The 2024 Arnold Classic weekend includes seven IFBB Pro League shows, in which athletes are invited to compete. Twelve Men’s Physique athletes accepted their invitations for a shot at the second-most-coveted title in bodybuilding on March 1-3, 2024 in Columbus, OH.
At the time of this article’s publication, 10 athletes remain on the Men’s Physique roster. Emile Walker dropped out due to personal family issue. Jeffrey Darko withdrew due to health concerns. The remaining 10 athletes are below, listed in alphabetical order:
Arnold Classic Men’s Physique Roster
- Mahmood Al-Maghrabi
- Vitor Chaves
- Emmanuel Costa
- Ismael Martinez Dominguez
- Emanual Hunter
- Jonas Jamena
- Vinicius Mateus Vieira Lima
- Diogo Montenegro
- Corey Morris
- Andres Ramos
[Related: 2024 Arnold Classic Physique Preview]
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New Champion Guaranteed
This contest is assured to crown of a new champion. The two-time reigning champion Erin Banks, who won in 2022 and 2023, will not attempt a second defense. Instead, Banks is prioritizing reclaiming the Olympia title at the 2024 Olympia Weekend in Las Vegas, NV on Oct. 10-13, 2024. Banks placed third to Ryan Terry at the 2023 Olympia.
None of the other Men’s Physique athletes in the Arnold Classic lineup have yet won the title. The winner will be the sixth Men’s Physique champion since it was debuted in 2015. That winner will qualify for 2024 Olympia, if not previously qualified.
Top Contenders
Diogo Montenegro is an early favorite to win this title. He was runner-up to Banks in the 2023 Arnold Classic Men’s Physique contest and placed fifth at the 2023 Men’s Physique Olympia in November 2023.
Emanuel Hunter finished one spot ahead of Montenegro at the 2023 Olympia, which should boon Hunter’s confidence in Columbus.
Corey Morris had a successful 2023 season, winning three pro shows, including the 2023 Pittsburgh Pro show in May. He will start his seventh pro season with his Arnold Classic debut and will aim for gold.
Dark Horses
Vitor Chaves is no stranger to the Arnold Classic stage; he finished fourth in 2023, and ninth at the 2023 Olympia. The two-time DC Pro winner will likely be in a first callout with the other favorites.
2023 Sur Cup Chile Pro winner Emmanuel Costa placed outside the top 15 at 2023 Olympia but placed outside the top 15, but will aim to make a big splash for his Arnold Classic debut.
Arnold Debuts
Several other athletes will be in the Arnold callouts for the first time, including Mahmood Al-Maghrabi, ninth-year pro Ismael Martinez Dominguez, Jonas Jamena, Vinicius Mateus Vieira Lima, and sophomore pro Andres Ramos.
Any debutant who makes a significant impression on the judges’ scorecards can gain significant star power on a stage of this caliber. If that comes to fruition, it could serve them well throughout the 2024 season.
How to Watch
The 2024 Arnold Classic Men’s Physique prejudging will take place in the Expo at the Greater Columbus Convention Center on Saturday, March 2, 2024. The finals will be in the Battelle Grand Ballroom later that day.
Tickets for the finals can be secured on the Arnold Sports website, and fans who aren’t watching live can catch the action from home for free via their livestream.
Featured Image: @diogomonpro on Instagram
