Shaun “The Giant Killer” Clarida continues to live up to his nickname. The 2020 Olympia 212 champion, who recently declared that he would step into the Men’s Open category, made bodybuilding history by beating several prominent competitors and winning his first IFBB Open contest at the 2021 Legion Sports Fest.
Clarida took the stage on Oct. 24, 2021 in Reno, Nevada, alongside Regan Grimes and Sergio Oliva Jr., who rounded out the top three in the Open. Cedric McMillan entered the contest, but withdrew after prejudging. The reason for McMillan’s withdrawal wasn’t available at the time this article was written.
Here are the top 10 results and winnings from the Men’s Open division at the Legion Sports Fest, along with the winners from the other divisions that competed over the weekend.
2021 Legion Sports Fest Men’s Bodybuilding Results
- Shaun Clarida — $10,000
- Regan Grimes — $4,000
- Sergio Oliva Jr. — $3,000
- Tonio Burton — $2,000
- Martin Fitzwater — $1,000
- Joe Seeman
- Stan de Longeaux
- Maxx Charles
- Kenneth Jackson
- Patrick Moore
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[Related: The Definitive Guide to Bodybuilding Meal Prep]
The Big Three
The 2021 Legion Sports Fest was an exhilarating event for fans of bodybuilding. The top three finishers in the category each brought the heat in their own way, delivering stellar on-stage performances.
Shaun Clarida
Clarida announced on Instagram during the weekend that his stage weight was 174.6 pounds. At 5’2”, he was clearly the smallest man in the lineup. However, his round muscle bellies and incredible definition helped carry him to victory.
Clarida maintained a statuesque presence on stage even when not front and center, flexing his muscles and appearing confident. As he won both rounds of scoring, the stage presence clearly paid off.
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Clarida is now in a unique position as he has qualified for the 2022 Mr. Olympia contest in two divisions. He can enter in the Men’s 212, his normal category, or he can compete in the Open. The New Jersey native will have to make a decision before the biggest show in bodybuilding kicks off in December 2022.
Regan Grimes
Grimes started working with coach Milos Sarcev after his 15th place finish in the 2021 Mr. Olympia, and the switch appears to be working for him. Weighing in at just over 254 pounds, Grimes was in top form aesthetically.
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His muscles were full, his skin was tight, and he presented his iconic silhouette. In spite of his improvements, Clarida’s definition and muscularity were too much to overcome. Still, a silver-medal finish is a solid position for the 28-year-old.
Sergio Oliva Jr.
This was Oliva Jr.’s first appearance since his sixth-place finish at the 2021 Arnold Classic. He was also much improved here in comparison to his last contest. He and Grimes were in the first and last callout alongside Clarida, where they took turns in the middle of the stage, indicating that the judges were considering Oliva Jr. for the title.
Division Winners
Counting the Men’s Open, there were six pro contests held in Reno over the weekend. The winners of the Classic Physique, Men’s Physique, Fitness, Women’s Physique, and Bikini shows have all earned automatic qualifications for the Olympia next year. The second through fifth-place finishers have earned points according to the updated Olympia Qualification Series.
Note: The top three finishers in each of these divisions received $2,000, $1,000, and $500 respectively.
Classic Physique
- Jorge Herrera
- Sabur Favors
- Jeff Hallenbeck
Men’s Physique
- Kyron Holden
- Arya Saffaie
- Suraqah Shabazz
Fitness
- Missy Truscott
- Tamara Vahn
- Terra Plum
Bikini
- Ivanna Escandar
- Phoebe Hagan
- Alessia Facchin
Women’s Physique
- Natalia Abraham Coelho
- Ivie Rhein
- Emily Renee Schubert
Looking Forward
The 2021 Mr. Olympia contest had the biggest prize pool in the history of the event. While Mamdouh “Big Ramy” Elssbiay successfully defended his title, challengers like Clarida are making waves in the lower circuits and building anticipation.
With over a year to go before the biggest showdown in professional bodybuilding takes place in Las Vegas, Nevada, the athletes with their eyes on the title have plenty of time to pack on muscle, shed some fat, and drum up hype among the fans.
Featured Image: @shaunclarida on Instagram
