On the weekend of March 3, the Greater Columbus Convention Center in Columbus, OH hosted the thirty fifth version of the Arnold Classic. The followers noticed seven champions topped all through the weekend, together with Samson Dauda taking the highest title, the boys’s open Arnold Classic championship.
Dauda needed to face 9 of the IFBB Pro League’s finest bodybuilders on the planet, together with two-time Mr. Olympia Mamdouh “Big Ramy” Elssbiay, Nick Walker, and Andrew Jacked. Current Olympia 212 Champion Shaun Clarida was additionally on this 10-man lineup, and he positioned fifth on this present regardless of being outweighed by 50 to 100 kilos in some instances. At the tip of the finals, it got here right down to Dauda and 2021 Arnold Classic winner Nick Walker for the title, and Dauda could be the person along with his hand raised by Arnold Schwarzenegger on the finish of the night. He bought a $300,000 first place verify to go along with that trophy.
1. Samson Dauda
2. Nick Walker
3. Andrew Jacked
4. Mamdouh Elssbiay
5. Shaun Clarida
Other Men Divisions
Three different males’s divisions hosted contests in Columbus. Erin Banks managed to efficiently defend his Arnold Men’s Physique title in opposition to rivals Diogo Montenegro and Emanual Hunter. The standard Ramon Rocha Queiroz (a.ok.a. “Dino”) held off a cost by Urs Kalecinski to win the Arnold Classic Physique title, and the dominant Harold “King Kong” Kelley took his sixth Arnold Wheelchair win. Kelley has gained six of the seven Arnold championships that this division has had.
Arnold Men’s Physique
1. Erin Banks
2. Diogo Montenegro
3. Emanual Hunter
4. Vitor Chaves
5. Carlos DeOliveria
Arnold Classic Physique
1. Ramon Rocha Querioz
2. Urs Kalecinski
3. Alex Cambronero
4. Mike Sommerfeld
5. Courage Opara
Arnold Pro Wheelchair
1. Harold Kelley
2. Tory Jones
3. Bradley Betts
4. Woody Belfort
5. James Berger
Women’s Divisions
The girls confirmed up and placed on nice performances as nicely. Two of the three champions going into the competition managed to defend their titles. On Friday night time, Ariel Khadr claimed her second Fitness International championship, placing her in prime place to compete for the Olympia this fall. Lauralie Chapados additionally defended the Bikini International title, and he or she truly defeated the present Olympia winner, Maureen Blanquisco, in addition to former Arnold and Olympia champions Jennifer Dorie and Ashley Kaltwasser to take action.
The second Wellness International competitors was additionally held, and a brand new champion was assured in that contest as a result of defending champion Isabelle Nunes needed to withdraw as a consequence of damage. Angela Borges was thought-about the favourite, however Kassandra Gillis of Canada was in the perfect form of her profession. That was rewarded as a result of she was handed the trophy because the champion. Borges completed because the runner-up for the second straight 12 months.
Wellness International
1. Kassandra Gillis
2. Angela Borges
3. Rayane Fogal
4. Alexis Adams
5. Marissa Andrews
Bikini International
1. Lauralie Chapados
2. Maureen Blanquisco
3. Jennifer Dorie
4. Ashley Kaltwasser
5. Romina Basualdo
Fitness International
1. Ariel Khadr
2. Jaclyn Baker
3. Michelle Freda-Mensah
4. Allison Kramer
5. Tamara Vahn
Other Notes
Four-time Arnold Classic Champion Flex Wheeler was acknowledged because the 2023 Arnold Lifetime Achievement Award winner. He and Schwarzenegger shared a second onstage earlier than Wheeler addressed the gang.
In honor of the thirty fifth anniversary of the Arnold Classic, most of the previous champions had been in attendance and graced the stage to be appreciated by the gang. Schwarzenegger thanked them for the recollections they created and for supporting the present and sport of bodybuilding.
A video tribute aired to recollect Schwarzenegger’s longtime enterprise associate and Arnold Classic co-founder, Jim Lorimer, who handed away in 2022. The viewers gave a standing ovation to point out their appreciation for the longtime promoter.