Should the 212 bodybuilding division be scrapped?
The 212 bodybuilding division has always been a controversial division. Some believe it should be scrapped, meaning every bodybuilder should compete in the open division.
Before 2008, the sport of bodybuilding basically only had one division. From lightweights to heavyweights, everybody competed against each other for the top prize.
In some major competitions, such as the Mr. Olympia, between 1974 to 1979, athletes competed in the lightweight and heavyweight divisions, but the over all winner would be decided between the two divisions.
The system with two bodybuilding divisions was then scrapped until 2008, when the 202 division was introduced.
The 202 division was created for bodybuilders weighing up to 202lbs (91.6kg).
The Mr. Olympia event now had two options for bodybuilders. The smaller athletes opted for the 202 division, while the heavier and taller athletes competed in the open division.
The only difference was that the winner of the 202 division and the open bodybuilding division did not compete against each other for the overall Mr. Olympia title. We would now have a 202 bodybuilding Olympia winner and the Mr. Olympia winner.
The lighter bodybuilders started to have problems cutting their weight down to 202lbs, so the Pro League decided to increase the maximum eight limit to 212lbs (96.6kg).
While the number of qualified 212 bodybuilders continued to equal the open division for the Mr. Olympia, the same could not be said for the Arnold Classic, with Arnold Schwarzenegger removing the 212 division from the Arnold Classic in 2019. The 212 division only lasted four years at the Arnold Classic, 2014-2018.
On the other side of the fence, the IFBB Elite Pro also have a lightweight bodybuilding division, but at international events, such as the IFBB Elite Pro World Championships, or the Arnold Classic Europe, the lightweight winner competes against the heavyweight winner for the overall title.
Is there a place for the 212 bodybuilding division in the future?
The 212 bodybuilding events are still popular for various promoters, but the athletes that compete in the 212 division are killing the division themselves.
Why are the athletes themselves killing the 212 division? Just look at the recent results that the 212 athletes achieved in the the open division, when they moved up.
Shaun Clarida kicked butt at the 2021 Legion Sports Fest Pro, when he defeated mass monsters, Silvio Oliva Jr. and Regan Grimes.
In 2021, Derek Lunsford dominated the 212 division to win the 212 Olympia, to then move up to the open division and place second at the 2022 Mr. Olympia, a fantastic achievement.
Derek ended up finishing second to another former 212 competitor, Hadi Choopan. Hadi was not the biggest competitor, but he was the most conditioned.
What does this mean? The smaller conditioned bodybuilder, can easily defeat the mass monster at any event, even the Mr. Olympia.
Financially, the open division is always the better option for the 212 bodybuilder.
The only viable solution for the 212 division to continue to be relevant, is that the 212 winner goes up against the open division winner for the overall titl, at every event.
7X 212 Olympia winner, Flex Lewis, could have easily competed in the open division, in his prime. Flex was definitely a top five finisher in the open division, meaning he would have also made more money.
Lee Priest calls for the 212 division to be scrapped
Lee Priest had a very successful bodybuilding career, competing against bodybuilders twice his size on stage.
Lee Priest, Shawn Ray, Lee Labrada, William Bonac, Danny Padilla, and many more “Giant Killers” had a very successful run in the open division, regardless of their size. Some believe, Shawn Ray, Lee Labrada and Danny Padilla, should have won the Mr. Olympia title, during their careers.
Competing against the much bigger athletes, Lee Priest held his own, placing in the top five, the majority of the time.
During his illustrious bodybuilding career, Lee Priest placed in the top five, including victories, at least 27 times, a fantastic achievement.
Lee Priest does not hold back, he insists that if an athlete wins his pro card, he should train hard to add size and compete in the open division. If they don’t do well, they should try a smaller event, if that fails, stay amateur.
The majority of bodybuilding fans supported Lee Priests argument, while a number of professional athletes did not agree.
Conclusion
Evolutionofbodybuilding.net believes that if the 212 division is scrapped, the open division will be much more exciting.
The present 212 athletes will not have to worry about making weight, giving them the opportunity to concentrate on more size and condition, to challenge for titles in the open division.
This is not impossible, it can be done. The smaller bodybuilders should not be discouraged. They can easily defeat the much bigger athlete with the right balance of condition and size.
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