The IFBB professional put on a spectacular performance in Reno, Nevada.
Six months after suffering a terrifying setback that could easily have kept him out for the remainder of the competitive season, Charles Griffen demonstrated the power of perseverance by completing his comeback story in championship form.
On Sunday, October 8, 2023, Griffen officially earned a qualifying spot for the 2023 Mr. Olympia contest by besting the rest of the men’s Open division at the Legion Sports Fest Pro 2023 in Reno, Nevada.
With the Mr. Olympia contest, the biggest bodybuilding show of the year, scheduled for Nov. 2-5, the Legion Sports Fest Pro provided a path for hopeful contenders to secure some of the last spots in the lineup.
Not only did Griffen ensure he had the chance to erase the memories of a 14th place finish at the 2022 Olympia, he did so despite dealing with the effects of a serious injury he suffered during a chest training session early in this year. .
The Minnesota native made waves on social media in April 2023 with a video highlighting how everything can change in a split second when it comes to heavyweights. Griffen’s Instagram post showed him injuring his left pectoral muscle while preparing to perform an incline dumbbell press with a pair of 170-pound (77-kilogram) dumbbells.
Even after suffering a potentially career-threatening injury, he did not undergo surgery to repair the grade II tear. Facing a four- to six-week recovery period from the partial tendon tear, Griffen didn’t let the mishap ruin his physical or mental toughness. Instead, the injury set the stage for a furious comeback that culminated in a decisive victory with ramifications heading to Olimpia.
What made his first place finish at the Legion Sports Fest Pro even more impressive was the fact that he earned the judges’ unanimous seal of approval despite having a visibly torn pec. In a sport that values both muscle density and symmetry, Griffen’s victory speaks volumes about his all-around physique and elite conditioning.
Ultimately, his monster quads, well-developed back, and bulging biceps put him above the rest of a crowded field that included John Jewett, who will join Griffen at the Olympia ’23 in Orlando, FL to compete in the division 212. Jewett’s performance in Reno certainly turned heads, as he earned a unanimous second place finish in his Men’s Open debut.
While it seemed like Griffen’s win brought some finality to the Olympia lineup, that didn’t exactly turn out to be the case. Less than 24 hours after Griffen secured the final qualifying spot, Brett “The Butcher” Wilkin officially withdrew from the 2023 Mr. Olympia due to recent digestive issues that caused significant and unexpected weight loss.
With Wilkin, Mamdouh “Big Ramy” Elssbiay and 2023 Toronto Pro Supershow winner Iain Valliere withdrawing for various reasons, the men’s Open division lineup now includes:
Griffen faces an arduous road to finish ahead of some big-name competitors with larger physiques. With top contenders like 2022 Men’s Open runner-up Derek Lunsford, 2023 Arnold Classic winner Samson Dauda, and 2019 Mr. Olympia Brandon Curry all vying to defeat reigning champion Hadi Choopan, it will be Fascinating to see where Griffen stands after a 14th-place showing a year ago and a 13th-place Olympia debut in 2018.
On the other hand, with all the adversity he had to overcome in 2023, the three-time IFBB Pro League champion has already proven that he is capable of winning an uphill battle.
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