The Arnold Classic
, renamed Arnold Fitness Weekend, is an annual bodybuilding competition, named after Arnold Schwarzenegger. It takes place in late February or early March in Columbus, Ohio, United States.
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ARNOLD CLASSIC TICKETS
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History
It is considered the most lucrative competition in bodybuilding, with a number of large
prizes. Most notably, first prize consists of $130,000 check, a
Hummer vehicle, and a
Audemars Piguet watch. Unfortunately, like the IFBB
Mr. Olympia, the event is widely known to be plagued by illicit performance enhancing drug use, including steroids, growth hormone, insulin, and diuretics, and so Arnold Schwarzenegger has come under some criticism for promoting it.
The Arnold Classic rivals the
Mr. Olympia in
prestige and
popularity. Like most bodybuilding competitions it is always hotly contested and often only one or two competition points will separate the winners.
The Arnold Classic includes three different competitions for women:
Ms. International
,
Fitness International
, and
Figure International
.
It has also been expanded to feature
gymnastics,
cheerleading,
dance,
fencing,
table tennis,
yoga,
martial arts,
strongman competitions,
archery,
wrestling,
powerlifting and many other
sports.
The
Arnold Strongman Classic is now one of the most high profile events in the strongman calendar. Beginning in 2006, events in
boxing,
martial arts and
figure skating were added at
Nationwide Arena.
The Arnold Expo is held in the
Greater Columbus Convention Center, while finals of the bodybuilding,
fitness,
figure, and strongman competitions are held in the Franklin County Veterans Memorial Auditorium.
The date for the 2009 event was March 6 - March 8, 2009.
Winners
| Year
| Arnold Classic
| Ms. International
| Fitness International
| Figure International
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| 1989
| Rich Gaspari
| Jackie Paisley
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| 1990
| Mike Ashley
| Laura Creavalle
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| 1991
| Shawn Ray
| Tonya Knight
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|
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| 1992
| Vince Taylor
| Anja Schreiner
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| 1993
| Flex Wheeler
| Kim Chizevsky
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| 1994
| Kevin Levrone
| Laura Creavalle
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|
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| 1995
| Mike Francois
| Laura Creavalle
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| 1996
| Kevin Levrone
| Kim Chizevsky
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| 1997
| Flex Wheeler
| Yolanda Hughes
| Carol Semple-Marzetta
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| 1998
| Flex Wheeler
| Yolanda Hughes
| Susie Curry
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| 1999
| Nasser El Sonbaty
| Vickie Gates
| Susie Curry
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| 2000
| Flex Wheeler
| Vickie Gates
| Kelly Ryan
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| 2001
| Ronnie Coleman
| Vickie Gates
| Jenny Worth
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| 2002
| Jay Cutler
| Yaxeni Oriquen
| Susie Curry
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| 2003
| Jay Cutler
| Yaxeni Oriquen
| Susie Curry
| Jenny Lynn
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| 2004
| Jay Cutler
| Iris Kyle
| Adela Garcia-Friedmansky
| Jenny Lynn
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| 2005
| Dexter Jackson
| Yaxeni Oriquen
| Jen Hendershott
| Jenny Lynn
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| 2006
| Dexter Jackson
| Iris Kyle
| Adela Garcia
| Mary Elizabeth Lado
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| 2007
| Victor Martinez
| Iris Kyle
| Kim Klein
| Mary Elizabeth Lado
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| 2008
| Dexter Jackson
| Yaxeni Oriquen
| Kim Klein
| Gina Aliotti
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| 2009
| Kai Greene
| Iris Kyle
| Jen Hendershott
| Zivile Raudoniene
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