REGAN GRIMES’ RISING STAR

Moving into Classic Physique puts the Canadian into the hunt for the Olympia title

Canadian bodybuilding fans already know rising star Regan Grimes, but he jumps onto the biggest international stage of his life this month, making his Olympia debut in Classic Physique. The good-looking 25-year-old from London, Ontario, switched over from men’s bodybuilding earlier this year, winning the New York Pro—his first professional win—and setting himself up to be one of the biggest men onstage in Las Vegas.

This issue marks Regan’s first MUSCLE INSIDER cover.

MI: This being your first MUSCLE INSIDER cover, does that have any special significance for you?

Regan: Yes, it has always been a dream of mine to be on a cover of a magazine. I always loved getting magazines and learning as much as I could to become a better bodybuilder!

MI: Who has been the most influential on your decision to become a pro bodybuilder?

Regan: Jay Cutler, for sure. I loved how he persevered against Ronnie Coleman and ended up beating him after years of coming in second. His business sense is second to none, and he’s also one of the nicest, too!

MI: You’ve wavered back and forth between bodybuilding and classic physique. Which seems a better fit for your physique and where you want to take it?

Regan: I’ve always wanted to compete in classic physique since it was established, and my physique just fits the requirements, so it was like now or never! That’s why I’m competing in classic. Jay Cutler even told me, “Regan, you’re one and done!”—meaning he thinks I do this Olympia and then move up to Open. Jay is a huge motivator and mentor for me, so I take his opinion seriously.

MI: Today’s bodybuilders have opportunities that champions of the past didn’t have, namely the ability to engage with fans and extend their brand through social media. Where do you stand with opportunities to take advantage of that?

Regan: Bodybuilding isn’t like any other sport. You turn pro, but you’re not guaranteed anything. If you turn pro in hockey or soccer, for example, you make millions right away. In bodybuilding, you have to run your own business and market yourself through social media. YouTube and Instagram are very powerful tools when you’re able to take advantage of them and post a lot of content. I enjoy sharing my journey through social media as I prepare for my shows, and I think a lot of people who also compete can relate to the “Day in the Life” videos I do.

MI: Haters get a lot of attention in the age of social media? How do you deal with them?

Regan: Hate is inevitable; I get it daily on my social media, but for every hateful comment, I probably get 30 positive ones, so I just shrug it off and forget about it because the person writing the comment is probably miserable!

MI: If you weren’t pursuing a bodybuilding career, what do you think you would’ve been?

Regan: I went to school for policing, but I think I would’ve focused more on owning my own business of some sort.

MI: You recently had a health scare that jeopardized your first Olympia appearance. What was that all about?

Regan: About five weeks out, I came down with an infection, which landed me in the hospital, so I lost nine days of training. Being so close to the show, it was mentally a tough situation to deal with. But my coach talked to me every day and reassured me we were good to go.

MI: Give us your prediction on how you’ll finish at the Classic Physique Olympia?

Regan: I’m really hoping for a top five.