The 2025 Arnold Classic Physique contest will be held on Friday, Feb. 28, 2025, as part of the Arnold Classic in Columbus, OH. This is the first Classic Physique event on the 2025 IFBB Professional League schedule.
Twelve athletes received invites to compete in this competition. The winner will qualify for the 2025 Classic Physique Olympia.
2025 Arnold Classic Physique Roster
- Osmar Alanis
- Adejoh Franklin Audu
- Jihoon Bang
- Michael Daboul
- Logan Franklin
- Lucas Funk
- Matthew Greggo
- Junior Javorski
- Mike Sommerfeld
- Wesley Vissers*
- Jeremiah Willies
- Gabriel Zancanelli
*Defending champion.
Schedule
Pre-judging will begin at the Arnold Expo in the Greater Columbus Convention Center on Friday, Feb. 28, at 12:30 PM Eastern time. The finals will be held later that day as a part of the Friday night show in the Battelle Grand Ballroom.
Athletes to Watch
Each athlete has a chance to leave the stage as champion in a contest of this magnitude, but there are some odds-on favorites, including the reigning champion, who fans should watch throughout both rounds of the contest.
Wesley Vissers
Wesley Vissers pulled off an upset, defeating 2023 champion Ramon Rocha Queiroz to win the 2024 competition. Vissers is the only former champion in the lineup but is coming off an eighth-place finish at the 2024 Classic Physique Olympia. Vissers seeks redemption by showcasing more size with the conditioning and definition he showed off one year prior.
Mike Sommerfeld
Mike Sommerfeld put the division on notice, stating that he was ready to be the face of Classic Physique by placing second to Chris Bumstead at the 2024 Olympia, Bumstead’s final contest before retiring onstage.
Sommerfeld earned first-place votes from the judges, making Bumstead’s final appearance in the division a close encounter. Sommerfeld hopes to ride that momentum into the Arnold Classic.
Michael Daboul
Michael Daboul ranked seventh at the 2024 Olympia but has won multiple pro shows throughout his career, which dates back to 2019. He ranked fifth in this contest in 2022 and won the Arnold Classic UK title that same season.
Daboul will likely be in the first callout, and if either Vissers or Sommerfeld is off the mark, he could be ready to take advantage.
Dark Horses
Other contenders, including Logan Franklin, Junior Javorski, and Matthew Greggo, could rise up the standings and surprise the fans. If the first callout features six athletes, they could occupy those spots center stage.
How to Watch
Fans who want to purchase tickets to the Expo to see pre-judging or the finals live can do so through the Arnold Sports website. Tickets are available at the time of this article’s publication. A live stream of all seven divisions featured in Columbus is expected to be available, but details have not yet been revealed.
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Featured Image: @wesleyvissers on Instagram
