The 35th Arnold Classic, occurring from March 3-4, 2023, features a former Mr. Olympia, two Arnold Classic winners, two Olympia 212 champions, and five other Men’s Open pros. Though all divisions have become popular over the years, the Men’s Open (known as the Arnold Classic) is typically the highlight of the Arnold Sports Festival’s bodybuilding showcase.
The 10 men in this year’s contest had their own buzz going into the show, making this one of the most anticipated Arnold Classic lineups in the last few years.
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The first callout included Nick Walker and Shaun Clarida, who got the loudest applause, Samson Dauda, Andrew Jacked, and Mamdouh “Big Ramy” Elssbiay. By the third callout, Walker, Jacked, and Dauda were being compared. The judges switched these three men around for multiple comparisons. They appear to be the top three in the running for the title going into the finals on Saturday night, March 4.
You can find the complete callout list below:
Callout #1
- Shaun Clarida
- Nick Walker
- Samson Dauda
- Andrew Jacked
- Mamdouh “Big Ramy” Elssbiay
Callout #2
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Callout #3
- William Bonac
- Shaun Clarida
- Mamdouh Elssbiay
- Akim Williams
Callout #4
- Nick Walker
- Andrew Jacked
- Samson Dauda
How Bodybuilding is Judged
Bodybuilding is considered subjective by the masses. Yet, competitors are still judged meticulously by a panel of judges. Here’s a breakdown of how the judging process works:
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Past Arnold Classic Winners
- 1989 — Rich Gaspari
- 1990 — Mike Ashley
- 1991 — Shawn Ray
- 1992 — Vince Taylor
- 1993, 1997, 1998, 2000 — Flex Wheeler
- 1994, 1996 — Kevin Levrone
- 1995 — Mike Francois
- 1999 — Nasser El Sonbaty
- 2001 — Ronnie Coleman
- 2002, 2003, 2004 — Jay Cutler
- 2005, 2006, 2008, 2013, 2015 — Dexter Jackson
- 2007 — Victor Martinez
- 2009, 2010, 2016 — Kai Greene
- 2011, 2012 — Branch Warren
- 2014 — Dennis Wolf
- 2017 — Cedric McMillan
- 2018, 2020 — William Bonac
- 2019, 2022 — Brandon Curry
- 2021 — Nick Walker
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Saturday Night Finals
The second day of competitions will include Men’s Physique, Bikini, Men’s Wheelchair, and the finals of the Arnold Classic. The evening show is available on pay-per-view, starting at 7 p.m. Eastern time, courtesy of Fanmio.
Featured Image: Courtesy of the Arnold Sports Festival
