ANIMAL signs bodybuilder Regan Grimes to elite athlete roster

ANIMAL has added IFBB Pro Regan Grimes to its athlete roster, pairing the sports nutrition brand with a top bodybuilding competitor who says the move fulfills a long-running goal. The signing links ANIMAL’s four-decade bodybuilding identity with Grimes’ rise from fan to pro as he enters the prime of his career.

Why it matters: - The signing ties one of bodybuilding’s recognizable competitors to a brand built around hardcore gym culture and performance nutrition. - ANIMAL gets a high-profile athlete whose career spans both Classic Physique and Men’s Open, along with a story that fits the brand’s long-running image. - Grimes adds another major endorsement partnership as he continues competing at the top of professional bodybuilding.

What happened: - ANIMAL announced the signing of IFBB Professional Bodybuilder Regan Grimes to its elite roster of athletes. - The announcement came Aug. 14, 2026, from New Brunswick, N.J. - Grimes said the partnership feels like a full-circle moment after growing up in Canada inspired by ANIMAL’s posters, films and athletes.

The details: - Grimes said he first discovered ANIMAL through athletes including Frank McGrath, Antoine Vaillant and Evan Centopani. - Grimes started in competitive motocross as a teenager before injuries pushed him into the weight room. - He won his first bodybuilding competition at 18 and worked multiple jobs to fund his career while chasing his IFBB Pro Card. - Grimes earned that Pro Card at the 2016 Arnold Classic Brazil. - His wins include the 2018 New York Pro in Classic Physique, plus the Romania Muscle Fest Pro in 2020, Egypt Pro in 2021, Europa Pro in 2023 and California State Pro in 2025 in Men’s Open. - Grimes has earned multiple Mr. Olympia qualifications across both divisions. - He finished in the Top 10 at the 2023 Mr. Olympia. - Grimes said his family is now his biggest source of motivation, and that fatherhood changed how he approaches the sport. - Evan Centopani, a longtime ANIMAL athlete, said Grimes is a strong cultural fit for the brand. - ANIMAL described its brand values as discipline, authenticity, resilience and earning every result. - ANIMAL said the company has more than four decades of history in sports nutrition and performance supplementation.

Between the lines: - The deal leans heavily on identity, not just product endorsement. - ANIMAL is using Grimes’ rise, work ethic and fan-to-athlete story to reinforce its old-school bodybuilding positioning. - Grimes’ comments suggest the partnership matters as much for personal alignment as for commercial reach.

What's next: - ANIMAL and Grimes plan to build on the brand’s legacy and use the partnership to motivate the next generation of lifters. - Grimes said he believes he is entering the prime of his competitive career, setting up the partnership to unfold alongside more stage appearances. - Fans can learn more through ANIMAL’s announcement.