Arnold Sports Festival

Arnold Sports Festival
The official logo of the Arnold Sports Festival
Founded1989 (1989)
CountryUnited States
Venue(s)Greater Columbus Convention Center, Columbus, Ohio
Most recent
champion(s)		 Derek Lunsford
(2025)
Tournament formatMulti-event competition
Official websitearnoldsports.com

The IFBB Pro Arnold Sports Festival, also known as the Arnold Schwarzenegger Sports Festival, is an annual multi-sport event consisting of professional bodybuilding (Arnold Classic), strongman (Arnold Strongman Classic), armlifting, fitness, figure, bikini and several others as a weekend expo. It was established in 1989 and is named after Arnold Schwarzenegger. The main event is held annually around late February or early March in Columbus, Ohio, by the International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness Professional League (IFBB Pro League). It is considered the second-most-prestigious event in professional men's bodybuilding, physique, figure and bikini after Joe Weider's Olympia. When the Ms. International competition was hosted, until 2013, it was the second-most-prestigious event in professional female bodybuilding (after Ms. Olympia).

This article is part of
a series about
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Bodybuilding and business career

History

A lucrative sports competition, the ASF offers a number of large prizes. Most notably, first prize in bodybuilding consists of a $130,000 check, a Hummer vehicle, and an Audemars Piguet watch. Since the Mr. Olympia bodybuilding title pre-dates and offers higher prize money than the ASF, a rivalry in prestige and popularity has sprung up. The ASF is always hotly contested, often with one or two competition points separating the winners.

All-star cheerleading competitions span a two-day period (usually all day Saturday, and to midday Sunday). More than 4,000 competitors entered the cheerleading event in 2014. Each team (of 15–30 cheerleaders) prepares to perform a two and one-half minute routine. After the teams' routines are complete, they are scored by a panel of judges, each judge being an expert on one area of cheerleading (jumps, tumbling, stunting, etc.). Once scoring is complete, every team entered in the competition is called to the mat for awards, during which each team has a chance of winning multiple times. The ASF's awards consist of the following: National Champion jackets, trophies for every team, custom medals, limited edition patches and Grand Champion banners, and possible partial or full paid bid to Cheerleading World contests.[1]

On June 7, 2013, the ASF's event promoter, Jim Lorimer, announced that from 2014 on, the ASF's "212" (a professional, men's bodybuilding division) would permanently replace the Ms. International women's bodybuilding competition. Lorimer, in a statement, said "The Arnold Sports Festival was proud to support women's bodybuilding through the Ms. International for the past quarter century, but in keeping with demands of our fans, the time has come to introduce the Arnold Classic 212 beginning in 2014. We are excited to create a professional competitive platform for some of the IFBB Pro League's most popular competitors."[2]

On March 3, 2020 Ohio governor Mike DeWine cancelled most of the Arnold Sports Festival due to the oncoming COVID-19 pandemic in Ohio, before any cases or deaths had been reported. The cancellation was widely regarded as 'radical' at the time.[3][4]

Curiosities

  • Arnold Classic Ohio is the largest multi-sport championship in the world, ahead of even the Olympics.
    • There are around 20,000 athletes from more than 80 countries competing in 60 sports, while the 2024 Olympic Games brought almost 11,000 athletes in 32 sports and 48 disciplines. The Arnold is second only to the number of countries: 206 at the Olympics.
  • The event also promotes several amateur sports for fans to learn about and practice.
  • The Arnold Classic Ohio is the second most prestigious event in professional bodybuilding, behind only the Mr. Olympia.
  • Jim Lorimer, who founded the Arnold Classic with Arnold Schwarzenegger in 1989, was a special agent for the FBI.
  • Like Arnold, Lorimer ventured into politics, becoming mayor of Worthington, Ohio.
  • The biggest Arnold Classic Ohio champion is a woman, Iris Kyle (USA), with 7 titles (interestingly, she is also the biggest Mr. Olympia winner, with 11 titles). Among men, Dexter Jackson (USA) is the biggest winner with 5 titles.[5]

Champions

Year Arnold Classic Ms. International Fitness International Figure International Bikini International 212 Women's Physique Men's Physique Classic Physique
Overall Best Poser Most Muscular Fan's Choice Award Most Entertaining Routine Overall Heavyweight Lightweight
1989 Rich Gaspari Jackie Paisley
1990 Mike Ashley Laura Creavalle
1991 Shawn Ray Tonya Knight
1992 Vince Taylor Anja Schreiner
1993 Flex Wheeler Kim Chizevsky-Nicholls
1994 Kevin Levrone Laura Creavalle Carol Semple-Marzetta
1995 Mike Francois
1996 Kevin Levrone Kim Chizevsky-Nicholls Alexandra Béres
1997 Flex Wheeler Yolanda Hughes-Heying Carol Semple-Marzetta
1998 Susie Curry
1999 Nasser El Sonbaty Vickie Gates
2000 Flex Wheeler Vickie Gates Brenda Raganot Kelly Ryan
2001 Ronnie Coleman Dayana Cadeau Jenny Worth
2002 Jay Cutler Yaxeni Oriquen-Garcia Yaxeni Oriquen-Garcia Valentina Chepiga Susie Curry
2003 Cathy LeFrançois Jenny Lynn
2004 Iris Kyle Iris Kyle Dayana Cadeau Adela Garcia-Friedmansky
2005 Dexter Jackson Yaxeni Oriquen-Garcia Yaxeni Oriquen-Garcia Brenda Raganot Jen Hendershott
2006 Iris Kyle Heavyweight category not held. Lightweight category not held. Adela Garcia-Friedmansky Mary Lado
2007 Víctor Martínez Kim Klein
2008 Dexter Jackson Yaxeni Oriquen-Garcia Gina Aliotti
2009 Kai Greene Kai Greene Branch Warren Iris Kyle Jen Hendershott Živilė Raudonienė
2010 Adela Garcia-Friedmansky Nicole Wilkins-Lee
2011 Branch Warren Dennis Wolf Branch Warren Nicole Nagrani
2012 Best Poser category not held. Fan's Choice Award category not held. Branch Warren Yaxeni Oriquen-Garcia Sonia Gonzales
2013 Dexter Jackson Most Muscular category not held. Most Entertaining Routine category not held. Iris Kyle Tanji Johnson Candice Keene India Paulino
2014 Dennis Wolf Ms. International category not held. Oksana Grishina Ashley Kaltwasser James Lewis
2015 Dexter Jackson Camala Rodriguez-McClure Jose Raymond Juliana Malacarne Sadik Hadzovic
2016 Kai Greene Latorya Watts India Paulino Hidetada Yamagishi Autumn Swansen Brandon Hendrickson
2017 Cedric McMillan Candice Lewis-Carter Angelica Teixeira Ahmad Ashkanani Daniely Castilho Ryan Terry
2018[6] William Bonac Fred Smalls Roelly Winklaar Whitney Jones Kamal Elgargni Shanique Grant Andre Ferguson Breon Ansley
2019[7] Brandon Curry Joshua Lenartowicz William Bonac Ryall Graber Cydney Gillon Janet Layug 212 category not held. Natalia Abraham Coelho George Peterson
2020[8] William Bonac Dexter Jackson Mamdouh Elssbiay Missy Truscott Natalia Soltero Elisa Pecini Alex Cambronero
2021[9] Nicholas Walker Sergio Oliva Jr. Nicholas Walker Figure International category not held. Jennifer Dorie Women's Physique category not held. Men's Physique category not held. Terrence Ruffin
2022[10] Brandon Curry Brandon Curry William Bonac Ariel Khadr Cydney Gillon Lauralie Chapados Erin Banks
2023[11] Samson Dauda Andrew Jacked Nick Walker Ariel Khadr Ramón Rocha Queiroz
2024[12] Hadi Choopan Samson Dauda Rafael Brandão Wesley Vissers
2025[13] Derek Lunsford Samson Dauda Andrew Jacked

Arnold Classic International

Arnold Classic branding is also used for:

  • Arnold Classic Europe in Spain (since 2011)[14]
  • Arnold Classic South America in Brazil (since 2013)[14]
  • Arnold Classic Australia in Australia (since 2015)[14]
  • Arnold Classic Africa in South Africa (since 2016)[14][15]
  • Arnold Classic Asia in Hong Kong (only 2016)[15]
  • Arnold Classic UK in England (since 2021)
  • Arnold Classic Russia in Russia

Winners

Year Europe[16] South America[17] Australia[18] Africa[19] Asia[20] UK
2011 Victor Martinez[21] Event not held. Event not held. Event not held. Event not held. Event not held.
2012 Shawn Rhoden[22]
2013 Phil Heath[23] Brandon Curry[24]
2014 Dennis Wolf[25] Steve Kuclo[26]
2015 Dexter Jackson[27] Mamdouh Elssbiay[28] Dexter Jackson[29]
2016 Dexter Jackson[30] Kai Greene[31] Kai Greene[32] Dexter Jackson[33] Justin Compton[34]
2017 Mamdouh Elssbiay[35] Lukas Osladil[36] Brandon Curry[37] Johnnie O. Jackson[38] Event not held.
2018 Michal Krizanek[39] Marcelo da Cruz[40] Roelly Winklaar[41] Tomas Kaspar[42]
2019 Michal Krizanek[43] Juan Morel[44] William Bonac[45] Michal Krizanek[46]
2020 Event not held.
2021 Michal Krizanek[47] Nathan De Asha[48]

See also

References

  1. ^ Greater Columbus Convention Center. "2013 Arnold Cheerleading & Dance Championships". Arnoldsportsfestival.com. Retrieved 21 January 2013.
  2. ^ "Ms. International Dropped from 2014 Arnold Sports Festival". Hard Body News. 7 June 2013. Archived from the original on 16 September 2013. Retrieved 4 December 2013.
  3. ^ "The US governor who saw it coming early". BBC News. 1 April 2020. Archived from the original on 1 April 2020.
  4. ^ Barrett, Joe (29 March 2020). "Ohio Governor on Why He Ordered Early, Tough Coronavirus Lockdowns". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved 30 March 2020.
  5. ^ "Arnold Classic Ohio [2025]: história, categorias, curiosidades e todos os campeões - Esportelândia". www.esportelandia.com.br (in Brazilian Portuguese). 26 February 2025. Retrieved 27 February 2025.
  6. ^ 2018 Arnold Classic USA Scorecards
  7. ^ 2019 Arnold Classic USA Scorecards
  8. ^ "2020 Arnold Classic USA Scorecards". Archived from the original on 29 November 2020. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
  9. ^ 2021 Arnold Classic USA Scorecards
  10. ^ "2022 Arnold Classic USA Scorecards | IFBB PRO". 5 March 2022.
  11. ^ "2023 Arnold Classic USA Scorecards". 5 March 2023.
  12. ^ "2024 Arnold Classic USA Scorecards". 3 March 2024.
  13. ^ "2025 Arnold Classic USA Scorecards". 1 March 2025.
  14. ^ a b c d "2018 Arnold Classic Worldwide Features Festivals On Five Continents". arnoldsportsfestival.com. 23 October 2017. Retrieved 25 December 2020.
  15. ^ a b "Schwarzenegger sports fests now in Africa, Asia for 6 total". AP Online. 4 March 2016. Retrieved 25 December 2020.
  16. ^ "Arnold Classic Europe". arnoldsportsfestival.com. Archived from the original on 17 January 2021. Retrieved 25 December 2020.
  17. ^ "Arnold Classic South America". arnoldsportsfestival.com. Archived from the original on 16 January 2021. Retrieved 25 December 2020.
  18. ^ "Arnold Classic Australia". arnoldsportsfestival.com. Archived from the original on 5 December 2020. Retrieved 25 December 2020.
  19. ^ "Arnold Classic Africa". arnoldsportsfestival.com. Archived from the original on 5 December 2020. Retrieved 25 December 2020.
  20. ^ "Arnold Classic Asia". arnoldsportsfestival.com. Retrieved 25 December 2020.
  21. ^ "2011 Arnold Classic Europe Scorecards". ifbbpro.com. Archived from the original on 29 April 2021. Retrieved 25 December 2020.
  22. ^ "2012 Arnold Classic Europe Scorecards". ifbbpro.com. Archived from the original on 30 April 2021. Retrieved 25 December 2020.
  23. ^ "2013 Arnold Classic Europe Scorecards". ifbbpro.com. Archived from the original on 17 April 2021. Retrieved 25 December 2020.
  24. ^ "2013 Arnold Classic Brazil Scorecards". ifbbpro.com. Archived from the original on 17 April 2021. Retrieved 25 December 2020.
  25. ^ "2014 Arnold Classic Europe Scorecards". ifbbpro.com. Archived from the original on 17 April 2021. Retrieved 25 December 2020.
  26. ^ "2014 Arnold Classic Brazil Scorecards". ifbbpro.com. Archived from the original on 17 April 2021. Retrieved 25 December 2020.
  27. ^ "2015 Arnold Classic Europe Scorecards". ifbbpro.com. Archived from the original on 17 April 2021. Retrieved 25 December 2020.
  28. ^ "2015 Arnold Classic Brasil Scorecards". ifbbpro.com. Archived from the original on 17 April 2021. Retrieved 25 December 2020.
  29. ^ "2015 Arnold Classic Australia Scorecards". ifbbpro.com. Archived from the original on 17 April 2021. Retrieved 25 December 2020.
  30. ^ "2016 Arnold Classic Europe Scorecards". ifbbpro.com. Archived from the original on 8 November 2020. Retrieved 25 December 2020.
  31. ^ "2016 Arnold Classic Brasil Scorecard". ifbbpro.com. Archived from the original on 23 July 2020. Retrieved 25 December 2020.
  32. ^ "2016 Arnold Classic Australia Scorecards". ifbbpro.com. Archived from the original on 23 March 2017. Retrieved 25 December 2020.
  33. ^ "2016 Arnold Classic South Africa Scorecards". ifbbpro.com. Archived from the original on 17 April 2021. Retrieved 25 December 2020.
  34. ^ "2016 Arnold Classic Asia Scorecards". ifbbpro.com. Archived from the original on 23 March 2017. Retrieved 25 December 2020.
  35. ^ "2017 Arnold Classic Europe Scorecards". ifbbpro.com. Archived from the original on 29 October 2020. Retrieved 25 December 2020.
  36. ^ "2017 Arnold Classic South America Scorecards". ifbbpro.com. Archived from the original on 17 April 2021. Retrieved 25 December 2020.
  37. ^ "2017 Arnold Classic Australia Scorecards". ifbbpro.com. Archived from the original on 17 April 2021. Retrieved 25 December 2020.
  38. ^ "2017 Arnold Classic South Africa Scorecards". ifbbpro.com. Archived from the original on 17 April 2021. Retrieved 25 December 2020.
  39. ^ "2018 Arnold Classic Europe Elite Pro Results". eliteproifbb.com. Archived from the original on 21 October 2020. Retrieved 25 December 2020.
  40. ^ "2018 Arnold Classic South America Elite Pro Results". eliteproifbb.com. Archived from the original on 26 October 2020. Retrieved 25 December 2020.
  41. ^ "2018 Arnold Classic Australia Scorecards". ifbbpro.com. Archived from the original on 17 April 2021. Retrieved 25 December 2020.
  42. ^ "2018 Arnold Classic South Africa Elite Pro Results". eliteproifbb.com. Archived from the original on 26 October 2020. Retrieved 25 December 2020.
  43. ^ "2019 Arnold Classic Europe Elite Pro Results". eliteproifbb.com. Archived from the original on 25 January 2021. Retrieved 25 December 2020.
  44. ^ "2019 Arnold Classic South America Scorecards". ifbbpro.com. Archived from the original on 17 April 2021. Retrieved 25 December 2020.
  45. ^ "2019 Arnold Classic Australia Scorecards". ifbbpro.com. Archived from the original on 17 April 2021. Retrieved 25 December 2020.
  46. ^ "2019 Arnold Classic South Africa Elite Pro Results". eliteproifbb.com. Archived from the original on 21 April 2021. Retrieved 25 December 2020.
  47. ^ "2021 Arnold Classic Europe Elite Pro Results". eliteproifbb.com. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
  48. ^ "2021 Arnold Classic UK Results". ifbbpro.com. Retrieved 5 October 2021.



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