The rosters for the 2023 Arnold Strongman Classic and Arnold Strongwoman Classic are here. Set to take place on March 3-4, 2022 during the annual Arnold Sports Festival (ASF) in Columbus, OH, the Arnold Strongman Classic is a battle between 10 of the strongest men in the world.
The Arnold Strongwoman Classic will take place the same weekend, also featuring 10 of the world’s strongest women competitors.
[Related: Hunter Henderson Wins Her First Strongwoman Contest]
This year, the Arnold Sports Festival announced the women’s and men’s rosters on their Instagram, along with an update to the Strongwoman Classic’s total prize purse that will be up for grabs over the weekend.
2023 Arnold Strongman Classic Roster
Without a doubt, the 2023 Arnold Strongman Classic (ASC) will be a fight to remember. As neither of the top two competitors from 2022 will be competing this year, each of the men on this list will descend on Columbus with something to prove.
- Luke Stoltman
- Tom Stoltman
- Trey Mitchell
- Mateusz Kieliszkowski
- Pavlo Nakonechnyy
- Mitchell Hooper
- Bobby Thompson
- Rob Kearney
- Maxime Boudreault
- Tom Evans
The exciting and emotional battle between Martins Licis and Oleksii Novikov during the 2022 ASC is not destined to repeat itself, as neither the champion nor the second-place finisher will be returning to Ohio this year. The men who tied for third place, Luke Stoltman and Thompson, will both look to improve their ranking, as will fifth-place finisher Kearney.
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Mitchell Hooper is an exciting addition to this roster, as the 2022 pro debut star made quite the splash throughout his first year. The 2022 Arnold Strongman Classic UK champion will undoubtedly be looking to make his mark on the original iteration of the event.
2023 Arnold Strongman Classic Events
In 2023, the ASC will feature five events spread over two days of competition. The events will be as follows:
- Wheel Of Pain
- Austrian Oak Log Press
- Elephant Bar Deadlift
- Unspunnen Stone Throw
- Timber Frame Carry
The Timber Frame Carry and the Austrian Oak Log Press were both featured in the 2022 ASC, which means that the 2023 event promises both familiar match-ups and new thrills.
2023 Arnold Strongwoman Classic Roster
The 2023 Arnold Strongwoman Classic promises to be an intense battle between some of the most renowned names in the sport.
- Tamara Walcott
- Olga Liashchuk
- Andrea Thompson
- Hannah Linzay
- Melissa Peacock
- Inez Carrasquillo
- Victoria Long
- Nadia Stowers
- Donna Moore
- Samantha Belliveau
Long emerged victorious at the 2022 Arnold Pro Strongwoman competition during ASF, but she faces stiff competition for her crown. Thompson was the runner-up in that contest, and you can bet she’ll be looking to improve her rank.
[Related: Gabi Dixson Scores the Second Longest Hercules Hold at the 2022 World’s Strongest Nation Contest]
Walcott spent 2022 shattering world records, and Carrasquillo is finding her feet in the pro world after rising up as the 2022 Arnold Amateur Strongwoman World Champion. Fans can count on Liashchuk to attempt to retake the title after winning the 2019 and 2020 Arnold Pro Strongwoman competitions.
2023 Arnold Strongwoman Classic Events
The strongwomen will take on the same event schedule as the men’s side.
- Wheel Of Pain
- Austrian Oak Log Press
- Elephant Bar Deadlift
- Unspunnen Stone Throw
- Timber Frame Carry
Given the way fervor with which the women’s side has been attacking the Elephant Bar Deadlift since Rogue opened it up for women in 2016, Event Three in particular promises plenty of excitement.
2023 Arnold Strongman and Strongwoman Classic Prize Purse
The 2023 Arnold Strongwoman Classic competitors will be vying for more money than they were during the 2022 competition. According to the ASF Instagram, the 2023 women’s prize purse will be increased to a total of $75,000.
No updates to the men’s prize purse have yet been announced, by 2022’s total prize purse for the men’s side was $182,000, with $80,000 going to the first-place winner.
Looking Ahead
The 2023 Arnold Strongman Classic will stretch over two of the Festival’s three days. Fans attending the event on-site will head to the Strongman Arena inside the Arnold Expo to catch the action. If 2022 is any indication, there will be plenty of fireworks to look forward to.
Featured Image: @mitchellhooper / Instagram
