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The 2023 Mr. Olympia concluded with the marvelous win of Keone Pearson as the winner of the 212 Division. The bodybuilding icon made it to the pinnacle by defeating two-time champion, Shaun Clarida. Even though Clarida seemed to have more muscularity than Pearson, he could not secure the third title. However, both icons never disappoint the audience when it comes to their flawless physique.

Terrell Owens holding Dude Wipes XL

Recently, Pearson took to Instagram and shared his opinion about Clarida and posted a picture from their competition. His exciting revelation took the internet by storm.

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Pearson cheers for his rival

The 2023 Mr Olympia 212 winner posted a picture of him and his rival and wrote a caption. He stated that this was the battle that everyone was waiting for. He also talked about the hard work for the competition that he put in for the past one year.

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Pearson complimented his rival and their combination by stating, “But having a true freaky champ like @shaunclarida to chase puts me in that extra gear.” He also admitted that the tables might have turned and spots might have switched but the motivation remains the same. According to Pearson he is his own competition and stated, “In my mind, I’m still chasing. Still working like the underdog. Only this time, I need to beat myself.”

Read More: “Keone Wasn’t As Sharp”: Jay Cutler Explains How The Current 212 Mr. Olympia Champ Beat Shaun Clarida Despite Not Looking His Best

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Keone Pearson respects and values his rival but he ultimately thinks of himself as his competition and is gearing up for 2024. From backing out due to depression to winning the competition, Pearson has drastically changed his life in the past.

Keone Pearson reminisces his bodybuilding journey

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The new Mr Olympia 212 winner spoke about his journey previously in an Instagram post. He said, “You can do anything if you put your mind to it. Tuned the negative noise out & make sure the people around you only want to see you GROW!!!”

He did not leave the dark sides behind and said that 2020 was not a good year for him and he was battling depression, and going through the lowest phase of his life. However, he overcame all adversities and fought for his bodybuilding career. With all the effort Pearson seems to be putting in, do you think he can bring home the title again in 2024? Let us know in the comments below. 

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Written by

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Tanushree Bhowmick

2,841 Articles

Tanushree Bhowmick is a Senior Olympic Sports Writer at EssentiallySports with over five years of experience in sports and lifestyle journalism. Having covered UFC and MMA extensively, she now brings that lens to Olympic wrestling—highlighting how traditional combat disciplines echo through modern fighting. With a keen eye for technique and storytelling, her work explores how champions are shaped across both worlds.

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Abhishek Manikandan

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