On Episode 251 of The Menace Podcast, host Dennis James was joined by his common panelists Milos Sarcev and Chris Cormier, together with particular visitor and 212 Olympia champion, Keone Pearson. “The Prodigy” is ready to defend his 212 title in Vegas in a matter of days however has additionally introduced his impending Open debut.
Host Dennis James has lengthy felt that Pearson, who initially competed at Olympia on the Traditional stage however discovered large success after shifting to the 212 class, ought to go to the Open. Nonetheless, that’s a giant resolution to make, as a result of Pearson received back-to-back 212 trophies in 2023 and 2024 and is seeking to threepeat his championship in Las Vegas this 12 months.
“You don’t appear to be a 212 man no extra,” quipped Dennis James. “Possibly I’m not 212,” retorted The Prodigy, who earlier this month, lastly introduced that he would transfer to the Open on the 2025 Prague Professional on October 25-26. “Simply a type of issues the place you’re prepared to inform the entire world, however even for myself, I couldn’t inform a sole,” defined Pearson of the method. “Why?” requested Chris Cormier. “We’ve been speaking about it for 2 years now. “I talked about probably doing Open, however I didn’t say when,” answered The Prodigy, noting {that a} legacy within the 212 division is extraordinarily necessary to him.
Would Keone ‘The Prodigy’ Pearson Enter the Olympia Open in 2026?
“No less than let me know, when did you determine to … do an Open in 2025?” requested James. “It was in July,” mentioned Pearson, explaining that Chris Bumstead’s look on the 2024 Prague Professional had motivated him to go for it. “I used to be like, I feel this may be a extremely good, two-day, peak present for me to see how I do in a present like that.”
It is a sensible technique as a result of the timing signifies that Pearson can compete within the 212 division on the Olympia after which tread the boards in Prague round 2 weeks later. His place will then probably inform which class he strives for in 2026. Pearson additionally defined that collaborating in a two-day present in Prague could be good follow for studying how you can peak his physique for the Olympia Open division format.
James identified that if Pearson locations first in Prague, he would then be certified for the 2026 Olympia Open division. “Would you do the Open subsequent 12 months” requested The Menace. “Erm, that’s to be decided,” answered The Prodigy.
To observe the complete episode of the most recent TMP the place the panel additionally mentioned the Olympia prize cash, the highest contenders, and different topical bodybuilding information, see beneath:
