Charles Griffen is an American IFBB Pro bodybuilder in the Men’s Open division — a mass monster with three pro wins and three Mr. Olympia appearances. 💪
His story is one of the toughest in modern bodybuilding. He won a pro show, and the last Olympia qualifying spot of 2023, with a torn pec — then came back in 2026 after almost three years away.
Quick Facts
| Full Name | Charles Griffen |
| Division | Men’s Open Bodybuilding |
| Nationality | American |
| From | Minnesota, USA |
| Born | 1982 (reported) |
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (175 cm) |
| Contest Weight | Around 235–245 lb (107–111 kg) |
| Pro Card | 2015 NPC Nationals — Heavyweight winner |
| Pro Wins | 3 |
| Mr. Olympia Appearances | 3 (best: 10th in 2023) |
| Status in 2026 | Active — 4th at the 2026 Tampa Pro |
Early Life: The Loss That Started Everything
Profile accounts say Griffen grew up in Arizona, and that as a young man he was drifting — by his own telling, headed for trouble if something did not change.
In 2012, his mother died suddenly. Griffen has said that losing her changed everything: he found bodybuilding in the aftermath, and he credits her memory for the career that followed. 🕊️
He later settled in Minnesota, where his amateur career took off — and where he would build one of the most muscular physiques in the American pro ranks.
Amateur Rise and the 2015 Pro Card
Griffen first made his mark in 2014, winning the Light Heavyweight class at the NPC Minnesota State Championships, with prep help from Tim Johnson.
That state title did not make him a pro, though. At national level that year he placed 7th at the North Americans and 12th at the NPC Nationals in the Light Heavyweight class.
So he moved up. In 2015 he returned as a Heavyweight, took 3rd at the NPC USA Championships, and then won the Heavyweight class at the 2015 NPC Nationals — and with it, his IFBB pro card. 🏆
Early Pro Years: A Win and an Olympia Debut
Griffen’s pro debut came at the 2016 Ferrigno Legacy Pro, where he placed 5th. In 2017 he added a 3rd at the California Pro and a 4th at the Chicago Pro.
The breakthrough arrived in 2018. He was runner-up at the Indy Pro, then won the Muscle Mayhem Pro — his first pro title — and made his Mr. Olympia debut, placing 13th.
Working with coach Matt Jansen, he kept adding size. After a 7th place at the 2019 Tampa Pro, he stepped away from the stage for a season.
The 2022 Run: Second Win and a Second Olympia
Griffen returned in 2021 with a strong 3rd at the Tampa Pro, and 2022 became his best season yet.
At the Indy Pro he finished 2nd behind Blessing Awodibu, ahead of a deep field that included veteran Walter Martin, whose own Open comeback landed 7th that day.
Then came pro win number two: Griffen won the 2022 California State Pro, and closed the year with a 14th place at the Mr. Olympia. 🔥
The Torn Pec — and the Win Nobody Expected
In April 2023, Griffen tore his left pec — a grade II partial tendon tear — while incline-pressing 170 lb dumbbells. Most athletes would have booked surgery and written off the season.
According to reports at the time, Griffen chose the other path: no surgery, a short recovery window, and one last shot at the final Olympia qualifying show of the year.
On October 8, 2023, with the pec tear still visible, he won the Legion Sports Fest Pro in Reno — a unanimous victory that grabbed the last spot at the 2023 Mr. Olympia. The Legion stage has a habit of launching comebacks: Brett Wilkin won the same show a year later on his own road to the Olympia.
Four weeks later in Orlando, Griffen placed 10th at the Mr. Olympia — the best Olympia finish of his career. 🙌
Charles Griffen in 2026: The Comeback Is Real
After the 2023 Olympia, Griffen disappeared from contest lineups — no shows in 2024, and none in 2025 either. Many fans assumed he was done.
He was not. On August 1, 2026, he returned at the Tampa Pro and placed 4th — behind winner Nick Walker, James Hollingshead and Joseph Palacios — in his first contest in almost three years.
Only the winner qualified for the Olympia, so there is no 2026 Olympia appearance. But a top-four finish at 44, after that long away, says the story is not finished.
Away from the stage, Griffen also works as a coach, personal trainer and nutrition coach, helping other athletes through his own training app. 📱
Contest Record
| Year | Contest | Class | Placing |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | NPC Minnesota State | Light Heavyweight | 1st |
| 2014 | NPC North American Championships | Light Heavyweight | 7th |
| 2014 | NPC Nationals | Light Heavyweight | 12th |
| 2015 | NPC USA Championships | Heavyweight | 3rd |
| 2015 | NPC Nationals | Heavyweight | 1st — pro card |
| 2016 | Ferrigno Legacy Pro | Open | 5th |
| 2017 | California Pro | Open | 3rd |
| 2017 | Chicago Pro | Open | 4th |
| 2018 | Indy Pro | Open | 2nd |
| 2018 | Muscle Mayhem Pro | Open | 1st |
| 2018 | Mr. Olympia | Open | 13th |
| 2019 | Chicago Pro | Open | 2nd |
| 2019 | Tampa Pro | Open | 7th |
| 2021 | Tampa Pro | Open | 3rd |
| 2022 | Indy Pro | Open | 2nd |
| 2022 | California State Pro | Open | 1st |
| 2022 | Mr. Olympia | Open | 14th |
| 2023 | Legion Sports Fest Pro | Open | 1st |
| 2023 | Mr. Olympia | Open | 10th |
| 2026 | Tampa Pro | Open | 4th |
FAQs
How many pro wins does Charles Griffen have?
Three: the 2018 Muscle Mayhem Pro, the 2022 California State Pro and the 2023 Legion Sports Fest Pro.
What is Charles Griffen’s best Mr. Olympia placing?
10th place in 2023. He has competed at three Olympias: 2018 (13th), 2022 (14th) and 2023 (10th).
Did Charles Griffen really win a show with a torn pec?
Yes. He tore his left pec in April 2023, chose not to have surgery, and won the Legion Sports Fest Pro that October — taking the final qualifying spot for the 2023 Mr. Olympia.
Is Charles Griffen still competing in 2026?
Yes. After no contests in 2024 or 2025, he returned at the 2026 Tampa Pro on August 1 and placed 4th — his first show since the 2023 Olympia.
How did Charles Griffen earn his pro card?
He won the Heavyweight class at the 2015 NPC National Championships. His 2014 Minnesota State title was an amateur state win, not the pro card itself.
How old is Charles Griffen, and how tall is he?
He was born in 1982, according to profile listings, which makes him 44 in 2026. His height is listed at 5 ft 9 in, though some sites list 5 ft 10 in.
The Bottom Line
Three pro wins, three Olympias and a title won on a torn pec — Charles Griffen’s record is built on refusing to quit. 💪
And after his 4th place at the 2026 Tampa Pro, the comeback chapter is still being written.