212 In Good Hands
The 212 Olympia is once again in good hands. After a year of seeing the title neglected by a guy waiting for a phone call from Dan Solomon while growing into the open it’s nice to see The Giant Killer Shaun Clarida once again being the 212 ambassador to the world. Lunsford did nothing for the title and he did nothing for the division. Call me a hater all you want, but you know it’s true. Flex Lewis spent seven years fighting tooth and nail to make The 212 a household name in the fitness industry. Kamal traveled the world, did interviews, and championed the cause of interacting with the fans. Shaun had great predecessors to learn from; however, Derek just used the title to gain attention from the 412 crew and new Olympia management to get his foot in the door. Now that Clarida is once again the champ, I suspect he will double down and start from where he left off.
A champion isn’t just the guy who wins a contest. A real champion needs to do IG Live chats, needs to guest pose, present awards at various shows and hold himself out to any and all who want to learn more about bodybuilding and physique-based sports. This is who Shaun is. He works hard but it all comes natural to him. In many regards, he’s held onto the qualities from his early days, qualities that continue to set him apart from the pack today. Even with two Olympias to his credit and the distinction beating guys 100lbs heavier than him, he always thinks of himself as the underdog. He’s the underdog with no plan b.
Success has a tendency to cloud most peoples’ judgment. They start to think they’re invincible and they lose that edge which helped them achieve the goals they now take for granted. Some things never change, though. Shaun remains on the shorter end of The 212. He’s also not the biggest guy nor is he chasing numbers on a scale. He’s not a spring chicken and he’s also mindful of the fact he’s got some very substantial competition. Angel Calderon came out of nowhere and really pushed the champ as did fellow 212 Mr. Olympia Kamal El Gargni. The Lion Of Libya is proof positive that age is just a number and Shaun never never takes his eyes off him. One slip up, one foolish move, and it could be Kamal winning the show.
When you’re the champ you take everyone seriously – especially guys who can really tie it all together and fire on all cylinders when it counts! Kamal isn’t an Instagram champion. When he hits the stage, he’s ready for battle. And battling is what Shaun’s all about.
The 212 is a division of camaraderie and good sportsmanship, but it’s also the scene of some of the fiercest battles ever seen in physique-based sports. They’re all friends but when it’s game time – IT’S GAME TIME!!
The 212 is in great hands with Shaun Clarida as the champ and notable competitors rising the ranks and pounding on the door. I thought The Prodigy Keone Pearson looked absolutely awesome!! Ahmad Ashkanani is another superstar that has decisively counteracted the aging process. He’s one of those guys who battled Flex Lewis and was the talk of the town not too long ago. Whoever places in the Top 6 is a threat, whether it’s Keone, Ahmad, Kamal or Oleh Kryvyi. I must also include my friends Kerrith Bajjo (7th) and Bryan Balzano (9th) who are both incredibly dangerous. It’s only a question of time till they break into the Top 6. There’s only so many spots but this division is REPLETE with talent. It makes those top spots all the more sought after. It’s a WAR on that stage!!
I think The 212 with Shaun and the aforementioned guys representing it worldwide, will bring about a whole new era for the division. I also hope these guys tap THE GOAT James “Flex” Lewis for advice. Flex knows exactly how to turn things into gold.
I also hope Flex will bring Shaun on for an interview, as well as Kamal. His podcasts are hugely successful and give the viewers a real understanding of the guests he invites. I’d love for him to sit down with his two 212 Mr. Olympia successors and do podcasts with each of them. That’s the kind of exposure they can only get from him. No one else can put on a interview with them like that – one 212 Mr. O interviewing another 212 Mr. O. THE GOAT interviewing the guys who carried the torch after him makes all the sense in the world.
