Should Shaun Clarida be able to compete in the 212 and Open?

Ever since 2020 Olympia 212 Champion Shaun Clarida won the 2021 Legion Sports Fest open contest, the topic of conjecture has been whether the New Jersey native should be allowed to compete in both the Olympia 212 and the Mr. Olympia contests this December. Currently, Clarida is only allowed to choose one of the other, but he and many fans are hoping that the rules will be changed in his favor.

Dennis James brought up the topic on a recent episode of The Menace Podcast with three guests to discuss the topic. 2008 Mr. Olympia Dexter Jackson, renowned coach Milos Sarcev, and longtime competitor and coach George Farah all shared their opinions on whether Clarida should be allowed to try to make bodybuiding history in Las Vegas this coming December.

00:01:00 Staying in shape in retirement – “There’s no such thing as an ex-bodybuilder”

00:19:00 Do all the classes and divisions “water down” the Open division at the Olympia?

00:21:00 Who is closest to Dexter Jackson look/shape/posing today? Hunter Labrada? Andrew Jacked? Brandon Curry?

00:27:00 How would today’s top ten open men’s bodybuilders compare to the top ten two decades ago? And what does this mean for the sport of bodybuilding?

00:33:00 Let’s talk about the 212 Division: “Should Shaun Clarida (who is Olympia-qualified for the Men’s Open division) be allowed to compete in both the 212 and the Men's Open divisions at the Olympia?” "Just qualifying for both doesn’t mean you can compete in both. But if prejudging is on different days, why not?"

00:42:00 Moving between divisions-Can you ever go back?

00:53:00 Can anyone beat Derek Lunsford in the 212 Olympia in 2022? Is he already too big to get down to 212lbs? Is he better than Flex Lewis?

01:00:00 Is Flex going to compete in the Olympia this year or retire? If he comes in at 226 he will be Top 6, but can he go Top 3?

01:13:00 What is happening right now with bodybuilders passing away? "We don't really know what's going on and it's not just our sport."

01:18:00 Putting your health at risk - Look for issues with things other than steroids. Steroids are probably not the problem for these health issues with heart and kidneys.

01:30:00 Social media and sponsors means a lot of these guys can never cycle off of everything. They gotta be going full-gear, full-steam all the time. When we were off, we were 0% off, not cruising, not abusing. "Reduce your cycles. Reduce your gear. Cycle on, cycle off."

01:35:00 "Bulletproof" George on his health -- getting shot, his fight with cancer and his miraculous recovery and well-being. Health and life after bodybuilding.

01:40:00 "People are worrying more about their dog's diet than what they are eating themselves."

01:47:00 It's not about the gear, it's all about the food when putting on size. Six or seven meals a day in the offseason - Each meal was two cups of rice and 8oz. of meal?

01:54:00 Animal protein should be no more than 25% of your daily intake of protein (CAREFUL, It gets hot!!!)

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