Clarida will stick to the 212 as he begins the ascent of certainly one of bodybuilding’s tallest mountains.
Reigning 212 Olympia champ Shaun Clarida normally wears his coronary heart on his outsized sleeve. The athlete hasn’t been shy about sharing his bodybuilding objectives and his subsequent mission may be the famous person’s loftiest but.
On Mar. 23, 2023, Clarida appeared on an episode of The Fact podcast with esteemed bodybuilding coach Hany Rambod. Because the pair mentioned the two-time 212 Olympia champion’s (2020, 2022) future plans, Clarida didn’t mince his phrases: he desires to interrupt James “Flex” Lewis’ 212 Olympia report of seven titles (2012-2018). The athlete shall be primarily sticking with the 212 division for the foreseeable future seeking this hallowed ambition.
Clarida’s long-term 212 aspirations would possibly come as a slight shock, contemplating he most not too long ago featured within the Males’s Open division on the 2023 Arnold Basic (AC). Regardless of the athlete being significantly smaller than his extra huge friends, the bodybuilder took dwelling a fifth-place end on the contest.
Transferring ahead, in an method that appears each real looking and coaching-efficient, Clarida didn’t essentially rule out related moonlighting Males’s Open appearances. Nevertheless, he’ll in any other case hold his give attention to the 212 division, as that’s the place he has shined probably the most in his profession.
“I’m staying in 212 for certain,” Clarida defined. “The purpose is to win a number of titles right here [in the 212 division]. In fact, I prefer to dabble in just a few smaller [Men’s] Open exhibits, possibly one other Arnold Basic. However me simply doing the Arnold Basic and doing effectively will not be sufficient for me to simply go away the 212 … I’m real looking. If I couldn’t win the [2022] Arnold [Classic], then what’s the purpose of me transferring on from there? If I had gained possibly it will be a unique dialog.”
Clarida is behind Lewis’ dominating streak by 5 titles, but when anybody can match or eclipse the icon within the present panorama, it’s the 5-foot 2-inch competitor appropriately known as “The Large Killer.” Often, that’s in reference to Clarida overcoming larger friends en path to a victory. On this case, Clarida surpassing Lewis could be extra like beating a residing legend — a metaphorical “big” of the game.
Clarida’s teasing his pursuit of the 212 Olympia report makes the years forward doubtlessly among the most enjoyable the division has ever seen.
“212 is my dwelling, it’s in my coronary heart, and I wish to stroll away as among the best to ever do it,” Clarida mentioned. “I like Flex Lewis to demise however the purpose is to beat his report.”
If Clarida had been to unexpectedly hold up his posing trunks immediately, he’d already be remembered as one of many best bodybuilders of all time. Full cease. Nevertheless, vying for Lewis’ mark would seemingly place him amongst an elite handful of names, no matter division. For somebody accustomed to “killing giants,” it’d be fairly a sight to see him repeatedly attain that 212 Olympia summit.
Featured picture: @shaunclarida on Instagram
