An exceptional lineup of extraordinary athletes battling for an Olympia qualification
The 2024 Arnold Classic weekend is coming up fast! This competition includes seven IFBB Pro League shows, in which athletes are invited to compete, and can qualify for the Mr. Olympia contest. This year, there are twelve Men’s Physique athletes accepted their invitations to the second most prestigious show in bodybuilding (next to the Olympia) which will be taking place on March 1-3, 2024 in Columbus, Ohio.
As of now (this article was written on January 31) there are only 10 athletes remaining on the Men’s Physique roster. Emile Walker had to drop out of the competition due to personal family issues. Then, Jeffrey Darko pulled out due to health concerns. The remaining 10 athletes are below, listed in alphabetical order:
The 2024 Arnold Classic Men’s Physique Roster
- Mahmood Al-Maghrabi
- Vitor Chaves
- Emmanuel Costa
- Ismael Martinez Dominguez
- Emanual Hunter
- Jonas Jamena
- Vinicius Mateus Vieira Lima
- Diogo Montenegro
- Corey Morris
- Andres Ramos
Arnold Classic 2024 Men’s Physique Breakdown
There are a few things that we find to be worth discussing leading up to the the 2024 Arnold Classic, let’s take a look.
New Champion Guaranteed
The Men’s Physique is going to crown a new champion at the Arnold Classic this year, it is guaranteed. Erin Banks, the two time champ who won in 2022 and 2023, will not be back to defend his title and is instead prioritizing taking back the Mr. Olympia title (which he lost to Ryan Terry in 2023) at the 2024 Olympia Weekend in Las Vegas. That show will take place on Oct. 10-13, 2024.
Top Contenders
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When it comes to who is leading the pack going into the 2024 Arnold Classic, Diogo Montenegro is easily an early favorite. Montenegro was the runner-up to Erin Banks in the 2023 Arnold Classic Men’s Physique contest and took home fifth place at the 2023 Men’s Physique Olympia in November 2023.
Corey Morris is another top contender, as he also had a successful 2023 season. Morris ended up winning three pro shows throughout the year, including the 2023 Pittsburgh Pro show back in May. This will be his 7th pro season, and this will be an Arnold Classic debut, so Morris is gunning for a win.
Athletes to Look Out For
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Aside from the top contenders, there are a few athletes to look out for, and one of them is Vitor Chaves, who is no stranger to the Arnold Classic stage. Last year, he finished fourth place, and then went on to take home ninth at the 2023 Olympia. He is also a two time DC Pro winner.
Another athlete to keep an eye on is the 2023 Sur Cup Chile Pro winner, Emmanuel Costa. Costa placed outside the top 15 at 2023 Olympia, but is undoubtedly coming back improved and will aim to make a big splash for his Arnold Classic debut.
Debuting Athletes
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There are a few athletes who are first timers to the Arnold Classic stage. These athletes include Mahmood Al-Maghrabi, Ismael Martinez Dominguez, Jonas Jamena, Vinicius Mateus Vieira Lima, and sophomore pro Andres Ramos. That being said, they are all looking to make a statement for their first time on the stage.
Making a big splash like that for your first time on the Arnold Classic stage is huge. It can gain some significant attention to an athlete’s name, and if that comes to fruition, it could serve them well throughout the 2024 season.
How to Watch
When it comes to how to watch the Men’s Physique Division at the 2024 Arnold Classic Men’s Physique, you have a few ways to do so. The prejudging will take place in the Expo at the Greater Columbus Convention Center on Saturday, March 2, 2024. Then, the finals will be in the Battelle Grand Ballroom later that day, when the athletes come back pumped full of carbs and looking freakish.
Let us know what you think in the comments below. Also, be sure to follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.Â
