Chi Ossé Is Powerlifting His Way Through Politics

New York City Council Member Chi Ossé may be a Pisces, but the day we met, he told me about what he calls “the top three moves outside of astrology”: the back squat, bench press, and deadlift.

Last weekend, Osei competed in his first powerlifting competition, wearing a one-piece vest. He fell in love with weightlifting about a year and a half ago when his CrossFit box started offering classes. “It feels really good to pick up something heavy and put it back down,” Osei said. “It’s very raw, but somehow also feels meditative and peaceful.”

After his first class, he started training with Anthony Aristi and quickly gained weight. He likens the experience to a real-life video game: “I get stronger, learn new skills, reach new levels, and lift heavier weights.”

Photo: Lisa Airi

He stepped it up a notch last weekend by competing in his first powerlifting competition. He described the week leading up to the event as “extremely busy” — he attended an event in Washington related to the White House Correspondents’ Dinner; he filmed a video with Mayor Zoran Mamdani at Gracie Mansion the morning of the game; he was arrested while protesting the eviction of a constituent. “It’s been so fun to think about my protein intake and try to be consistent with my creatine while I’m still doing my regular political job,” he says. (For the record, he tries to eat 200 to 250 grams of protein per day—basically 1 gram per pound of body weight—a rule Aristy taught him.)

The game itself means a lot to Osei. He PRed (set a new personal record) twice and had a great time. “I think exercise is part of self-care,” he said. “It’s a symbiotic relationship – I find it essential for me to exercise so I can get work done and travel the world.”

“I’m nervous, but [the competition] This is a very popular space. I’ve been running on endorphins all week. Obviously, there are some big guys, but there are also others that you wouldn’t really think of as weightlifting prototypes. “He considers himself to be in the latter category. “As a leftist, queer person, I think weightlifting and fitness are very important things. For me, taking control of my body and being strong is political – it’s an act of resistance. The Manocene and patriarchy seem to believe that if you are not white, straight, and conservative, you are weak. Stepping up and silencing them is just a form of resistance. “