The 2023 Arnold Classic scheduled for March 2-5, 2023, in Columbus, OH, will feature 10 bodybuilders in the Men’s Open category. Among those athletes are two-time Mr. Olympia Mamdouh “Big Ramy” Elssbiay, 2022 Mr. Olympia bronze medalist Nick Walker, and reigning two-time 212 Olympia champion Shaun Clarida.
On Jan. 31, 2023, Clarida took to his Instagram page to share his physique five weeks out from the 2023 Arnold Classic. Sitting at 190 pounds, he posted a photo of himself performing a lat spread pose to show off the muscle density in his back and the sharp condition and detailing throughout. Check it out below:
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2023 Arnold Classic Roster | Men’s Open
- William Bonac
- Shaun Clarida
- Samson Dauda
- Kamal Elgargni
- Chinedu Andrew Obiekea (Andrew Jacked)
- Patrick Moore
- Justin Rodriguez
- Nick Walker
- Akim Williams
- Mamdouh “Big Ramy” Elssbiay
Clarida is not the only 212 competitor competing in the Men’s Open in Columbus. Former 212 Olympia champion Kamal Elgargni is also in the lineup vying for the $300,000 grand prize. Clarida is no stranger to competing in the Men’s Open category. He won the 2021 Legions Sports Fest pro show in the Men’s Open, qualifying him to compete in the 2022 Mr. Olympia contest. However, he returned to the 212 division at the 2022 Olympia to reclaim the throne after Derek Lunsford moved up to compete in the Mr. Olympia contest.
We ain’t hiding for this one. Ready to shake things up in Ohio!
In a recent appearance on Fouad Abiad‘s The Real Bodybuilding podcast, seven-time 212 Olympia champion Flex Lewis predicted that Clarida would rank sixth overall. His prediction was not because of the package that he brings but because Lewis thinks the judges will award the other athletes like Andrew Jacked over Clarida simply for being physically more prominent athletes. For context, Clarida will be the shortest athlete on stage at five-foot, two inches tall.
Despite the height discrepancy that Clarida will encounter in Columbus, that’s not a new obstacle for him. He has beaten many of the top bodybuilders in the world despite the size difference, and as Lewis stated, Clarida “never misses” with regard to conditioning and fullness on stage.
If Clarida can pull off an upset and win the 2023 Arnold Classic, it would be the ideal year to do so. Not only would it qualify him for the 2023 Mr. Olympia contest, but it would also score him the largest prize purse in Arnold Classic history.