A MR Olympia champion has revealed the time he felt most disrespected by a hater – and how he overcomes the doubters every day.
Shaun Clarida, a two-time 212 Olympia Champion, paused his training for the upcoming 2023 Arnold Classic bodybuilder competition to discuss the disparaging moment.
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Clarida, known as The Giant Killer because of his 5-foot, 2-inch frame, was told 11 years ago that his career was over.
The bodybuilder was chided right after being asked to join the International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness (IFBB), the governing body that regulates the largest bodybuilding competitions in the world.
The Giant Killer had just received his professional card for the bantamweight division when he encountered the doubter.
The bantamweight division is considered the lightweight division, with competitors weighing 143 pounds and under.
Clarida joined the MD Global Muscle podcast, hosted by Mr Olympia reporter Giles Thomas, and talked about when the bodybuilder had been doubted.
“In 2012, when I won the Nationals with the bantamweight and I won my pro card, someone came up to me and told me ‘Congratulations! Your career is over,'” Clarida said.
Clarida shot back: “What do you mean?”
To which the doubter replied: “Well, there’s never been a bantamweight who’s ever gone on and done anything in IFBB.”
Clarida said he persevered through the doubt and credits his work ethic for his championship wins.
“Obviously I could have easily said, ‘OK he’s right’ and quit but I didn’t,” Clarida said.
“I knew, again, what I was capable of I knew what the goal was.”
Clarida has gone on to a storied career, competing in competitions for 15 years.
He said he still encounters people who doubt him.
“I still hear it though. ‘Well, he’s good, but,'” Clarida said.
“Its like, alright well, gotta keep working – that’s it.”
He has won the 212 Olympia Champion twice – once in 2020 and again in 2022.
His Instagram is full of snaps of him in the gym, showing his bulging muscles and immaculate physique.
His most recent post is captioned: “‘Don’t compete’ they said.
“‘You’ll never win any show!’ they said.
“‘Forget EVER winning a pro show” they said…etc etc,” followed by a series of laughing emojis.
