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Mark Henry Shows Incredible Weight Loss Transformation

Mark Henry Shows Incredible Weight Loss Transformation

Mark Henry loses an incredible amount of weight.
Mark Henry has made a truly impressive transformation. The WWE Hall of Famer has lost a considerable amount of weight and looks great. And it appears that from the looks of things this is just the beginning of his weight loss journey.
Mark Henry is truly a beast of a man. Having competed in a number of strength sports in his heyday, Henry has built a reputation of being one of the strongest humans on the planet. He has won gold at the Arnold Strongman Classic, in powerlifting, and in weightlifting at the Olympic Games.

But strength sports isn’t the only thing that Mark Henry is known for. For a many, Henry is known for his days in the WWE. With the moniker sexual chocolate, Mark Henry had a pretty large following during his time as a pro wrestler.
What made Mark Henry standout from the crowd was his incredible strength sports background. He was a powerful man with a powerful presence and he used it to toss around fellow wrestling greats like Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.

Mark Henry used his considerable size and strength to build up his popularity in pro wrestling. The kind of size he possessed was necessary especially during his strength sport days. Most strongman competitors, weightlifters, and powerlifters are required to carry a tremendous amount of weight on their frame. If you hope to lift massive weight then you have to be able to bear that weight.
Weight Loss Transformation
But there’s only so long you can hold onto that weight before it becomes an issue. Being extremely massive may benefit a strength athlete, but it has it’s drawbacks. After retiring from competition, it makes little sense to keep that kind of weight on your frame.

Now the WWE Hall of Famer has looked to make a change, namely to his physique. Mark Henry has embarked on a fitness journey to drop the pounds to a healthier weight. In a recent Instagram post, Henry showcased a picture of himself having dropped some considerable weight.

It appears that Mark Henry is looking to drop even more weight. He mentions that he has 20, most likely pounds, to go. Being at a lighter weight especially in his late 40s will help with longevity as well as his ability to keep in great shape.
What do you think about Mark Henry and his weight loss?
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Managing Editor at Generation Iron, Jonathan Salmon is a writer, martial arts instructor, and geek culture enthusiast. Check out his YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and Sound Cloud for in-depth MMA analysis.

Will Smith Begins His Fitness Challenge and Gets Embarrassed

Will Smith Begins His Fitness Challenge and Gets Embarrassed

Will Smith begins his self induced fitness challenge.
Well it looks like the fitness challenge is underway for Will Smith. The famous actor began his training with gusto. But it appears that Smith ended his training with a bit of embarrassment.
Getting in top shape can be a truly arduous task. Solid results means a great deal of dedication. Not only dedication, but also a drive to succeed.

Those with youth and vigor have to work hard just like anyone else. That said, their youth gives them certain physical advantages over those of a more advanced age. When you consider Will Smith is in his early 50s, you realize that this fitness challenge he’s undertaking is all the more difficult due to his age.
But that isn’t stopping the famous actor from giving it his all. Will Smith has gotten into top shape in the past, making a pretty noticeable transformation when he was cast to play the iconic Muhammad Ali in a biopic. Smith packed on pounds of muscle and while it was no easy task, he was able to due the legendary boxer justice with a solid performance and impressive physical presence.
Let The Training Begin
But while he doesn’t lack the drive and determination, Will Smith is getting a reminder that of how difficult it can be to transform. One difficulty is realizing you have to crawl before you can walk.
With his training being documented in a collaboration with YouTube, Smith’s training began with him pushing no weight at all. On the advice of his trainer, Smith was forced to lift barbells without any weight on the bar. Will Smith was admittedly embarrassed by the situation. The Instagram post below shows a bit of Smith’s training.

“This guy says ‘Let’s just get the movements,” said Smith. “Let’s just get your body back into making the movements, so we can avoid injury.’ But what that means is that he’ll just give me the bar with no weights on it to a bench press.”
“I’m like ‘We’re not shooting that. Nobody’s going to have video of me bench pressing with just a bar, and no weights on it. No. No.’”

Will Smith appears to be taking everything in stride as he continues his journey to a better physique. It will be interesting to see how much he can transform his body in the coming weeks and months.
What do you think of Will Smith and his fitness challenge?
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Managing Editor at Generation Iron, Jonathan Salmon is a writer, martial arts instructor, and geek culture enthusiast. Check out his YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and Sound Cloud for in-depth MMA analysis.

George Farah: Milos Sarcev Is Wrong To Promote Insulin In Bodybuilding

George Farah: Milos Sarcev Is Wrong To Promote Insulin In Bodybuilding

George Farah doubles down on his anti insulin stance in bodybuilding.
Over a year ago, bodybuilding coach and guru George Farah strongly criticized the use of insulin in bodybuilding. He claimed it was an outright dangerous drug to use inappropriately. He believes that using insulin for benefits in bodybuilding is always the wrong way to use the drug. A year later, we followed up with Farah to revisit his stance on this topic. In our latest GI Exclusive interview, George Farah urges bodybuilders to stop using insulin and thinks it is wrong for Milos Sarcev to promote it.
George Farah wants to get something off his chest. He wants the world to know that bodybuilders use insulin far less often than people think. In recent years, many believe that insulin has become a mainstay in top level pro bodybuilding. Farah is here to debunk that belief. In fact, he goes on to say that he has had up to six athletes in the top 10 of the Mr. Olympia. He knows for a fact all six of them did not use insulin.

In George Farah’s mind, that’s all the evidence anyone would need. These bodybuilders have made it into the top 10 of the world without insulin. So why would anyone want to take the health risk just to get an edge over the competition? Farah believes it’s not necessary.
We followed up asking George Farah about his thoughts on Milos Sarcev. Milos is a bodybuilding coach who is a strong proponent of insulin in bodybuilding. His argument is that insulin can be used safely, as long as it’s not abused. He feels this way about nearly all taboo drugs. It can be safe when done correctly. After our initial interview with George Farah, Milos responded to Farah’s comments about insulin. Clearly the two are at odds with this topic.
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Check out our GI Exclusive segment with George Farah above!
That’s why we asked George Farah for his thoughts on Milos Sarcev and his endorsement of insulin for bodybuilders. Does he think Milos is simply wrong? Farah had this to say in his response:
“Milos is a friend of mine okay? I don’t want to say he’s wrong or right. He’s wrong promoting insulin. This is my opinion. He’s entitled to his opinion but my opinion… I don’t think we should have insulin [in bodybuilding].”

George Farah goes on to detail how many bodybuilders he knows who have health problems. The fact is that bodybuilding already has health risks as it is. Farah doesn’t understand why a bodybuilder would want to add even more risk to that.
It seems that insulin is where George Farah draws the line. He has gone on the record endorsing the use of steroids for bodybuilding (though he does think it’s often abused too much recently). When it comes to insulin, though, Farah believes it’s a black and white issue. It’s clearly unhealthy. It’s clearly dangerous. And even when done right, it can lead to complications. At least, that is what George Farah believes.
You can watch George Farah go into full detail about Milos Sarcev, insulin, and bodybuilding in our latest GI Exclusive segment above!

Brad Castleberry: “Being Unhealthy But Looking Healthy Isn’t Cool”

Brad Castleberry: “Being Unhealthy But Looking Healthy Isn’t Cool”

Brad Castleberry goes into detail on why he changed his training methods to focus more on health than sculpted muscle.
The very core of bodybuilding is a healthy endeavor in line with fitness. But just like many things in fitness, it can become unhealthy depending on how far you take it. Professional bodybuilding and even modeling can put so much focus on perfecting the physique that it comes at the cost of traditional health standards. Some athletes are okay with taking that risk. But the general public might not realize that a shredded physique does not automatically mean the athlete is healthy. In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Brad Castleberry discusses completely changing his training method to focus on feeling good more than looking good.
Brad Castleberry may be a controversial figure in bodybuilding, but one thing that can’t be disputed is that he has an incredible physique. Whether he lifts fake weights or not – it takes hard work to accomplish that kind of shredded look. But during our new interview with Brad Castleberry, he wanted to focus on how he’s been making a change in his fitness life.

After years of ego lifting and powerlifting massive amounts of weight, Brad Castleberry is now focusing on lighter weight and more on cardio. His reasoning for this change is that he wants to focus more on feeling good than looking good. Sometimes the two can come hand in hand. Other times they can be at odds with each other. It depends on how far you want to push the boundaries of your body.

Martins Licis to Host Behind The Scenes Look at 2021 World’s Strongest Man

Martins Licis to Host Behind The Scenes Look at 2021 World’s Strongest Man

Martins Licis is playing host at a behind the scenes event for this year’s World’s Strongest Man.
It appears that 2019 World’s Strongest Man champion Martins Licis is taking on a new role in his strongman career. The 2019 champ is set to be a behind the scenes host of the 2021 World’s Strongest Man alongside Nick English.
The World’s Strongest Man is sure to be an interesting experience this year. The competition will again feature the best strongman competitors in the game. These are literally some of the strongest human beings walking the Earth today.

The World’s Strongest Man is a lens to see these men perform feats of strength in a manner that no other strength sport can provide. The storylines are already developing for the show taking place in Sacramento, California. One of those storylines is if the young Oleksii Novikov can repeat this year.
Novikov is one of the youngest champions to win the World’s Strongest Man. It will be intriguing to see if he can pull off another victory in 2021. But besides the competition itself, another storyline has been developing.
2019 World’s Strongest Man Martins Licis will host a behind the scenes look at the 2021 show.
Taking On A New Role
Adding his name to the list of World’s Strongest Man champions in 2019, Martins Licis has since been sitting on the sidelines for quite some time now. Injuries and the global health crisis have kept him out of competition, but he’s been spending his time wisely. Now it appears that he has a new gig and that’s hosting the behind the scenes look at this year’s WSM.
So does taking this new gig mean that Martins Licis is hanging it up? According to the 2019 champ, that’s far from the case.
“After competing for many years, putting in the work and being in the grind, I’m grateful to sit back and support World’s Strongest Man as part of the online show this year,” said Licis. “Make no mistake, I’ll be coming back soon to smash some weights and take back the throne! However in the meantime, I’m excited to see who the champion will be, and which athletes will rise in this battle against gravity.”

“World’s Strongest Man: BACKSTAGE LIVE presented by SBD” is set to premiere on Thursday, June 3, 2021 along with a preview show. Daily coverage will follow from there covering the events of the 2021 WSM.
What do you think of Martins Licis and his new hosting role? Will you be tuning into the 2021 World’s Strongest Man?
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Managing Editor at Generation Iron, Jonathan Salmon is a writer, martial arts instructor, and geek culture enthusiast. Check out his YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and Sound Cloud for in-depth MMA analysis.

Victor Martinez: If Big Ramy Focuses Too Much On Size He Can Lose To Brandon Curry

Victor Martinez: If Big Ramy Focuses Too Much On Size He Can Lose To Brandon Curry

Victor Martinez shares his reaction to Big Ramy’s big win and what his future holds in the sport.
On December 19, 2020 Big Ramy won the Mr. Olympia. This was a long time coming after almost 10 years of struggling to live up to his potential. For seemingly the first time, everyone agreed he was far and above the winner. There was no controversy. No let down. Just a pure victory for a talented and beloved competitor. But what will his future hold? Will he become the next reigning champion for years to come? In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Victor Martinez reacts to Big Ramy’s Olympia win and shares his thoughts for his future.
Victor Martinez is a pro bodybuilder who has been around in the sport for a few decades now. He is extremely passionate about bodybuilding. He’s started his own IFBB pro show and has competed consistently throughout the years. He’s also a man who is open and honest about his opinions in the sport.

That’s why when we had a chance to reconnect with Victor Martinez, we asked him for his thoughts on the Mr. Olympia 2020. More specifically, how he felt about Big Ramy’s win after years of hype and hope that he would become champion. Like many fans and experts – Martinez believes that pound for pound Big Ramy deserved the win.
But we wanted to know how this could potentially change upcoming Olympia competitions. And what the future will hold for Big Ramy. Will he be yet another one and done winner? Or will he bring upon us the next long time reigning champion? And will others now focus more on size to keep up with his massive physique? Much like how Ronnie Coleman inspired and permanently altered the culture of the sport.
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Check out our GI Exclusive segment with Victor Martinez above!
Victor Martinez believes that it will be hard for anyone to defeat Big Ramy in future shows. But there’s one catch. That’s only if Ramy can maintain his conditioning with each new year. In the past, Ramy has struggled with balancing his size and conditioning at the same time. He nailed it in 2020 – but one year of perfection does not make a guarantee for the future.

Victor Martinez points out that Big Ramy’s strength is in the duality of his size and conditioning. If he can keep both on point, there’s no one currently competing who can beat him. But the past has also shown us that Big Ramy has not been consistent. There’s a chance that 2020 was a turning point for Ramy and that his future is bright. There’s also a chance that he will regress back to his inconsistencies.
This is the point that Victor Martinez drives home. When a bodybuilder is so known for his massive size (even compared to most mass monsters in the sport), it can be easy to focus too much on size and lose grasp of conditioning. If that happens again, Martinez believes that someone like Brandon Curry or even Phil Heath can return to become champion again.
Basically – Big Ramy’s future success is not guaranteed. 2021 will be a proving ground of sorts. Will he prove that his improvements are more consistent and permanent for the coming years? Or will he ultimately fall back on his inconsistencies? There’s no way to know. Victor Martinez acknowledges this and simply hopes that Big Ramy doesn’t succumb to his size.
You can watch Victor Martinez’s full comments on Big Ramy’s Olympia win and future in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above!

Joey Swoll: The Truth Behind Crypto, Dogecoin, and Elon Musk

Joey Swoll: The Truth Behind Crypto, Dogecoin, and Elon Musk

Joey Swoll: “I’m a crypto believer”
Cryptocurrency, normally shortened simply as crypto, has been booming in popularity over the past few years. Odds are you’ve heard about crypto bigcoin, dogecoin, and Elon Musk’s name popping up non-stop in the news recently. So you’re probably asking yourself, is this truly a new currency innovation that’s here to stay? Or is it a trend with a bubble about to burst? Joey Swoll is a bodybuilder with his hands in crypto providing a bridge between this popular trend and the bodybuilding world. In our latest GI Exclusive, Joey Swoll explains crypto in detail and whether or not you should try investing or avoid it before everything comes crashing down.
Joey Swoll is a bodybuilder who is also a successful entrepreneur. His various successes showcase that he is a bodybuilder with business savvy. So when he starts publicly promoting crypto to his following – it’s something to take note of. That’s why during our recent interview, we decided to ask Swoll about his interest in crypto – and everything he knows about dogecoin, and Elon Musk’s recent headline-grabbing actions.

More specifically, we asked Joey Swoll to share his thoughts – is crypto a currency that will rule the future? Or is it a bubble about to burst? Is it smart to invest now during the rise of its popularity? Or is it all misleading hype created by a strong media narrative? Is it even possible to know now what will happen to this speculative market?
Joey Swoll admits that he is by no means a master but has begun working with individuals who have been involved with crypto for over six years. He considers himself a “crypto believer” and strongly believes that the currency will remain relevant in decades to come. However like any investment, nothing is guaranteed. His number one advice before diving into the details is this – don’t invest anything that you’re not willing or able to lose.
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Check out our GI Exclusive segment with Joey Swoll above!
That being said, Joey Swoll believes it is possible to invest smart – and that there are a lot of gains to be made in crypto. The key is to not be intimidated and start learning as much as you can before the entire market becomes normalized by the mainstream.
The second most important thing Joey Swoll advises is that not all crypto coins are created equal. Some are actually associated with services provided – and thus have more security in their value. Others are only valuable simply because people have had faith behind the brand itself. These could certainly succeed but are also subject to potential volatility.

The perfect example of this is dogecoin. A cryptocurrency that came into existence via a meme. What started off as a joke has become a bonafide cryptocurrency rising in value daily. So much so that Elon Musk put his faith in it. This, of course, skyrocketed the value further.
So what’s Joey Swoll’s opinion on more meme-friendly crypto coins like dogecoin and everyone’s obsession with Elon Musk’s involvement? Is it just overblown hype that will all collapse? Or is there true value worth investing in? Joey Swoll believes that dogecoin will be around for a while though it’s not as much of a guarantee as something like bitcoin.
Joey Swoll impresses how important faith in branding is during the early stages of crypto (or any business really). If people believe in the brand and hold passion or affinity for it – it will make people choose that brand over others. Even if that brand isn’t better or worse than competitors.
The dogecoin brand has been wildly popular due to the doge meme existing for at least a decade prior to the coin’s creation. When Elon Musk publicly announced his faith in dogecoin – that cemented the brand as something that will stick around. Of course, nothing is ever certain and the huge drop after Musk’s SNL appearance might remove steam from the brand.

At the same time, this extreme volatility is expected for speculative markets. In the big picture, strong brands will stick around. So Swoll suggests that those interested shouldn’t fear dogecoin because of the recent drops in value.
Ultimately, Joey Swoll reminds again that all investments should be spent with caution. If you’re not willing to lose the money, or can’t afford to, you shouldn’t make the investment. But he also believes crypto is a safe investment long term. “It’s the future,” Joey Swoll comments. “Everyone should learn about crypto.”
You can watch Joey Swoll’s full comments on all things crypto in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above.

The Arnold Classic Has Officially Been Set to Take Place in Ohio on September 25

The Arnold Classic Has Officially Been Set to Take Place in Ohio on September 25

The Official date and location for the Arnold Classic revealed.
News had broke late last month that the Arnold Classic would be taking place on September 25. What we didn’t know was the exact location. The event will take place in Columbus, Ohio.

The Arnold Sports Festival has usually taken place in March in the past, but due to the global health crisis that didn’t happen. Even after receiving a date for the show there was speculation that the show would possibly take place in California. That would be a major shift as the American-based shows have taken place in Ohio in recent years. And it appears that this year will be no different.
In a recent post on the official Arnold Sports Instagram gave the full details.
THE ARNOLD CLASSIC IS BACK!
ARNOLD CLASSIC, OTHER IFBB PRO LEAGUE CONTESTS TO RETURN TO COLUMBUS ON SEPT. 25
The world’s best bodybuilders and the fittest men and women on the planet will battle for $412,000 in prize money when the 2021 Arnold Classic and related IFBB Pro League contests return to Columbus, Ohio on Saturday, Sept. 25.
“It is important to offer full prize money at the Arnold Classic this year,” co-founder and promoter Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said. “The athletes deserve to be rewarded for their hard work and dedication during this difficult year. We promise to make this year’s Arnold Classic one to remember.”
The 2021 Arnold Sports Festival, originally scheduled for March, was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
“The Arnold Classic has been held for 32 consecutive years and it would be unthinkable to go a year without providing the athletes the opportunity to compete,” Schwarzenegger said. “My support of the sport of bodybuilding is enormous and, with the help of our sponsors, we are committed to making this year’s Arnold Classic a tremendous success.”
This year’s Arnold Classic will pay homage to its roots as competitors in the Arnold Classic and three other IFBB Pro League events: Classic Physique, Fitness International and Bikini International – compete for bodybuilding’s most prestigious prize on the Battelle Grand stage at the Greater Columbus Convention Center.
Tickets for the 2021 Arnold Classic will go on sale June 15.
The 2022 Arnold Sports Festival – including the Arnold Fitness EXPO, Arnold Classic, Arnold Amateur Bodybuilding Championships and an unprecedented lineup of physique, strength, combat and related sports and events – will return to the Greater Columbus Convention Center from March 3-6, 2022. More information will be released soon.

It’s not too shocking that the event will take place in Ohio. At this point it’s a tradition after all. The show will be just ahead of the 2021 Olympia and will likely produce some last minute qualifiers.
Are you excited for the 2021 show?
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Managing Editor at Generation Iron, Jonathan Salmon is a writer, martial arts instructor, and geek culture enthusiast. Check out his YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and Sound Cloud for in-depth MMA analysis.

Mike O’Hearn: Untimely Bodybuilding Deaths Are Not A Coincidence. It’s Due To Abuse

Mike O’Hearn: Untimely Bodybuilding Deaths Are Not A Coincidence. It’s Due To Abuse

Mike O’Hearn talks health in bodybuilding including cheat meals, alcohol, PEDs, and the recent rise of untimely bodybuilder deaths.
Mike O’Hearn is known for being one of the most impressive bodybuilders to be all natural. Depending on who you ask, he’s also notoriously known for lying about his all-natural status. His physique is so impressive, swaths of bodybuilding fans believe he must be lying. Whether you think he’s telling the truth or not – O’Hearn has been consistent in his statements and dedicated his life towards health in bodybuilding.
The core of the bodybuilding lifestyle is focused on healthy changes and meeting fitness goals. But when you look at competitive and pro bodybuilding – things start to get skewed. Debate about the use of PEDs such as steroids is common. Also the mass monster mentality of enormous size is seen as unhealthy compared to the smaller “classic” frames of the 1960s and 1970s.

Not only that, but the past decade has presented us with reports of many tragic untimely deaths of pro bodybuilders. Deaths ranging from ages in the mid 20s through to 50s. Is this just a coincidence with no real connecting cause between them? Or is it due to the lifestyle bodybuilding demands? In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Mike O’Hearn discusses health in bodybuilding, death in bodybuilding, and the use of PEDs in the sport.
During our new interview discussion with Mike O’Hearn, we asked if he has any unhealthy habits. Does he occasionally indulge in a cheat meal? Does he drink alcohol? This question might sound slightly silly – but if you know O’Hearn it’s a more pointed question than others might expect.
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Check out our GI Exclusive segment with Mike O’Hearn above!
Mike O’Hearn is known for his incredible dedication to structure and health. He trains at the same time in the morning every single day. He’s stuck on the same diet nearly his entire life. He’s never done steroids (though contested by some bodybuilding fans). Those who know him claim his impressive physique is possible naturally only because of his inhuman dedication to health and fitness.

So does he cheat at all? Whether you believe him or not. The answer is no. He claims that he started bodybuilding at such a young age (around 9 years old) that he never developed an interest or habit for alcohol. He’s never drank. When it comes to cheat meals – he’s not interested either. He essentially never developed those bad habits. He avoided it as a kid – so has no taste for it now.
Mike O’Hearn also goes into more detail as to why he never turned or was even curious about trying steroids as a bodybuilder. He tells a few stories of his older brothers and sisters who were all into strength sports. Some turned towards steroids and he saw how it affected them. His sister, in particular,  saw such a personality and physical change after doing steroids that O’Hearn didn’t even recognize her. These moments made him build no interest in the drug at a young age.
O’Hearn doesn’t resent the decisions his siblings and other athletes make. While it’s not for him – he doesn’t want to tell others what to do with heir lives. There are tones of unhealthy things we all do as a society. Some people smoke and still live to be 90. That doesn’t mean it’s healthy – but it does mean some can get away with it. It’s the individual’s choice. O’Hearn respects that.
He does however think that the untimely deaths recently being reported in bodybuilder are likely due to unhealthy choices in bodybuilding. He doesn’t think it’s all a coincidence being spun by media. He thinks it’s due to abuse.

“The power to be the greatest makes you do stuff you don’t want to do,” Mike O’Hearn states in our interview. He’s referring to pro athletes wanting to do whatever possible to rise up and become an iconic champion. He understands that drive. All proactive athletes make these sacrifices to different degrees. Unfortunately, with PEDs it can lead to a slippery slope. It goes from sacrifice into full blown abuse.
Mike O’Hearn admits that he is no doctor or analyst. But he does know enough examples and anecdotes from being in the industry to know that PEDs are being pushed to the point of abuse. He leaves us off with a question. With the internet providing more immediate and free access to information – why does it seem the populous is less educated? He doesn’t have an exact answer. But he thinks that question ties into the more controversial debates on PED usage and deaths over the past decade.
You can watch Mike O’Hearn’s full comments in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above!

The Arnold is Back

The Arnold is Back

The world’s best bodybuilders and the fittest men and women on the planet will battle for $412,000 in prize money when the 2021 Arnold Classic and related IFBB Pro League contests return to Columbus, Ohio on Saturday, Sept. 25.
“It is important to offer full prize money at the Arnold Classic this year,” co-founder and promoter Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said. “The athletes deserve to be rewarded for their hard work and dedication during this difficult year. We promise to make this year’s Arnold Classic one to remember.”
The Arnold Classic men’s bodybuilding championships, held annually since 1989, is the marquee event of the Arnold Sports Festival, the multi-sport festival founded by Schwarzenegger and Jim Lorimer as a one-day celebration of professional bodybuilding and physique sports.
This year’s Arnold Classic will pay homage to its roots as competitors in the Arnold Classic and three other IFBB Pro League events ¬– Arnold Classic Physique, Fitness International and Bikini International – compete for bodybuilding’s most prestigious prize on the Battelle Grand stage at the Greater Columbus Convention Center.
The 2021 Arnold Sports Festival, originally scheduled for March, was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
“The Arnold Classic has been held for 32 consecutive years and it would be unthinkable to go a year without providing the athletes the opportunity to compete,” Schwarzenegger said. “My support of the sport of bodybuilding is enormous and, with the help of our sponsors, we are committed to making this year’s Arnold Classic a tremendous success.”
Five-time champion Dexter Jackson, four-time winner Flex Wheeler, three-time champ Jay Cutler and the great Ronnie Coleman are among the bodybuilding legends who have graced the Arnold Classic stage. William Bonac of the Netherlands took home the Arnold Classic trophy for the second time when he won the Arnold Classic in 2020.
In addition to Bonac, defending champions include Alex Cambronero of Miami (Arnold Classic Physique), Missy Truscott of Redmond, Wash. (Fitness International) and Elisa Pecini of Brasil (Bikini International). Competitor lists for this year’s contests will be announced in mid-June.
Tickets for the 2021 Arnold Classic go on sale June 15.
The 2022 Arnold Sports Festival – including the Arnold Fitness EXPO, Arnold Classic, Arnold Amateur Bodybuilding Championships and an unprecedented lineup of physique, strength, combat and related sports and events – will return to the Greater Columbus Convention Center from March 3-6, 2022. More information will be released soon.
MORE INFORMATIONwww.arnoldsportsfestival.com