulders.
Another major challenge was building trust and awareness in a crowded fitness market. Olympic weightlifting and powerlifting are niche sports, and many people didn’t yet understand the value of structured strength training or high-level coaching. It took time, consistency, and real results to show the community that Jacksonville Strength wasn’t just another gym—it was a performance-driven club with a long-term vision.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Jacksonville Strength has built a reputation for producing results at every level:
Coaching numerous athletes to Team USA
Developing international, national, and state champions
Turning beginners into confident, technically sound lifters
Helping sport athletes become stronger, faster, and more resilient
Creating a culture that blends high performance with genuine community
We’re known not just for how strong our athletes are—but for how well they move, how disciplined they are, and how long they stay in the game.
What Sets Us Apart
What truly separates Jacksonville Strength from other gyms is our coaching-first, culture-first model.
Elite Coaching, Not Just Access
Anyone can open a gym with racks and barbells. What makes us different is the depth of coaching our athletes receive. Every session is supervised. Every lift is coached. Every athlete has a plan. We treat all members like competitors in development—because that’s how real progress happens.
All Levels, One Standard
We successfully blend brand-new lifters and elite competitors in the same environment without compromising quality. Beginners get real instruction. Advanced athletes get high-level programming. Everyone is held to the same technical and cultural standards.
Proven Athlete Development System
We don’t just train hard—we train smart. Our system emphasizes:
Proper technique and movement quality
Progressive overload and structured periodization
Injury reduction and long-term durability
Mental toughness and competition readiness
Real Community, Not Just Memberships
Jacksonville Strength is built on relationships. We know our athletes by name. We celebrate PRs. We show up at competitions. We support each other outside the gym. This isn’t a place people bounce in and out of—it’s a place people stay and grow.
What We’re Most Proud Of (Brand-Wise)
While medals and championships matter, what we’re most proud of is this:
Seeing people walk in unsure and leave confident
Watching kids and teens grow into disciplined, high-performing young adults
Helping everyday members accomplish things they never thought possible
Building a club culture that values effort, respect, and accountability
Creating a brand that stands for excellence, grit, and integrity
We’re proud that Jacksonville Strength is known as a serious training environment that’s still welcoming. A place where hard work is normal. A place where results are expected. A place where people belong.
What We Want You to Know
Jacksonville Strength is not a “one-size-fits-all” gym. We are a performance club built for people who want more than casual fitness.
If you’re looking to:
Learn Olympic weightlifting the right way
Compete in powerlifting or weightlifting
Improve your sport performance
Train with structure, accountability, and purpose
Be part of a real strength community
…then Jacksonville Strength is built for you.
We believe strength is transformative—not just physically, but mentally and emotionally. Our mission is to develop stronger athletes, stronger competitors, and stronger people.
Jacksonville Strength isn’t just where you train.
It’s where you level up.
Any big plans?
The vision for Jacksonville Strength has always been bigger than a single gym—and the next chapter is shaping up to be the most exciting yet. We are entering a new era of growth, recognition, and elite opportunity, while staying rooted in the same mission that built us: develop great athletes, build great people, and raise the standard of strength sports in our community.
Official Training Partner of Jacksonville University Weightlifting
One of our biggest milestones moving forward is becoming the official off-campus training site for the new Jacksonville University Weightlifting team. This partnership is a major step for both Jacksonville Strength and collegiate weightlifting in Northeast Florida.
It means:
Our facility will serve as a performance home for JU’s weightlifting athletes
Our coaching staff will directly support collegiate-level development
Local lifters will now have a true pathway from youth → club → college → international competition
This partnership reinforces our role not just as a gym, but as a regional training center for high-performance weightlifting.
International Competition & Olympic Pathway
Jacksonville Strength is also stepping onto the world stage in a major way.
We will have an athlete competing at the IWF 2026 World Championships in Ningbo, China, which marks the first official qualifying event for the 2028 Olympic Games. This athlete will be pursuing a spot on the 2028 U.S. Olympic Weightlifting Team, representing not just Jacksonville Strength—but the entire Jacksonville community—on the global platform.
We are also proud to have a junior athlete representing the club internationally, competing at:
The Junior World Championships in Egypt
The Junior Pan American Championships in Mexico
These appearances reflect years of development, consistency, and belief in a long-term athlete pathway. They also prove that world-class performance can be built right here at Jacksonville Strength.
What’s Next for the Club
Beyond competition, our future plans include:
Expanding our youth and junior development programs to create a stronger pipeline for long-term athlete growth
Enhancing our sport performance and strength & conditioning services for local school and club teams
Upgrading equipment and training space to support a growing membership base
Hosting higher-level competitions and training camps to bring more national and international exposure to Jacksonville
Developing more coaches to ensure our standards of excellence scale with our growth
What We’re Most Excited About
More than anything, we’re excited about momentum.
We’re excited about seeing our athletes walk into international arenas wearing Jacksonville Strength gear.
We’re excited about welcoming JU athletes into our facility.
We’re excited about the next beginner who has no idea they’ll one day become a national medalist.
We’re excited about building something that lasts.
The Big Picture
Jacksonville Strength is no longer just a local strength club—we are becoming a recognized development hub for elite weightlifting and strength sports in the Southeast.
From collegiate partnerships to Olympic qualification pathways, from junior world teams to international championships, the future is bold, ambitious, and just getting started.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.jacksonvilleweightlifting.com
- Instagram: @jacksonvillestrength
- Facebook: JacksonvilleStrength
