A new feature film documentary has begun production coinciding with the 60th anniversary of the Mr. Olympia competition
As its 60 year celebration approaches, the fitness industry’s pinnacle event is now the focus of a major documentary film project set for worldwide release early next year. Joe Weider’s Olympia Fitness & Performance Weekend has long been the holy grail in the world of bodybuilding, fitness and physique competition.
Following years of rapid growth, the movie will explore the global fascination and popularity that surrounds “The Olympia” as a brand, a sporting event, and the most coveted symbol of achievement in the world of muscle, fitness, and physique transformation.
Directed by Vlad Yudin (Generation Iron) the film will shine a spotlight on the raw emotion and intense passion that captivates Olympia fans around world. The movie’s production crew has been granted full access to follow the Olympia production team from the early stages of planning, culminating at the 4-billion dollar Resorts World Las Vegas for an experience widely regarded as the Super bowl of the fitness industry.
Yudin explains, “This is a story that needs to be told. The popularity of the Olympia transcends politics and cultural divide. The event evokes a level of emotion and excitement that can’t be put into words. It’s life changing for many, a bucket list destination for some. The Olympia is also a commerce gateway to the multi-billion dollar world of nutrition where top brands, start-ups, major celebrities, and serious fitness enthusiasts come together. What started simply as a bodybuilding contest 60 years, the Olympia now lives at the center of an overall fitness movement and has amassed a following that measures in the millions. We can’t wait to take you inside this extraordinary and complex world of transformation, inspiration and entertainment.”
Photo via @officialflexwheeler Instagram, @ronniecoleman8 Instagram, and @brandon_curry Instagram
All the Arnold Classic winners until now!
Bodybuilding legend Arnold Schwarzenegger hasn’t stopped his support of the sport that he saw so much success with. The seven-time Mr. Olympia winner wanted to continue to support and promote the sport and the Arnold Sports Festival has now taken over, including bodybuilding shows, strongman events, and other great competitions that give athletes a chance to show off their skills. The Arnold Classic Bodybuilding Show has become one of those events in the community that everyone looks forward to each year.
Each year the winners of the show qualify for the Olympia, and that being said, these shows are full of talent. The competitors bring their best to the stage in an attempt to take home the trophy, a cash prize, and a chance for the Mr. Olympia.
Check out this Exclusive Interview with Arnold Schwarzenegger at the Arnold Classic
Held in Columbus, Ohio, some of the best bodybuilders have crossed the stage and held the trophy high as they have taken home the top prize. With a long history and stacked list of winners, every year contenders flock to this event to compete at a high level and hoist that trophy overhead. This year, there is quite the lineup of competitors that will be attending the show.
We put together a list of all the past winners of the Arnold Classic so you can see all of the bodybuilding giants to take that top podium spot. With a long history in the books, fans are excited every year to see which new legend will take the top prize.
Rich Gasparimade his pro debut in 1985 and was constantly praised for his conditioning and definition. He was a runner-up at Mr. Olympia three times but this win at the Arnold Classic was another big title to add to his impressive resume. He now runs his nutritional supplement company called Gaspari Nutrition.
Mike Ashley – 1990
Mike Ashley turned pro in 1986 and had a number of appearances at big competitions, including a top ten finish at Mr. Olympia. At this Arnold Classic event, he came out looking absolutely shredded and took home the top prize, leaving this impressive notch in his bodybuilding resume.
Shawn Ray consistently placed high in bodybuilding shows, mostly in the top five, which led to a long career of wins, including this win at the Arnold Classic in 1991. After he retired, he appeared in a umber of magazines and hosted contests for ESPN while staying as involved as he could with the sport.
Vince Taylor – 1992
Vince Taylor turned pro in 1988 and this Arnold Classic win came shortly after. For a while he had a record of 22 wins until it was broken by Ronnie Coleman, however, Taylor is still remembered highly in the bodybuilding community.
Many legends say that Flex Wheelerwas one of, if not, the best bodybuilders they have faced. This four-time Arnold Classic winner came close to a Mr. Olympia title in 1993 but has won plenty of other top events making him one of those incredibly memorable athletes.
Flex Wheeler & Kai Greene Interview Arnold Schwarzenegger
Kevin Levrone narrowly missed an Oympia title four times, falling short to both Dorian Yates and Ronnie Coleman, and many named him the “Uncrowned Mr. Olympia”. With a great career, these two wins at the Arnold Classic have still put him on the map as a top contender in the bodybuilding circuit when he was competing.
Mike Francois – 1995
Mike Francois took home the Arnold Classic title in 1995 and had a good career until starting his training business. During his career he won other events like the Chicago Pro and San Jose Pro, among others.
This win at the Arnold Classic was the best win out of his 53 pro shows for Nasser El Sonbaty. He did place second at Mr. Olympia in 1997 and those round glasses he always wore saw plenty of action throughout his career.
Ronnie Coleman is one of those names everyone knows and this mass monster started training for a free membership at a local gym. This Arnold Classic win was among plenty of amazing wins, including an 8-year run at Mr. Olympia.
Jay Cutler is another big name in the bodybuilding community and this three-time Arnold Classic winner was also a four-time Olympia winner. He now runs Cutler Nutrition and seeks to spread his knowledge of bodybuilding onto others and was given the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2024 Arnold Classic for his contributions to the sport.
Dexter Jackson was an absolute force with 5 wins at the Arnold Classic and a win at the 2008 Olympia competition. Known as “The Blade”, he is also the only bodybuilder to win the overall title at Mr. Olympia and Masters Olympia. These wins at the Arnold Classic are among the many memorable wins for this dedicated bodybuilder.
Victor Martinez came onto the scene in 2001 and started off competing in big events, although his finishes were rather far down the list. However, with continued work, he took first at the Arnold Classic here in 2007 and finished in a close second second to Jay Cutler at Olympia in the same year.
Kai Greene hit the pro circuit in 2004 and had great success in his bodybuilding career. Taking first in three Arnold Classic events, he also placed second in 2012, 2013, and 2014. His final Arnold Classic win came in 2016 which was a great year for Greene as he also won titles at the Arnold Classic South America and Arnold Classic Australia.
Flex Exclusive Kai Greene Interview after 2016 Arnold Classic Win
Branch Warren placed in the top three at a number of Olympia shows, however these two wins at the Arnold Classic put him great contention on the pro circuit. His dominant career saw great success and he was always a worthy opponent to face off against.
Dennis Wolf finished first at a number of events throughout his career, but this 2014 Arnold Classic win is very notable. His focus on bodybuilding came at an early age and his small waist was notable in the sport since he turned pro in 2005.
Cedric McMillan was praised for his physique and the idea of bringing back the golden era physique bodybuilding fans missed. Since earning his pro card in 2009, he was a dominant force on the pro circuit and this win at the Arnold Classic was just one example of why.
Exclusive Cedric McMillan Interview After 2017 Arnold Classic Win
William Bonac began to climb the ranks in the bodybuilding community and competed in many shows, taking two Arnold Classic first place finishes and other top finishes at events like Mr. Olympia. He continues to push other competitors to be the best they can be.
Exclusive William Bonac Interview After His Arnold Classic 2018 Win
Brandon Curry put himself on the map with his 2019 Mr. Olympia win, but these two Arnold Classic wins do not go unnoticed. He is a force on the pro circuit and shows no signs of slowing down.
Nick Walker turned pro in 2020 and has already made noise in the community, coming in the top 3 at the 2022 Olympia. He also took this Arnold Classic title the same year he won the New York Pro event and rounded out the year with a fifth-place finish at Mr. Olympia.
Samson Dauda is proof that the new age of bodybuilding is taking over. His 2023 Arnold Classic win led him to getting pretty close to the 2023 Mr. Olympia. He towers over the competition, and still has an incredible amount of muscle mass, with good symmetry and crazy conditioning. That being said, he is indeed a force to be reckoned with.
Hadi Choopan, also known as the “Persian Wolf” was the 2022 Olympia victor and came in second to Derek Lunsford at the 2023 Olympia. Just a few months later at the 2024 Arnold Classic, Hadi showed up with an improved physique and quite the stage presence, immediately presenting a serious challenge to the defending champ, Samson Dauda despite the massive height difference. In a show that had viewers and attendees glued to their seats, Hadi Choopan won the 2024 Arnold Classic.
Wrap Up
The Arnold Classic is a great event and one where many great competitors take the stage in efforts to win that top prize. As a celebrated event in the bodybuilding community, every year fans wait to see who will come out on top and take home the top prize and title of Arnold Classic champion.
Let us know what you think in the comments below. Also, be sure to follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
*Images courtesy of Flex Wheeler Instagram, Ronnie Coleman Instagram, and Brandon Curry Instagram
The biography, life, and accomplishments of Classic Physique Olympia Contestant Wesley Vissers
Amongst some of the greatest in the Classic Physique Division, you will find Wesley Vissers. Though he has not won a Mr. Olympia contest yet, he still competes and holds his own against some of the greats like Chris Bumstead and Ramon Dino, even taking down Ramon at the 2024 Arnold Classic. Vissers’ physique is something that is truly extraordinary, as he has crafted a truly classic look that many strive to replicate, with great proportions, immense muscle mass, and amazing conditioning.
Let’s break down Wesley Vissers’ life, biography, training and diet regimens.
Full Name: Wesley Vissers (Classic Physique Bodybuilder)
Weight
Height
Date Of Birth
216-234 lbs
6’2″
5/6/1993
Division
Era
Nationality
Classic Physique
2010s, 2020s
Netherlands
Wesley Vissers Biography
Image courtesy of Instagram @wesleyvissers
Born on May 6, 1993 in the Netherlands, Wesley Vissers is a well known bodybuilder with some pretty great achievements. For one, he has his title as Mr. Golden Era 2017, the year he got his IFBB Pro Card. Aside from that, he also has been on the Mr. Olympia stage on several different occasions, and being on that stage is one of the highest honors in the sport of bodybuilding. Standing tall at 6’2” and weighing from 216 lbs to 234 lbs, the physique that Vissers has crafted has earned him a lot of respect and popularity in the bodybuilding world.
Wesley always had a love for strength and sports throughout his childhood and early years, and he worked really hard to become a well known bodybuilder worldwide, with a popular Youtube channel and clothing brand to accompany it. That’s right, Vissers and his partner Marly Nooijen started a fitness brand called Vintage Genetics, a name that goes hand in hand with his love for Classic Physique. Vintage Genetics sells workout clothes, supplements and offers coaching to athletes seeking to craft a better physique.
Wesley Vissers’ Height
Wesley Vissers stands at 6’2″ tall, which is relatively tall for a bodybuilder. More height also can make it a bit more difficult to pack on muscle mass, but Wesley has built quite the physique for how tall he is. The Generation Iron team sat down with him to discuss how that effects his bodybuilding.
Contest History
Wesley Vissers is a seasoned veteran when it comes to competing in bodybuilding, so let’s take a look at his competition history.
1st– Arnold Classic 2024, Classic Physique, Columbus, Ohio
Wesley Vissers Training Routine
Wesley Vissers’ training routine is nothing short of intense and packed with volume. Vissers follows the push/pull/legs split, meaning that muscles that worked together are grouped in on the same day. For example, a push day utilizes the chest, shoulders, and triceps, then the pull day works the back and biceps, and the leg day hits quads, hamstrings, glutes, and calves. It is a simple and effective workout routine.
Check out Wesley Vissers’ push day:
Exercises
Machine Decline Chest Press
Incline Smith Machine Bench Press
Cable Fly
Cable Triceps Pushdown
Cable Overhead Triceps Extension
Sideways Incline Dumbbell Lateral Raise
Now, as you can see, Vissers utilizes a lot of machines and cable stacks for his workout. Though this might not be the “old school” way of using dumbbells and barbells only, this is because he has access to the equipment and uses it to his advantage. He also uses moderate rep ranges with heavy weight, getting a good mind-muscle connection and really squeezing on each rep.
Wesley Vissers Diet
Image courtesy of Instagram @wesleyvissers
In order to get to the size and shape of Wesley Vissers, diet plays a huge part of crafting a physique like that. In the off season, his meal plan consisted of around 5,000 calories at the highest. Vissers stresses that you need to eat if you want to gain muscle mass, and that is exactly what he does. Check out his meal plan below:
Meal #1: 938 kcal, 120g carbs, 18g fats, 68g protein
Meal #4: 914 kcal, 121g carbs, 20g fats, 61g protein
Meal #5: 695 kcal, 66g carbs, 18g fats, 62g protein
Meal #6: 477 kcal, 6g carbs, 23g fats, 59g protein
Totals: 4890 kcal, 570g carbs, 108g fats, 386g protein
Vissers stays getting in an adequate amount of protein, fat, and carbs to truly craft his physique, with his heaviest carb meals being based right around his training times. The carbs are used as pre-workout fuel, and post workout recovery.
Personal Life
Image courtesy of Instagram @wesleyvissers
Not much is known about Wesley Vissers’ personal life outside of his bodybuilding career and business. Aside from Vintage Genetics, Wesley also owns a gym, labeled “100FitGym” and it is based in the Netherlands. He also has a daughter! However, besides those things, Vissers keeps a lot of his personal life out of the spotlight, and there is nothing wrong with that.
Wrap Up
Overall, Vissers is a great athlete and bodybuilding veteran that has broken the top ten on the Classic Physique Olympia stage on several occasions. With his great physique and determination, we believe that Vissers has a great future in the sport of bodybuilding.
Do you think Wesley Vissers will win an Olympia someday?
Generation Iron may receive commissions on purchases made through our links. See our disclosure page for more information.
Let us know what you think in the comments below. Also, be sure to follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
From the beginning of the show in Columbus this year, it was pretty clear that the Arnold Classic title would be given to 2023 Arnold Classic champion Samson Dauda, or the 2022 Mr. Olympia winner Hadi Choopan. It was solidified that it would come between these two in the final callout of pre-judging for the 2024 edition of the Arnold Classic in Columbus, OH.
In front of a sold-out crowd on Saturday, March 2, 2024, in the Battelle Grand Ballroom, the 2024 Arnold Classic took place, and it was evident that this would be quite the show to watch. The Men’s Open competitors were introduced, moved around, and thoroughly compared by the panel of judges that sat before them. By the end of the night, Hadi Choopan was awarded the title of 2024 Arnold Classic champion.
2024 Arnold Classic Roster
Below is a lineup of who exactly competed at the 2024 Arnold Classic in the Men’s Open Bodybuilding division:
Below is the list of callouts that occurred at the 2024 Arnold Classic in the Men’s Open Division
Callout One
Image via Instagram @arnoldsports
Hadi Choopan
Samson Dauda
Callout Two
Antoine Vaillant
Jon Delarosa
Rafael Brandao
Akim Williams
James Hollingshead
Callout Three
Hadi Choopan
Samson Dauda
Rafael Brandao
Akim Williams
The first callout featured a head-to-head comparison amongst Samson Dauda and Hadi Choopan. Fans and commentators felt that conditioning was a big difference and from there it was predicted Choopan would dethrone Samson.
In a third callout, Samson and hadi were brought out with the other top contenders, including Rafael Brandao and Akim Williams, who had clearly filled out well since the prejudging.
Samson Dauda was also awarded the Ed Corney Best Poser award, and Hadi Choopan was awarded the Franco Columbu Most Muscular award before the winners were announced.
2024 Arnold Classic Results
Hadi Choopan
Samson Dauda
Rafael Brandao
Jon Delarosa
James Hollingshead
Akim Williams
Hadi Choopan won the title as well as $300,000, and was presented the trophy by bodybuilding legend, Arnold Schwarzenegger. Hadi is looking to return to the Mr. Olympia in Las Vegas, NV, on Oct. 10-13, 2024, to battle it out with the current champion Derek Lunsford.
2024 Arnold Classic Pre-Judging Callout Recaps & Analysis
With the 2024 Arnold Classic well underway, our team has put together full recaps and analysis of the pre-judging posing routines and callouts. Check out our full recap reports below:
Generation Iron Fitness Network will provide full coverage of the Arnold Classic event including pre-judging reports, analysis, and results updates. Stay tuned to Generation Iron and visit out official 2024 Arnold Classic coverage hub right here!
Here are the full results from the 2024 Arnold Classic!
The 2024 Arnold Classicconsisted of a total of seven divisions this year, with Men’s Open leading the way. The finals began on Friday night in Columbus with Classic Physique, Fitness, and Wellness possibly crowning new champions, as these classes are stacked and truly anyone’s game.
The Arnold Classic Men’s Open lineup is made up of 12 competitors who applied for invitations to compete in the show. The winner will not only qualify for the 2024 Mr. Olympia contest (if they haven’t already qualified) but they will also claim the Arnold trophy, and take home a $300,000 prize, which is pretty close to Olympia prize money.
The Men’s Open lineup for the 2024 Arnold Classic is a loaded one. It begins with former Olympia champion Hadi Choopan. The Persian Wolf will be making his debut at the Arnold Classic. Of course, he has plenty of experience on big stages with a Mr. Olympia title and multiple top three finishes under his belt. Reigning champion Samson Dauda will also return after a successful 2023 season. He finished third at the 2023 Olympia, behind Choopan and Derek Lunsford.
The final for the Arnold began on Friday night and will continue into Saturday. Below, check out the full results from the 2024 Arnold Classic as they come in.
Generation Iron’s coverage of the 2024 Arnold Classic is brought to you by MUTANT supplements.
The 2024 Arnold Classic consisted of a total of seven divisions:
The pro bodybuilding competitions for the 2024 Arnold Classic weekend will wrap up on Saturday, March 2nd. Generation Iron has provided the results and official scorecards listed below.
Ramon “Dino” Rocha Queiroz came into the weekend as the defending champion in the Classic Physique Division, and was seen as the one to beat. During prejudging, Wesley Vissers impressed and was able to insert himself into contention for the title. In the end, it looked like a battle between Ramon Dino and Vissers. That was the case as Queiroz finished second to Vissers.
The Men’s Physique division at the 2024 Arnold Classic was deep and ready to hand out the trophy to a new winner. After a second-place finish in 2023, Diogo Montenegro was able to improve and win the Arnold Classic title.
First Place – Diogo Montenegro
Second Place – Vinicius Mateus Lima
Third Place – Vitor Chaves
Fourth Place – Kyron Holden
Fifth Place – Corey Morris
Sixth Place – Emanual Hunter
Seventh Place – Ismael Martinez Dominguez
Eighth Place – Jonas Jamena
Ninth Place – Emmanuel Costa
Tenth Place – Andres Ramos
2024 Arnold Classic Fitness International Results
The battle between Ariel Khadr and Jaclyn Baker was one to watch heading into Friday night’s portion of the show. Khadr returned as the reigning two-time champion, having defeating Baker in Columbus last year. Baker finished third at the 2023 Olympia one spot ahead of Khadr. Now, Khadr has her third.
First Place – Ariel Khadr ($25,000)
Second Place – Jaclyn Baker ($13,000)
Third Place – Jodi Boam ($8,000)
Fourth Place – Michelle Fredua-Mensah ($5,000)
Fifth Place – Aurika Tyrgale ($3,000)
Sixth Place – Tamara Vahn ($2,000)
Seventh Place – Tiffany Chandler
Eighth Place – Anna Fomina
Ninth Place – Minna Pajulahti
Tenth Place – Abby Bolton
2024 Arnold Classic Bikini Results
Lauralie Chapados returned as the reigning two-time Arnold Classic champion. She has been among the best in the division for years now and was in search of another title. It was a one-point difference between Chapados and Aimee Delgado. In the end, Chapados was able to complete the three-peat in Columbus.
First Place – Lauralie Chapados
Second Place – Aimee Delgado
Third Place – Vania Auguste
Fourth Place – Angelica Teixeira
Fifth Place – Phoebe Hagan
Sixth Place – Eli Fernandez
Seventh Place – Rhoda Allie
Eighth Place – Ottavia Mazza
Ninth Place – Ivanna Escandar
Tenth Place – Amanda Marques Pereira
2024 Arnold Classic Wellness Results
Francielle Mattos has been at the top of the Wellness division over the last three years. She is a three-time Wellness Olympia champion and has earned gold each year that the division was on the biggest stage.
First Place – Francielle Mattos ($10,000)
Second Place – Isabelle Nunes ($6,000)
Third Place – Sandra Colorado Acal ($4,000)
Fourth Place – Bruna Seredich ($3,000)
Fifth Place – Lili Dong ($1,500)
Sixth Place – Anne-Marie Gobeil ($1,500)
Seventh Place – Hye Yoon Kim
Eighth Place – Amanda Burnett
Ninth Place – Courtney Starr
Tenth Place – Johanna Calcano
2024 Arnold Classic Pro Wheelchair Results
This year, Rajesh John burst onto the scene and was able to defeat Andriulli, who finished as the runner-up. In 2022, Gabriele Andriulli defeated Harold Kelley but Kelley was able to get his revenge during the Olympia in December. He was also victorious during the 2023 Arnold Classic.
Generation Iron Fitness Network will provide full coverage of the Arnold Classic event including pre-judging reports, analysis, and results updates. Stay tuned to Generation Iron and visit out official 2024 Arnold Classic coverage hub right here!
The Arnold Classic is a prestige moment and one of the biggest shows of the year for the world of bodybuilding, next to the Mr. Olympia of course. But the 2024 Arnold Classic may perhaps get even more attention than usual due to the surprising announcement made by Arnold Schwarzenegger at the tail-end of the competition broadcast.
After Hadi Choopan reclaimed his glory with an epic first place victory at the 2024 Arnold Classic, Schwarzenegger took a moment to address the audience about what is to come for the future of the event.
Arnold Schwarzenegger acknowledged that the 2024 Mr. Olympia made history by raising the first place prize money to $400,000. In what seems to be a direct response to that record-breaking increase, Schwarzenegger claimed that would be raising the Arnold Classic prize money for first place to $500,000 next year.
The moment was a showstopper, as an audible reaction could be heard on the broadcast from the audience and even the competitors on stage looked shocked. Hadi Choopan, moments after winning, joked that he would definitely, “be back,” in both acknowledgment to the gobsmacking prize money amount and a reference to Schwarzenegger’s famous catch phrase.
“And I have more good news and that is, this year the winning prize is $300,000 dollars… but next year, as you know the winning prize for the Olympia is $400,000 and I don’t feel obliged anymore for the rules so we are a going to go up to $500,000 for next year for the Arnold Classic.”
The announces acknowledge how unprecedented this announcement was, with Fouad Abiad noting that this is a statement to say that Arnold Schwarzenegger wants the Arnold Classic to be the best event in bodybuilding.
It will be interesting to see if the Mr. Olympia makes an announcement at the 2024 Mr. Olympia competition later this year acknowledging Arnold Schwarzenegger’s increase in prize money. Perhaps we shall see a prize money war going into 2025. This, of course, will only benefit the athletes – and is a welcome growth for the sport as a whole. That is Arnold’s ultimate goal.
Schwarzenegger went into more detail during a seminar on Sunday following the original announcement on Saturday night during the finals. Arnold shared that he did not raise his prizes in the past as a promise to Joe and Ben Weider. Now, he has decided to raise them in order to add more competition.
“For years, we kept the money below because that’s what I promised Joe and Ben Weider. That I would not compete with the Olympia but now, they have passed on and I know Joe and Ben are smiling down from heaven to see how successful we are. And they would want me to go and put a little bit of pressure on the Olympia and say ‘Okay, we’re gonna give $500k so maybe you go to $600k.’”
Arnold Schwarzenegger is hoping that the Olympia views this as an opportunity for more competition and a push to raise their prizes as well.
“The idea is to really build competition, not for us to be number one but just to move on and pressure the Olympia to pressure the Olympia. Hopefully they listen to that and will do that.”
Arnold Classic 2024 Coverage
Generation Iron Fitness Network will provide full coverage of the Arnold Classic event including pre-judging reports, analysis, and results updates. Stay tuned to Generation Iron and visit out official 2024 Arnold Classic coverage hub right here!
Images via Instagram @Samson Dauda / @hadi_choopan / @rubiel_mosquera__m
A complete guide on how to watch the 2024 Arnold Classic
The 2024 Arnold Sports Festival (named after Arnold Schwarzenegger himself) is coming up pretty quick, so mark your calendars for the weekend of February 29 through March 3, 2024. With the action garnering attention across the globe, we’ve put together a guide on how to watch he full 2024 Arnold Classic even and livestream.
Taking place at the usual spot of the Greater Columbus Convention Center in Columbus, OH, there will be seven IFBB Pro League divisions that will host pre-judging and the final rounds to determine who will be the champions for one of bodybuilding’s most prestigious events next to the Mr. Olympia.
The Arnold Classic is not just for bodybuilding however, as there are other events such as the Arnold Strongman and Strongwoman Classic competitions that will also take place, and some powerlifting and martial arts events.
Generation Iron’s coverage of the 2024 Arnold Classic is brought to you by MUTANT supplements.
How to Watch the 2024 Arnold Classic Live Stream
Tickets for the events are currently available on the Arnold Sports website. For those unable to attend in person, Generation Iron will be on the ground floor and will provide a detailed schedule and breakdown on how you can check out the livestream for free in this post.
The Arnold Classic livestream will be available for free, you just have to register for it on the Arnold Sports Festival website.
The daily schedule for all seven divisions of the 2024 Arnold Classic are below, but times may be subject to change depending on the length of each round of judging.
Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024
Arnold Amateur — Day One
Friday, Mar. 1, 2024
Arnold Amateur — Day Two
Animal Cage — Day One
Arnold Strongman and Strongwoman Classic — Day One
Arnold Classic Pre-judging — Fitness, Classic Physique, Wellness
This year’s Arnold Classic event has yet another stacked lineup, including a very recent former Mr. Olympia champion, as well as the returning Arnold Classic champion from last year. Suffice to say, this will be a tight battle for the top spot.
There are a total of ten competitors competing this weekend, check out the full roster below:
With just ten competitors in the 2024 Arnold Classic Men’s Open lineup, there will be a close fight for the top spot at this year’s event.
All eyes are one two competitors in particular, Hadi Choopan and Samson Dauda. Just two years ago, Choopan won the 2022 Mr. Olympia. And while he did fall down a place and lose his title in 2022, he only fell down to second in a very close match-up agains the now-champion Derek Lunsford.
Notably, Hadi Choopan placed second at the 2023 Mr. Olympia just one place above Samson Dauda, who placed third. It’s been just about six months since that competition – so it will be interesting to see if the tables turn or if Choopan can keep his edge above Dauda when they step on stage this weekend.
On the flip side, Samson Dauda is the returning Arnold Classic champion. However, when he won the competition last year, Hadi Choopan had not competed. This is Choopan’s first time competing in the Arnold Classic – in what seems to be his attempt to gain footing again (and some prize money) after losing the Olympia title.
Hadi Choopan’s strength comes from his incredible conditioning. His weakness comes in the form of being smaller in size compared to most Men’s Open competitors (Choopan originated in the Men’s 212 division before moving up).
This size difference will be in full display when Choopan stands next to Samson Dauda – who is one of the larger mass monsters in the division currently. Dauda’s strengths come in the form of his massive size, excellent proportions, and incredible fullness.
Samson Dauda also has been skyrocketing in fame by showing very fast improvements year over year. If he can continue this rapid speed of improvements and bring in his conditioning to match or beat Choopan – he can very well win this competition. Some argue that he is a shoe-in to eventually become a Mr. Olympia champion.
While most of the hype is surrounding these two competitors – we can’t leave out other highlights that can step up and claim the title. Rafael Brandao has been showing incredible improvements during his contest prep this season, bringing what might be the best physique of his career.
Akim Williams and James Hollingshead have also been garnering attention as they published their latest physique updates in the final week of contest prep. Putting their names into the online discourse of landing in the top 5 placings this year.
All of these competitors can claim the Arnold Classic title, especially depending on how they handle the last two vital days of contest prep. These final moments are make or break for the timing of their physique – ensuring their best package is seen on stage. One small mistake can throw off the timing and give way for another competitor to rise up and earn victory.
2024 Arnold Classic Pre-Judging Callout Recaps & Analysis
With the 2024 Arnold Classic well underway, our team has put together full recaps and analysis of the pre-judging posing routines and callouts. Check out our full recap reports below:
With the first day of the 2024 Arnold Classic already wrapped up – we have a comprehensive breakdown of the Friday night finals, results, and scorecards. The Classic Physique, Fitness International, and Wellness International all battled for the top spot at one of the most prestigious events of the year in bodybuilding.
Arnold Classic Backstage Highlights by Generation Iron
Generation Iron has provided in-depth coverage at the Arnold Classic for nearly a decade – including behind the scenes interviews with the biggest bodybuilding legends. Above you can catch our backstage interview with Ronnie Coleman discussing his legacy and the then upcoming film release of Ronnie Coleman: The King.
Below you can also watch our exclusive interview with Arnold Schwarzenegger as he speak on his thoughts of modern bodybuilding and his continued involvement with the Arnold Classic.
Wrap Up
The 2024 Arnold Classic is certainly going to be one for the books! There are tons of different events for everyone to enjoy, and we are excited to give you full coverage. Whether you are a fan of strength sports of bodybuilding, this sports festival has something for you to enjoy. What is your favorite part of the Arnold Classic?
Diogo Montenegro wins Men’s Physique at the 2024 Arnold Classic!
The Men’s Physique division at the 2024 Arnold Classic was deep and ready to hand out the trophy to a new winner. After a second-place finish in 2023, Diogo Montenegro was able to improve and win the Arnold Classic title.
The Arnold Classic will crown a new champion this year. Reigning champion Erin Banks is not competing this weekend, along with Olympia champ Ryan Terry. The competition features three competitors that finished in the top four during last year’s competition.
Diogo Montenegro finished as the runner-up to Banks last year and is one of the favorites this year. Emanual Hunter and Vitor Chaves also put on a good show last year.
The full results from the Men’s Physique division have been announced. Below, check out how it all played out along with an official score card.
Generation Iron Fitness Network will provide coverage of the full Arnold Classic event including pre-judging reports, analysis, and results updates. Stay tuned to Generation Iron and visit our official 2024 Arnold Classic coverage hub right here!
Lauralie Chapados wins Bikini at the 2024 Arnold Classic!
The Bikini division at the 2024 Arnold Classic featured yet another loaded competition and it went right down to the wire. In the end, it was Lauralie Chapados who reigned supreme and won her third consecutive Arnold Classic title.
Lauralie Chapados returned as the reigning two-time Arnold Classic champion. She has been among the best in the division for years now and is in search of another title. Two-time Olympia champion Angelica Teixeira made her return to the stage.
The judges began to spread out the field as prejudging went on. Teixiera and Auguste were part of a third callout of five competitors, which could be a battle for third place and a spot in the top five. Chapados and Delgado were brought back out on their own for a fourth and final callout.
The full results from the Bikini division have been announced. Below, check out how it all played out!
Generation Iron Fitness Network will provide coverage of the full Arnold Classic event including pre-judging reports, analysis, and results updates. Stay tuned to Generation Iron and visit our official 2024 Arnold Classic coverage hub right here!
Keep up to date with what’s going on on the strength sports side of the Arnold Sports Festival
The 2024 Arnold Sports Festival in Columbus, OH has arrived! From February 29 through March 3, bodybuilders, strength athletes, and other athletes will gather to compete! In terms of strength sports, the Arnold Sports Festival features its competitive strongman and strongwoman competition on March 1st and 2nd. The Arnold Strongman Classic (ASC) this year is going to be one for the books, as there are some great athletes competing, including the 2018 World’s Strongest Man (WSM) and three-time ASC champion Hafthór Björnsson, who is making a return.
On the flip side, the Arnold Strongwoman Classic (ASWC) is also going to feature some awesome athletes, including the defending champion Victoria Long. She will be aiming to repeat her dominance that was established in 2023. Aside from that, some more competitors include the two-time World’s Strongest Woman (WSW) Rebecca Roberts, the 2018 WSW Andrea Thompson, the log lift world record holder Inez Carrasquillo, amongst others, all hoping to take home the title and dethrone Victoria Long.
Below are the results for each Individual event for the Arnold Strongwoman Classic.
Max Elephant Bar Deadlift
Ladies first! The strongwomen competed first on March 1, 2024, and one of the events was the Max Deadlift, which featured athletes establishing their heaviest deadlift in a weightlifting event-style meet. What that means is that athletes with the lighter weight always lifted before an athlete with a heavier attempt, regardless of what attempt they were on.
Victoria Long had a bit of a scary moment when she dropped to the floor with a hamstring injury, a quite unfortunate event. However, Long still managed to secure third-place points off her successful 288-kilogram pull.
Lucy Underdown — 302 kilograms
Andrea Thompson — 291 kilograms
Victoria Long — 288 kilograms
Olga Liashchuk — 275 kilograms (T-fourth)
Melissa Peacock — 275 kilograms (T-fourth)
Hannah Linzay — 273 kilograms
Inez Carrasquillo — 259 kilograms
Angelica Jardine — 254 kilograms
Erin Murray — 252 kilograms
Donna Moore — 250 kilograms
Rebecca Roberts — 243 kilograms
Samantha Belliveau — 234 kilograms
Timber Carry
Though she did not fall, Donna Moore suffered what appeared to be an ankle injury during her Timber Carry attempt and she needed assistance off the wooden incline from the production crew.
Andrew Thompson moved herself closer to the top of the leaderboard at the end of Day One of the Arnold Strongwoman, with a scorching time of 8.43 seconds during her Timber Carry. Rebecca Roberts scored third place in the event, which definitely helped her after 11th in the deadlift earlier in the afternoon.
Andrea Thompson — 8.43 seconds
Hannah Linzay — 9.53 seconds (T-second)
Rebecca Roberts — 9.53 seconds (T-second)
Lucy Underdown — 11.64 seconds
Angelica Jardine — 27.42 seconds
Inez Carrasquillo — 11.02 meters
Olga Liashchuk — 4.9 meters
Erin Murray — 4.5 meters
Samantha Belliveau — 4.09 meters
Melissa Peacock — 4.01 meters
Donna Moore — 3.2 meters
Victoria Long — withdrew
Jeck Stone Carry
Donna Moore appeared to be okay during the Jeck Stone carry, but had an arm over a crew member, who helped her walk backstage. Unfortunately, Donna Moore withdrew shortly after walking the stones just over eight meters.
Angelica Jardine — 27.94 meters
Rebecca Roberts — 19.51 meters
Lucy Underdown — 18.29 meters
Inez Carrasquillo — 17.83 meters
Olga Liashchuk — 13.31 meters
Samantha Belliveau — 13 meters
Erin Murray — 10.41 meters
Hannah Linzay — 10.01 meters
Andrea Thompson — 9.37 meters
Melissa Peacock — 8.74 meters
Donna Moore — 8.08 meters
Victoria Long — withdrew
Dumbbell Press
Samantha Belliveau — 84 kilograms, two reps
Olga Liashchuk — 80 kilograms, two reps
Hannah Linzay — 80 kilograms, one rep (T-third)
Melissa Peacock — 80 kilograms, one rep (T-third)
Angelica Jardine — 70 kilograms, three reps
Inez Carrasquillo — 70 kilograms, two reps
Erin Murray — 60 kilograms, four reps
Lucy Underdown — 60 kilograms, one rep (T-eighth)
Rebecca Roberts — 60 kilograms, one rep (T-eighth)
Andrea Thompson — no lift
Donna Moore — withdrew
Victoria Long — withdrew
Stones of Strength
Angelica Jardine — six stones
Olga Liashchuk — four stones
Samantha Belliveau — three stones
Lucy Underdown — two stones (T-fourth)
Hannah Linzay — two stones (T-fourth)
Melissa Peacock — two stones (T-fourth)
Inez Carrasquillo — two stones (T-fourth)
Erin Murray — two stones (T-fourth)
Rebecca Roberts — two stones (T-fourth)
Andrea Thompson — no lift
Donna Moore — withdrew
Victoria Long — withdrew
2024 Arnold Strongman Classic Event Results
Below are the results for each Individual event of the 2024 Arnold Strongman Classic.
Max Elephant Bar Deadlift
In the same fashion as the strongwomen, the strongmen attempting to lift lighter weight lifted before those who called for heavier weight, no matter what attempt they were on. At the start of the contest, Hafthór Björnsson held the Elephant Bar deadlift world record with 474 kilograms.
Maxime Boudreault opened the contest with a 352-kilogram attempt, but unfortunately immediately appeared to suffer a left lat injury before the Elephant bar even left the floor. Evan Singleton’s first attempt of 386 kilograms slipped out of his hand, due to his left-hand lifting strap unraveling off the bar. Thankfully, Singleton nailed the immediate follow-up attempt.
Hafthór Björnsson’s first attempt in his much anticipated return to the competitive strongman stage was an easy 420 kilograms, back like he never left. Thompson was the last athlete to make a first attempt successfully of 436 kilograms and that is where he called it.
However, Björnsson came out last for an opening event win with a successful attempt of 456 kilograms, which was his 13th career Arnold Strongman Classic event win; quite the accomplishment.
Hafthór Björnsson — 456 kilograms
Bobby Thompson — 436 kilograms
Mitchell Hooper — 431 kilograms
Evan Singleton — 427 kilograms
Tom Stoltman — 415 kilograms
Oleksii Novikov — 409 kilograms
Thomas Evans — 397 kilograms
Martins Licis — 391 kilograms
Mateusz Kieliszkowski — 388 kilograms
Oskar Ziółkowski — 370 kilograms
Maxime Boudreault — No Lift
Timber Carry
The Timber Carry was dominated by the 2023 World’s Strongest Man, Mitchell Hooper, who just barely missed a world record time by one-tenth of a second. Similarly, Hafthór Björnsson completed the Timber Carry in a time of 8.4 seconds for a second-place finish to end Day One in first overall, and showing that just because he hasn’t been in the strongman scene for awhile it does not mean he’s lost his touch.
Martin Licis and Mateusz Kieliszkowski moved up the leaderboard a bit, which was good to see after some lackluster Elephant Bar Deadlift performances. Unfortunately for Oleksii Novikov and Thomas Evans, it appeared that they happened to suffer biceps injuries during their Timber Carry attempts, but they did not withdraw right away.
Mitchell Hooper — 7.1 seconds
Hafthór Björnsson — 8.4 seconds
Mateusz Kieliszkowski — 8.69 seconds
Martins Licis — 14.81 seconds
Evan Singleton — 8.89 meters
Tom Stoltman — 8.13 meters
Oleksii Novikov — 7.49 meters
Oskar Ziółkowski — 4.9 meters
Bobby Thompson — 4.01 meters
Thomas Evans — 3.99 meters
Maxime Boudreault — withdrew
Dinnie Stone Carry
Mitchell Hooper stated at the end of Day One that Day Two would be one of his strongest performances yet. He certainly held up that statement in the Dinnie stones, scoring first-place points.
Hafthór Björnsson continued to prove any doubters of his competitive strongman return wrong, taking second-place in the Dinnie Stones, making him even on the overall leaderboard with Hooper heading into the penultimate event.
Mitchell Hooper — 12.6 meters
Hafthór Björnsson — 10.72 meters
Evan Singleton — 10.62 meters
Mateusz Kieliszkowski — 9.73 meters
Tom Stoltman — 9.4 meters
Oleksii Novikov — 4.04 meters
Bobby Thompson — 3.53 meters
Martins Licis — 2.79 seconds
Thomas Evans — 2.31 meters
Oskar Ziółkowski — 0.25 meters
Maxime Boudreault — withdrew
Apollon’s Wheel
Mitchell Hooper — Five reps
Mateusz Kieliszkowski — Four reps (Tie- second)
Tom Stoltman — Four reps (Tie-second)
Hafthór Björnsson — One rep (Tie-fourth)
Bobby Thompson — One rep (Tie-fourth)
Martins Licis — One rep (Tie- fourth)
Evan Singleton — no lift
Oleksii Novikov — no lift
Oskar Ziółkowski — no lift
Thomas Evans — withdrew
Maxime Boudreault — withdrew
Stones of Strength
Mitchell Hooper — Two in 19.15 seconds reps
Mateusz Kieliszkowski — Five in 158.36 seconds
Tom Stoltman — Two in 25.53 seconds
Bobby Thompson — One in 101.12 seconds
Oleksii Novikov — One in 17.65 seconds
Hafthór Björnsson — no lift
Martins Licis — no lift
Oskar Ziółkowski — no lift
Evan Singleton — withdrew
Thomas Evans — withdrew
Maxime Boudreault — withdrew
2024 Arnold Class Full Coverage
Generation Iron Fitness Network will provide coverage of the full Arnold Classic event including pre-judging reports, analysis, and results updates. Stay tuned to Generation Iron and to find the full 2024 Arnold Classic results, visit our official 2024 Arnold Classic coverage hub right here!
For all updates regarding the Arnold Sports Festival, keep up to date with Generation Iron! Let us know what you think in the comments below. Also, be sure to follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram
