Here is a breakdown and predictions for the Men’s 212 division at the 2025 Olympia.
The biggest bodybuilding show around is finally here, the 2025 Mr. Olympia contest, and it’s back in Vegas. Over the last couple of days, we’ve previewed and highlighted top competitors in the Men’s Open and Classic Physique divisions, as those divisions showcase a lot of talent such as Hadi Choopan and Mike Sommerfeld.
Today, our team at Generation Iron is going to take a look at the Men’s 212 lineup before the Super Bowl of bodybuilding begins.
What is the Men’s 212 Division?
The Men’s 212 bodybuilders are the next biggest division besides the Men’s Open. The men in this category hold more muscle mass than the Classic Physique contenders but are not quite as big as the Men’s Open competitors, and they are generally shorter. The Men’s 212 bodybuilding division was originally started as the Men’s 202 class, but eventually was increased as the sport of bodybuilding evolved.
The 212 division was introduced in 2008 to allow some big but shorter competitors to compete with others with similar builds. Since many athletes were coming in between 205-210 lbs, it switched to 212 in 2011 to give competitors more wiggle room with their weight. It’s very similar to the Men’s Open division, but of course, as the name suggests, competitors have a weight cap of 212 pounds.
Competitors to Look Out For
There are plenty of talented athletes that will be competing in the 212 Olympia this year, so we have picked out five of them to look out for.
Shaun Clarida
It’s hard not to put the 2020 and 2022 champ, Shaun Clarida, on the list. Considering he is coming to reclaim his throne, we have seen some intense training sessions from Shaun so he can bring a physique that no one comes close to.
Kerrith Bajjo
Kerrith Bajjo came in 4th last year, and is definitely a 212 competitor to watch out for when heading into the biggest bodybuilding show of the year. He is massive, shredded, and with competitors like Kamal Egargni not competing, there is room for Kerrith to move up in the rankings for this division.
Keone Pearson
A former competitor in the Classic Physique division, Keone Pearson made the move to 212 after deciding it fit his body type a bit more, and he was right. Keone took home the 2023 and 2024 Olympia titles, making him a top contender to keep an eye on this year as well.
He is not the tallest on the stage, but packs on a great amount of muscle mass, making the 212 division the way to go. Keone shows off some great proportions, as well as an incredibly small waist, which makes his other features like his lats look ten times bigger than they are. He also demonstrates incredible core control, pulling in his abs for a vacuum like no other. Keone Pearson is definitely a 212 competitor to keep an eye on this time around.
Full List of Qualified 212 Athletes
Now, the above names are our top picks for athletes to look out for, but those are not the only competitors. Below is a full list of qualified athletes to compete in the 212 Division at the 2025 Mr. Olympia, but keep in mind that qualified does not mean they will definitely be there.
- Radoslav Angelov (Bulgaria)
- Kerrith Bajjo (USA)
- Jose Maria Mete Bueriberi (Spain)
- Shaun Clarida (USA)
- Lucas Coelho (Brazil)
- Luiz Esteves (Brazil)
- Lucas Garcia (Brazil)
- Zhaofeng He (China)
- Roman Iushchenko (Ukraine)
- Sung Yeop Jang (South Korea)
- Nihat Kaya (Turkey)
- Ching Chieh Lin (Taiwan, China)
- Frankie Mercado (USA)
- Vitor Alves Porto De Oliveira (Brazil)
- Courage Opara (USA)
- Mazin Al Rahbi (Oman)
- Marco Ruz (France)
- Samir Troudi (Sweden)
- Francisco Barrios Vlk (Brazil)
- Giuseppe Zagarella (Italy)
- Keone Pearson (USA)
How the 212 Division is Judged
Now, when it comes to how the 212 Mr. Olympia is judged, it is much like the Men’s Open. When people hear the word “bodybuilding,” their minds automatically divert to and think of the Men’s Open Division, which is composed of the largest and most conditioned athletes. Athletes in that division want to be the biggest and leanest that they can. On the other hand, the 212 division is separate from the Open, but judged fairly similarly. In this division, the athletes are to come in with great muscle mass and shreds, but must weigh less than 212 pounds to compete. However, the criteria and poses are the same as the Men’s Open Bodybuilding division.
Olympia Wrap Up
Overall, the 212 Mr. Olympia is a stacked class with some great talent that will certainly make for an interesting show. Do you think that Shaun Clarida will be able to take his title back? Will Keone stay on top? Will a new winner be crowned?
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