Back to the Arnold Classic

I lost quite a bit of my enthusiasm for pro bodybuilding a number of years ago. To me, many of the modern-day pros look like bloated, freakish monstrosities, which might be OK for a carnival show, but it’s not appealing like it was in the days when Scott, Oliva, Schwarzenegger, Zane and Haney ruled the stage. In fact, pro bodybuilding has become so freakish that many of the most ardent fans have lost interest too – you only have to look at the downturn in magazine sales and the poor attendance at most pro shows for proof. In fact, I haven’t been to the Mr. Olympia competition since 2002, and I only attend pro shows nowadays when I really have to. I’d much rather spend my time around the amateur scene.

Nevertheless, for the last few years I have been attending the Arnold Classic and have enjoyed it, which may surprise some people, given what I just said. However, the Arnold Classic is quite a bit different from the other bodybuilding shows.

It was started by Arnold Schwarzenegger and his business partner Jim Lorimer and is part of the Arnold Sports Festival, which is a large affair, always held in Columbus, Ohio, USA. The Arnold Classic is the men’s pro bodybuilding competition there; however, there are also professional women’s figure, fitness and bodybuilding competitions as well. Furthermore, since 2007, they’ve also had men’s and women’s amateur competitions, now called the Arnold Amateur IFBB International Bodybuilding, Fitness and Figure Championships. So, even if you’re tired of professional men’s bodybuilding, there are plenty of other physique competitions you can see.

In addition, this isn’t just a physique exhibition, it’s a sports festival. Therefore, there are numerous other sporting events that also take place at the Arnold Sports Festival such as wrestling, boxing, cycling, weight lifting, and many more. As a result, any sports fan can find plenty to do there.

In terms of my own interests, all these events give me plenty to write about and lots to photograph. So if you see me there, I might be backstage, in front of the stage, or all around the stage as I try to shoot unique photos to showcase, and find interesting things to write about.

This year, the Arnold Sports Festival runs from February 29 to March 2, with the Arnold Classic competition taking place on March 1. Of course, despite all that’s going on and my waning interest in pro bodybuilding, I’ll make sure to be at this event. I still have some interest in it. I recently heard that last year’s winner, Victor Martinez, was out due to a knee injury that required surgery. Therefore, the title is up for grabs among the 14 other competitors. Many people are banking on Phil Heath, a popular young pro who took fifth last year, while others are saying that it could be Dexter Jackson’s year again. Dexter was the winner in 2005 and 2006 before losing the title to Martinez in 2007. Then again, it could also be someone nobody expects to win. My only disappointment is that Dennis Wolf isn’t competing. If they’d let that guy win a top title, it could put pro bodybuilding back on the right track again. Wolf's physique brings back memories of bodybuilding in its heyday.

Even though my interest in pro bodybuilding is on the wane, the Arnold Classic and all that goes on in Columbus at that time still makes me excited to be there. So be sure to come back to SeriousAboutMuscle.com in the coming months to learn how it all turned out.

...Doug Schneider, Publisher
das@seriousaboutmuscle.com

Doug Schneider is the publisher and chief photographer for SeriousAboutMuscle.com, BodyBuildingLive.com, and SeriousAboutFitness.com.