Clarida appears greater than ready for an additional 212 title.
Shaun “The Giant Killer” Clarida isn’t shy about what he wants to perform as a dynamite bodybuilder. The 2-time 212 Olympia winner (2020, 2022) wants to construct a dynasty of championships and eventually even surpass James “Flex” Lewis’ all-time record mark of seven titles (2012-2018). While he’s the present clear-cut king of his division, Clarida stays a great distance from such an honor. Yet, his training and physique updates give the impression such an achievement could eventually be possible.
On June 26, 2023, Clarida shared a photograph on his Instagram where the athlete said he had a body weight of 206 kilos. Per Clarida’s caption, the mass packed onto his 5-foot two-inch stature is a “place to begin,” with the 2023 Olympia in Orlando, FL roughly 20 weeks away on the time of his photo. For some other 212 competitors wishing to unseat Clarida from his throne, that’s an intimidating prospect to contemplate.
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Within the caption of his Instagram, Clarida sounded motivated. Several recent dramatic life changes — including the birth of his daughter and a cross-country move from Latest Jersey to Texas — have added loads to his plate after already competing in and training for each the Arnold Classic (AC) and the Olympia in successive years. Note: Lewis plans to have the identical AC and Olympia approach in 2023. The athlete finished in fifth place within the Men’s Open class on the 2023 iteration of the AC.
Despite the changes, Clarida gave off the expected air of a champion competitor looking for more greatness before he accelerates his Olympia preparation.
“Despite it being certainly one of the busiest years of my life and profession, between doing each the Olympia and the Arnold last season [2022], the birth of my daughter and moving my family from Latest Jersey to Texas, it’s been one of the productive,” Clarida wrote. “The brand new environment, having the fuel and motivation with [his daughter] and all the time having a supporting forged of friends, family, and sponsors have all kept me grounded and focused on the duty and goal come November 3 [the date of the 2023 Olympia contest]. Off to the races we go!”
After Lewis’s run of dominance within the 2010s and a “three-peat” from Kevin English (2009-2011), Clarida stands in third place for probably the most all-time victories within the 212 Olympia. Should Clarida repeat in November, he’ll tie English for second place and inch ever closer to Lewis’s mark.
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Even when Clarida doesn’t win one other 212 title, his place in bodybuilding history is already secure. He has proven he can thrive on the 212 level and, in moonlight appearances as a Men’s Open competitor, has also fared quite well. Though with every jaw-dropping teaser that Clarida provides from behind the scenes, it seems likely this superstar might be hot on the tail of a legend’s seemingly unattainable record soon enough.
Featured image: @shaunclarida on Instagram