Keone Pearson winning the 212 Olympia title by upsetting the two-time champ Shaun Clarida is one of the biggest news emerging from the first day of competition at the 2023 Joe Weider’s Olympia Fitness and Performance Weekend.
The 212 Olympia throne has been a game of musical chairs since 2018, with a new champion ascending to claim the title each year. Seven-time 212 Olympia champ Flex Lewis (2012-2018) was the last bodybuilder to win consecutive 212 Olympia titles. Check out all the 212 Olympia Winners Since 2008.
Pearson’s muscle roundness, fullness, definition, symmetry, and balance were unparalleled at the 2023 Olympia, making him the center of attention as soon as he graced the stage. Pearson got tighter and drier as the day progressed, improving his conditioning by leaps and bounds. His glute and hamstring conditioning was second to none in the individual posing routine. To sum it up, it was really difficult to find flaws in Pearson’s physique.
With this victory, Pearson has become the seventh bodybuilder to win the 212 Olympia title. Pearson differentiated himself from the pack with the very first pose he hit on the 2023 212 Olympia stage and pulled the curtain on his competitions with his back poses.
Interestingly, during the individual posing routine, Olympia commentators labeled Pearson the heir-apparent should Clarida ever vacate the throne. However, Pearson had his own plans.
Background & History
Pearson earned his IFBB Pro card in the Classic Physique division in 2017. However, his first pro show victory came in 2019 at the New York Pro. Pearson made his Olympia debut in 2019 in the same division and secured fourth behind Chris Bumstead, Breon Ansley, and George Peterson.
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Although Pearson’s IFBB Pro career was on an upward trajectory in the Classic Physique division, he believed that the weight cap for his height division kept him from achieving his full potential.
Pearson announced a move to the 212 division before the start of the 2020 season. He competed in his first 212 Pro Show in 2020 and tasted success right off the bat by winning the 2020 Chicago Pro Show. However, he didn’t compete at the 2020 Olympia for personal reasons.
Pearson returned to competition at the 2021 Chicago Pro and won the show convincingly. His 212 Olympia debut didn’t go as planned, as he had to settle for a 14th-place finish.
“The Prodigy” announced a move back to the Classic Physique division after an underwhelming performance at the 2021 Olympia. However, he decided against returning to the Classic Physique after a few months, a decision that, in hindsight, turned out to be the best choice he could have made.
Pearson won the 2022 Tampa Pro to qualify for the 2022 Olympia, where he placed sixth — a significant improvement from the previous year.
Pearson returned to the drawing board and reemerged on the 2023 Olympia stage in better form than ever, etching his name into the history books by winning the show.
Going Forward
It’s a common trend for the best bodybuilders from the 212 division to jump ships to the Open division — Hadi Choopan, Derek Lunsford, and William Bonac being the most recent examples.
Following Clarida’s victory at the Legion Sports Fest Pro, discussions about the potential dissolution of the 212 division began circulating within the bodybuilding circles. However, the IFBB Pro League Athlete’s Rep, Bob Cicherillo, put all these talks to rest and confirmed that the 212 division is here to stay.
2023 Olympia Results
Saturday Results:
- 2023 Mr. Olympia Results All Divisions
- 2023 Classic Physique Olympia Results
- 2023 Men’s Physique Olympia Results
- 2023 Bikini Olympia Results
- 2023 Wheelchair Olympia Results
Friday Results:
- 2023 212 Olympia Results
- 2023 Fitness Olympia Results
- 2023 Figure Olympia Results
- 2023 Women’s Physique Olympia Results
- 2023 Ms. Olympia Results
- 2023 Wellness Olympia Results
Fitness Volt extends its hearty congratulations to Keone Pearson, his coach, family, and fans for his well-deserved first 212 Olympia title victory!
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