Keone Pearson had been rather liberal with sharing physique updates in the lead-up to the 2024 Olympia (Oct. 10-13), which prompted his most formidable challenger and former Olympia champ, Shaun Clarida, to get out of his comfort zone and share progress photos and videos of his own.
The prejudging round confirmed that the 2024 212 Olympia will ultimately come down to Pearson versus Clarida. Pearson was running his own race and appeared in total control from the moment he stepped on stage.
Pearson’s overall package was leaps and bounds better than we had seen at the 2023 Olympia. He gained significant muscle size and conditioning in his quads, which enhanced his X-frame and made him stand out from the competition.
Although Clarida brought a rounder, harder, and denser physique, he couldn’t catch Pearson.
Pearson’s muscle roundness, fullness, symmetry, and balance helped him topple Clarida to win his maiden O title in 2023. “The Prodigy” doubled down on his strengths this year and extended his lead, culminating in a second-consecutive 212 Olympia victory.
Pearson’s win at the 2024 212 Olympia makes him the first bodybuilder since Flex Lewis’s dominant reign from 2012 to 2018 to bag back-to-back titles. This ends an extended game of musical chairs in the division, where we saw a new Olympia champion every year since 2018.
While having a new champ each year can be exciting, it signals that the division lacks direction. However, now that Pearson is in the saddle, we know what the judges are looking for in a 212 bodybuilder.
Background & History
| Full Name: Keone Pearson (Bodybuilder) (Full Profile) | ||
| Weight | Height | Age |
| 210 lbs (95 kg) | 5’-6” (167 cm) | 30 years |
| Date of birth | Era | Nationality |
| February 23, 1995 | 2010s, 2020s | American |
Born on February 23, 1995, Pearson turned pro in 2017 in the Classic Physique division. The Georgia native won his first pro show in 2019 — the New York Pro — and debuted at the Olympia the same year, securing a fourth-place finish behind Chris Bumstead, Breon Ansley, and George Peterson.
While Pearson was improving and gaining ground in the Classic Physique division, he felt that the weight cap for his height class was keeping him from realizing his maximum potential. Considering this, Pearson moved to the 212 division in 2020. Although Pearson won the 2020 Chicago Pro Show, he skipped competing at the 2020 Olympia for personal reasons.
Nonetheless, he won the 2021 Chicago Pro, but his Olympia debut didn’t go as planned, as he had to settle for an underwhelming 14th-place finish.
After this lackluster performance, Pearson announced a move back to the Classic Physique division but changed his mind a few months later.
Pearson won the 2022 Tampa Pro to qualify for the 2022 Olympia, placing sixth. He returned to the drawing board and brought a much better package to the 2023 Olympia, ultimately winning his maiden Olympia title.
Going Forward
It is not uncommon for 212 bodybuilders to jump ships to the Men’s Open division. Mr. Olympia champs Hadi Choopan and Derek Lunsford started in the 212 division and are now incredibly successful in the Open division.
Pearson has floated the idea of doing some Open division shows in the future while remaining in the 212 division, a page he seems to have taken out of Clarida’s playbook. Clarida won the 2021 Legion Sports Fest Pro in the Open division, beating bodybuilders much bigger than him in size.
Will we see Pearson compete in the Open division in the 2025 season? Only time will tell.
2024 Olympia Results
Friday Results:
- 2024 Mr. Olympia Results All Divisions
- 2024 212 Olympia Results
- 2024 Fitness Olympia Results
- 2024 Figure Olympia Results
- 2024 Women’s Physique Olympia Results
- 2024 Ms. Olympia Results
- 2024 Wellness Olympia Results
Friday Prejudging Recap:
- Men’s 212 Prejudging Report
- Fitness Prejudging Report
- Figure Prejudging Report
- Women’s Physique Prejudging Report
- Ms. Olympia Prejudging Report
- Wellness Prejudging Report
At Fitness Volt, we extend our warmest congratulations to Keone Pearson on his second consecutive 212 Olympia title!
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