I’m seeing some talk online about guys like Shaun Clarida competing in Open and 212 Bodybuilding at Olympia. Some people are in favor of it, and others think it’s not a good idea and not fair.
As a fan of bodybuilding and someone who has covered the sport for many years, I’m going to give you my two cents on the topic. If you’re not looking for opinions or my two cents, feel free to check out, and I’ll catch you in the next piece of published content I have on the site.
But for those of you who want to hear me out, I think you may agree with me by the end of this article.
All of that being said, I had the chance to interview and talk with Shaun Clarida the year before he won his first 212 Olympia title. This guy eats, sleeps, and breathes bodybuilding. He was such a down-to-earth guy and spoke passionately about the sport.
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Bodybuilders Can Only Compete in 1 Division?
I’ll admit that I’m the first to complain about how many competitors show up on stage at the Olympia. I’ve openly said that the numbers need to decrease. The show is honestly way too long, and the real fans are only going there to see the Open division (sorry, it’s the truth).
And being that the Open is the last group to go on Saturday night, it takes forever and a day to see who walks away with the Sandow.
That all being said, I fully believe that if you’re a 212 bodybuilder and you win an Open show that qualifies you for the Olympia, you should be able to compete in every division you’ve qualified for.
Why?
Because they’ve earned it. Wouldn’t you want that opportunity?
I remember when Flex Lewis hinted at wanting to compete in both divisions (and truthfully, I think he could have won both at the time).
People are even saying that Shaun is competing too often and that he’s taking opportunities away from other competitors to qualify for Olympia. Honestly, I say tough shit.
You think you deserve to be on the Olympia stage with the best? Then you’d better have one of the best physiques. If you can’t beat a “212” competitor, do you really deserve a spot in the Open Olympia lineup?
I remember Ashley Kaltwasser was criticized by many women in Bikini because she competed in so many shows and won. Her reason? It’s a business, and winning makes her money. I can’t fault her. If I knew I could walk into a show and make money, I’d jump in as many as I can. No one pays her bills. She’s out there grinding and making money. I respect that.
Heck, it’s better than some of these bodybuilders that only show up for the Olympia, and we never see them any other time throughout the year. As a fan, I want to see the best of the best as often as possible.
So, props to both Shaun and Ashley for getting after it and showing up to compete for the money and the fans. It’s a sport. You train to compete. If you can compete often, I don’t see an issue with that.
And as far as Shaun is concerned, he has every right to compete in Open and 212 bodybuilding, in my opinion. He earned his place for both and should compete in both.
Open and 212 Bodybuilding Are Still Bodybuilding Divisions
There are even some people out there talking about whether 212 should even still be around, and that everyone should just go to the open. I think that’s a dumb idea.
How many 212 competitors can you name from this past year’s Olympia who placed in the top 10? Not many, right? Probably because they don’t have a memorable physique like many of the Open guys.
And that’s not a knock at 212, it’s just a fact that you’re looking at a human weighing less than 212 pounds and comparing them to someone competing between 250 and 300 pounds. It’s apples and oranges.
If you’re in the camp of wanting to get rid of 212, then we should get rid of nearly every women’s division out there. People are saying 212 isn’t popular, and they should just stand on stage with the big boys. Well, I know I can name more 212 competitors than I can women in ANY category.
Like Women’s Bodybuilding. Does anyone pay attention to that? Can you name five female bodybuilders? No? Then why keep it according to that theory, right?
Look, I’m not here to say we need to get rid of divisions. My point is that all the divisions have their place. But when it comes to bodybuilding, if you win a show in a different division, you should be able to compete in both at Olympia.
If a Women’s Physique competitor can place well in Women’s Bodybuilding, more power to her. Let her compete in both if she wants.
We have a few 212 guys who’ve been competing in Open and placing well. If they qualify, let them step on stage for both divisions. Stop holding competitors back who want to test the boundaries, compete, and do well in dual divisions.
As a fan of bodybuilding, I’m a fan of the underdog story. I’m good with the David vs. Goliath plot. Let them compete.
Author Bio:
Matt Weik, BS, CSCS, CPT, CSN, is the owner of Weik Fitness. With over 25 years in the supplement industry, Matt is a globally recognized and prolific writer. With a passion for creating health and fitness content, his work has been featured on thousands of websites, over 100 magazines, and he has authored more than 25 published books.
