Justin Shier is an American IFBB Pro bodybuilder in the Men’s Open division who turned a near-fatal car accident into one of bodybuilding’s most unlikely success stories. 💪
A former BMX rider from Oregon, Shier rebuilt his life in the gym, earned his pro card at the 2021 NPC National Championships, and then won his very first pro show — the 2023 Chicago Pro — to qualify for the Mr. Olympia.
After a quieter spell, he returned to the stage at the 2025 Tampa Pro. Here is his full story: the accident, the pro card, the Olympia debut, and where he stands in 2026.
Quick Facts
| Full name | Justin Shier |
| Nationality | American (based in Oregon, USA) |
| Division | IFBB Pro League — Men’s Open Bodybuilding |
| Height | 5’7″ (170 cm) |
| Contest weight | Around 225–230 lb (102–104 kg) |
| Age | Date of birth not officially published — see the FAQ below |
| Pro card | 2021 NPC National Championships (Heavyweight, 1st place) |
| Biggest win | 2023 Chicago Pro (Men’s Open) |
| Mr. Olympia | 15th place, 2023 (debut) |
| Businesses | Owner of Duo Gym and Forward Inc., Oregon |
| @justin_shier (around 170K followers) |
Early Life: BMX, a Bad Accident, and a New Start 🚴
Before bodybuilding, Justin Shier’s world revolved around BMX riding. He was a multi-sport athlete in high school, but riding was his real passion — and he dreamed of making it his career.
That dream ended in a serious car accident that nearly cost him his life. Shier survived, but the long road back pushed him away from the bike and toward the weight room.
The gym gave him a new target. What started as rebuilding his body became a competitive obsession, and by his late twenties he was ready to test himself on a bodybuilding stage.
The NPC Years and the Pro Card 🏆
Shier’s amateur career did not begin with trophies. He opened with two second-place finishes, learning the sport the hard way before the wins arrived.
His breakthrough came at the 2019 NPC Cascadian Classic, where he scored his first victory. From there, his blend of dense muscle and sharp conditioning marked him as one to watch in the Pacific Northwest.
The defining moment arrived in 2021. At the NPC National Championships, Shier won the heavyweight class — one of the toughest amateur lineups in the United States — and earned his IFBB Pro card.
Many new pros rush straight into competition. Shier did the opposite: he took the 2022 season off to add size so he could stand next to the Open division’s biggest men without looking out of place.
Pro Debut Win and the Mr. Olympia 🎯
The patience paid off immediately. Making his pro debut at the 2023 Chicago Pro on July 21–22, Shier won the Men’s Open title outright.
It was no soft lineup, either. He beat veteran Jon De La Rosa into second place, with Stanislas de Longeaux third, Blessing Awodibu fourth and Patrick Moore fifth.
“I came in to win. I felt like I knew I was going to win,” Shier said afterwards — and the victory punched his ticket to the 2023 Mr. Olympia in Orlando.
On the Olympia stage that November, the debutant placed 15th in one of the deepest Open lineups of the era, finishing one spot behind Germany’s Roman Fritz and ahead of Phil Clahar.
Before the show, Shier had openly targeted a top-10 finish. Missing it did not dent his belief — but it did set up the harder chapters that followed.
Contest History
| 2019 | NPC Cascadian Classic — 1st place (first career win) |
| 2021 | NPC National Championships — 1st place, Heavyweight (earned IFBB Pro card) |
| 2023 | Chicago Pro — 1st place, Men’s Open (pro debut win) |
| 2023 | Mr. Olympia — 15th place |
| 2025 | Tampa Pro — 13th place, Men’s Open |
The Comeback: Tampa Pro 2025 🔥
After the Olympia, Shier stepped away from the stage and did not compete in 2024. When he announced his return for the 2025 Tampa Pro, the bodybuilding media took notice.
Appearing on The Menace Podcast before the show, Shier — weighing around 230 lb — confidently predicted he would win Tampa and stamp a second ticket to the Olympia.
Fellow Open pro Akim Williams rated his chances highly too, picking Shier to finish third in a stacked field.
Reality was tougher. At the Tampa Pro (July 31 – August 2, 2025), Shier placed 13th in a lineup won by Jordan Hutchinson — a reminder of how deep the Open division has become.
Training Style: The Famous Back Days 🏋️
Ask fans what Shier is known for in the gym and one answer dominates: back training. His back workouts, shared on the YouTube channel he launched in February 2022, built much of his online following.
His approach starts with pullovers and pulldown variations to fill the lats with blood, then moves into heavy rows and deadlift variations. He is a big believer in rest-pause work — pushing sets to failure, taking a few deep breaths, and going again.
Shier also preaches tracking every lift. Writing down weights and reps, session after session, is how he measures whether he is actually progressing or just training hard.
Ironically, Shier himself rates his front double biceps as his best pose — and his rear double biceps as his weakest. The fans who queue up for his back-day videos would probably disagree.
Business and Life Outside Bodybuilding 💼
Shier is an entrepreneur as well as an athlete. Back home in Oregon he owns Duo Gym and runs Forward Inc., a cannabis dispensary and cultivation business — a second career that predates his pro card.
Sponsorships have followed the physique. Over the years he has represented brands including Hosstile Supplements, HD Muscle and ELEV8 Foods, and his current roster lists Raw Nutrition, Revive MD and RP Strength among his partners.
He also coaches clients online through his “Hire Shier” programme. His wife, Jasmine, is an IFBB Pro in her own right, making bodybuilding very much a family business.
Justin Shier in 2026 🔮
As of late 2026, Shier has not announced a return to the competition stage, and no 2026 contest results carry his name. His most recent outing remains the 2025 Tampa Pro.
That does not mean he has gone quiet. He stays active with around 170,000 Instagram followers, continues coaching, and keeps the gym and business ventures running in Oregon.
The competitive fire clearly has not gone out — before Tampa he was talking about winning, not just showing up. Whether that means one more Olympia run is a question only Shier can answer.
What is certain is the shape of the story so far: a man who nearly lost everything in a car accident, and rebuilt himself into an Olympia bodybuilder.
Frequently Asked Questions ❓
How old is Justin Shier?
His date of birth has never been officially published. The old version of this page listed him as 34 in one section and 35 in another, and no reliable source confirms either figure — so this biography does not print an age rather than guess. He is a former high-school athlete who started competing in his late twenties and turned pro in 2021.
How tall is Justin Shier and how much does he weigh?
Shier stands 5’7″ (170 cm). He competed as an NPC heavyweight and, ahead of the 2025 Tampa Pro, said he was weighing around 230 lb (about 104 kg).
What is Justin Shier’s biggest win?
The 2023 Chicago Pro. Shier won the Men’s Open title on his IFBB Pro League debut, beating Jon De La Rosa, Stanislas de Longeaux, Blessing Awodibu and Patrick Moore.
How did Justin Shier do at the Mr. Olympia?
He placed 15th at the 2023 Mr. Olympia in Orlando — a solid debut in a lineup won by Derek Lunsford, ahead of fellow newcomer Phil Clahar.
What happened to Justin Shier before bodybuilding?
He was a BMX rider who survived a serious car accident that nearly killed him. The accident ended his riding ambitions and pushed him toward bodybuilding, where he started competing in his late twenties.
Is Justin Shier still competing in 2026?
He has not competed so far in 2026 and has announced no comeback date. His last show was the 2025 Tampa Pro, where he placed 13th. He remains active as a coach, gym owner and content creator.
The Bottom Line ✅
Justin Shier’s career is built on a single decision: after a car accident took his first dream away, he refused to be finished.
A pro card in 2021, a pro win on debut in 2023 and an Olympia appearance the same year say the decision was the right one. Whatever comes next, that comeback story is already complete. 🌟