The 35th Annual Arnold Sports Festival took place from 2/29-3/4 in Columbus, Ohio.
For those unfamiliar with the Arnold Sports Festival, it is a more broad name for the Arnold Classic. The Arnold Classic is an annual bodybuilding show hosted by the renowned bodybuilder, Arnold Schwarzenegger. While it is not the biggest event of the year in terms of bodybuilding, it is still one of the most well known bodybuilding shows. It is important, but not mandatory. Many high placing bodybuilders will compete in this show.
The premise of the Arnold Classic is to put more emphasis on the “Classic Physique” division of bodybuilding. This division is something that is more similar to the type of bodybuilding that Arnold himself competed in. Modern day bodybuilding tends to put more emphasis on the idea of mass as opposed to how the physique looks. Arnold’s goal in making this show was to make a show that emphasizes the shapes and proportions of a physique as opposed to just the idea of mass.
What is important about this show is that someone very unexpected won the show. Wesley Vissers came in 1st place at the show. This is shocking because of the fact that he placed 7th at the latest Olympia, the biggest bodybuilding show in the world. 7th is a very respectable position. However, what makes it shocking that he was able to pull off this win, is because the people who placed below him in this show had ranked higher than him at the Olympia. He was able to beat out many big names in bodybuilding such as Ramon Dino, Urs Kalecinski, and Breon Ansley.
While the “Arnold” is not the biggest event in bodybuilding, it’s still a very important event for the sport and can go a long way in predicting how the future rankings will play out. Wesley Vissers managing to take the 1st place spot against his competitors can show us the future of how the Classic Division will play out.
CBum ( Chris Bumstead) is the current champion of the Classic Physique division in the Olympia. He is a 5-time classic physique champion. He’s on a streak because all 5 of those Olympias have been consecutive.
Wesley Vissers making such a drastic jump to be able to beat out many big names who beat him at the Olympia, begs many questions about the future of the Classic Physique division. It is very hard to be able to beat CBum, as CBum has become the face of the division and he is exactly what the judges are looking for.
He has become the blueprint for the judges, making it nearly impossible for him to lose, assuming he brings his normal “A-Game.” However, he is still on the verge of retiring, as he wants to start a family and has already established his legacy in the bodybuilding game. So, once he retires, it is up for grabs. Because of the Arnold Classic, it makes it a realistic possibility for Wesley Vissers to win the Olympia.