Regan Grimes is a Canadian IFBB Pro who has built one of the longest-running careers in today’s Men’s Open division. 💪
He has competed at the Mr. Olympia in two divisions, won pro shows on three continents, and — after a full year away from the stage — came back to post the best Olympia finish of his life in 2026.
This is the story of a tall, aesthetic Open bodybuilder who refused to disappear, kept adding size, and finally turned consistency into a top-seven Olympia placing.
Regan Grimes Quick Facts
| Full name | Regan Grimes |
| Born | June 26, 1993, in Lindsay, Ontario, Canada |
| Age | 33 (as of October 2026) |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Division | IFBB Pro Men’s Open (formerly Classic Physique) |
| Height | Listed at 5 ft 11 in to 6 ft 0 in — sources differ (see research notes) |
| Contest weight | Reported in a wide range across his career, roughly 213–260 lb depending on the season |
| Turned pro | 2016, at the Arnold Classic South America amateur event |
| Best Olympia finish | 7th, Men’s Open, 2026 Mr. Olympia |
| Pro wins | 8 — 1 in Classic Physique, 7 in Men’s Open |
Early Life: From Motocross to Muscle 🏍️
Regan Grimes was born on June 26, 1993, in Lindsay, Ontario, Canada.
He did not start out dreaming of a bodybuilding stage. As a teenager he was training for motocross and wanted extra size and strength to help him on the bike.
He first picked up serious weight training at 17 — and the results changed his plans completely.
By 18 he had entered his first bodybuilding show, winning the middleweight class at the Ultimate Fitness Events contest in 2012.
That early win told him what the gym already had: this was where he belonged.
Turning Pro and the Classic Physique Detour 🏆
Grimes kept climbing through the Canadian amateur ranks, winning junior, heavyweight and overall titles at the 2014 Mississauga Luchka O’Brien Classic.
His breakthrough came in 2016, when he won the overall title at the Arnold Classic South America amateur event and earned his IFBB Pro card.
His pro debut followed in 2017 at the Vancouver Pro, where he finished a strong second in Men’s Open.
That same year he also placed fifth at both the Tampa Pro and the Wings of Strength Chicago Pro.
Then came a surprising switch. In 2018 Grimes moved down to Classic Physique — and won the New York Pro in that division at his first attempt.
The win sent him to the 2018 Mr. Olympia, where he finished eighth in Classic Physique.
It was a real achievement, but it was not his final home. In 2019 he returned to Men’s Open, the division where his height and frame could carry more size.
Photo: Regan Grimes Instagram
The Open Division Grind: 2019–2023
The return to Open was not instant stardom. It was a slow, honest grind.
In 2019 he took third at both the Japan Pro and the Romania Muscle Fest Pro, learning to hold his own against much heavier men.
The breakthrough arrived in 2020, when he won the Romania Muscle Fest Pro and finished second at the British Grand Prix.
He made his Men’s Open Olympia debut that year, finishing 15th, and repeated that placing in 2021.
But 2021 also brought two big results: second at the Legion Sports Fest Pro and a win at the KO Egypt Pro.
The Egypt victory qualified him for the 2022 Olympia — yet he would not stand on that stage.
The Arnold Classic — and the One That Got Away
Grimes’ only Arnold Classic appearance in Ohio came in 2022, when he finished seventh in a stacked Men’s Open lineup won by Brandon Curry.
A week later he finished seventh again at the Boston Pro.
He then stepped away from competing for the rest of the season to work on adding size, before withdrawing from the 2022 Mr. Olympia altogether.
There is one Arnold result that often causes confusion, so let’s be clear: Grimes did not compete at the Arnold Classic UK.
He was a favourite for the first Arnold Classic UK in 2021, but he withdrew before the show over travel and quarantine concerns so he could stay available for that year’s Olympia.
No UK placing exists — and this article does not invent one.
The 2023 Comeback: Ninth at the Olympia 🔥
After the 2022 reset, Grimes returned in 2023 with a sharper, fuller package.
He finished second at the Flex Pro in Italy, then won the Europa Pro a week later — a victory that booked his ticket to the Olympia.
On bodybuilding’s biggest stage in Orlando, he delivered his best Olympia result to that point: ninth in Men’s Open.
For a man who had been written off as too aesthetic for the Open, it was proof that shape and conditioning could still crack the top ten.
A Year Away, Then a Bigger Return 💪
Grimes did not compete at all in 2024.
Instead he spent the year bulking, sharing offseason updates that put him near 296 lb, and planning a full comeback for 2025.
The comeback started at the 2025 New York Pro, where he finished fourth behind winner Nick Walker.
One week later, he won the California State Pro in Anaheim — beating Sasan Heirati into second — and qualified for the Olympia again.
He followed that with second place at the Toronto Pro Supershow, again behind Heirati, and then closed the year with second at the Mexico Pro.
At the 2025 Mr. Olympia he finished 14th — a step back from 2023, but the season had done its real job: it proved he was back.
Photo: Regan Grimes Instagram
2026: The Best Season of His Career 🌟
If 2025 was the comeback, 2026 was the payoff.
Grimes opened the year with second place at the Lenda Murray Atlanta Pro Supershow, behind winner James Hollingshead.
Then came the showdown this site’s readers will know well. At the 2026 Texas Pro, Patrick Moore edged Grimes into second place by just two points on the scorecards.
It was a narrow defeat — but Grimes did not let it slow him down.
He won the Austrian Oak Pro in Vienna, beating Damian Kuffel and Joan Pradells, and qualified for the Olympia.
Two weeks later he won again, taking the PROMUSCLE Italy Pro in Milan on September 6 with straight first-place scores, ahead of Hollingshead.
His final tune-up was the Europa Pro, where he finished second behind Samson Dauda — a strong result against the reigning standard-bearer of the division.
Then came Las Vegas. At the 2026 Mr. Olympia, Grimes finished seventh in Men’s Open — the best Olympia placing of his career, ahead of his ninth in 2023.
After nine years as a pro, the tall Canadian from Lindsay had finally reached the Olympia’s top seven. 🏆
Training and Diet: The Pump Chaser
Ask Grimes what he loves most about training, and the answer is simple: the pump.
His sessions mix heavy compound lifts — squats, deadlifts, presses and rows — with higher-rep isolation work designed to flood the muscle with blood.
He warms up thoroughly, builds to heavy working sets, then finishes with techniques like supersets and drop sets to chase that full, tight feeling.
His diet follows the classic bodybuilding rhythm: a high-calorie, protein-rich bulk to add size, then a tighter cutting phase to reveal conditioning.
During prep he has spoken about eating several meals a day built around a protein source, rice or potatoes, and vegetables — simple food, eaten consistently.
Nothing fancy. Just years of it.
Photo: Regan Grimes Instagram
Family and Life Outside the Stage ❤️
Grimes has spoken in recent years about how fatherhood changed his outlook on the sport.
He has said that bodybuilding used to be about him alone — and that providing for his family now gives every prep a bigger purpose.
He also runs his own clothing line and gym, building a life beyond the competitive stage.
Regan Grimes Full Contest Record
| Year | Competition | Division | Place |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Ultimate Fitness Events | Middleweight | 1st |
| 2014 | Mississauga Luchka O’Brien Classic | Junior, Heavyweight & Overall | 1st |
| 2016 | Arnold Classic South America (Amateur) | Over 100 kg & Overall | 1st |
| 2017 | Vancouver Pro | Men’s Open | 2nd |
| 2017 | Tampa Pro | Men’s Open | 5th |
| 2017 | Wings of Strength Chicago Pro | Men’s Open | 5th |
| 2018 | New York Pro | Classic Physique | 1st |
| 2018 | Mr. Olympia | Classic Physique | 8th |
| 2019 | Japan Pro | Men’s Open | 3rd |
| 2019 | Romania Muscle Fest Pro | Men’s Open | 3rd |
| 2020 | British Grand Prix Pro | Men’s Open | 2nd |
| 2020 | Europa Pro | Men’s Open | 4th |
| 2020 | Romania Muscle Fest Pro | Men’s Open | 1st |
| 2020 | Mr. Olympia | Men’s Open | 15th |
| 2021 | Legion Sports Fest Pro | Men’s Open | 2nd |
| 2021 | KO Egypt Pro | Men’s Open | 1st |
| 2021 | EVLS Prague Pro | Men’s Open | 3rd |
| 2021 | Mr. Olympia | Men’s Open | 15th |
| 2022 | Arnold Classic (Ohio) | Men’s Open | 7th |
| 2022 | Boston Pro | Men’s Open | 7th |
| 2022 | Cairo Pro | Men’s Open | 1st |
| 2022 | Mr. Olympia | Men’s Open | Withdrew (qualified, did not compete) |
| 2023 | Flex Pro | Men’s Open | 2nd |
| 2023 | Europa Pro | Men’s Open | 1st |
| 2023 | Mr. Olympia | Men’s Open | 9th |
| 2024 | Did not compete | — | |
| 2025 | New York Pro | Men’s Open | 4th |
| 2025 | California State Pro | Men’s Open | 1st |
| 2025 | Toronto Pro Supershow | Men’s Open | 2nd |
| 2025 | Mr. Olympia | Men’s Open | 14th |
| 2025 | Mexico Pro | Men’s Open | 2nd |
| 2026 | Lenda Murray Atlanta Pro Supershow | Men’s Open | 2nd |
| 2026 | Texas Pro | Men’s Open | 2nd |
| 2026 | Austrian Oak Pro | Men’s Open | 1st |
| 2026 | PROMUSCLE Italy Pro | Men’s Open | 1st |
| 2026 | Europa Pro | Men’s Open | 2nd |
| 2026 | Mr. Olympia | Men’s Open | 7th |
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Regan Grimes?
Regan Grimes was born on June 26, 1993, so he is 33 years old as of October 2026.
What is Regan Grimes’ best Mr. Olympia finish?
Seventh in Men’s Open at the 2026 Mr. Olympia. His previous best was ninth at the 2023 Olympia, and he also finished eighth in Classic Physique in 2018.
Has Regan Grimes ever won a pro show?
Yes — eight times. He won the 2018 New York Pro in Classic Physique, then seven Men’s Open titles: Romania Muscle Fest Pro (2020), KO Egypt Pro (2021), Cairo Pro (2022), Europa Pro (2023), California State Pro (2025), Austrian Oak Pro (2026) and PROMUSCLE Italy Pro (2026).
Did Regan Grimes compete at the Arnold Classic UK?
No. He was entered as a favourite for the first Arnold Classic UK in 2021 but withdrew before the show over travel and quarantine concerns, to stay available for that year’s Olympia. His only Arnold Classic stage result is seventh in Ohio in 2022.
Why did Regan Grimes miss the 2022 Olympia and the whole 2024 season?
He qualified for the 2022 Olympia by winning the Cairo Pro but withdrew to focus on adding size. He then sat out 2024 entirely, bulking toward a planned 2025 comeback — which he delivered.
Who beat Regan Grimes at the 2026 Texas Pro?
Patrick Moore won the 2026 Texas Pro Men’s Open, with Grimes second by just two points. The tables turned from Atlanta, where Grimes had finished second and Moore fourth.
The Bottom Line ✅
Regan Grimes is proof that a bodybuilding career is not decided in one season.
He switched divisions, stepped away twice, and came back bigger each time.
In 2026, at 33, he finally put it all together: two late-season wins, a runner-up finish at the Europa Pro, and seventh at the Olympia.
The tall, aesthetic Canadian is no longer just a promising name. He is a top-seven Olympian — and the 2026 season suggests he is not finished yet.