2024 Arnold Classic Physique champion Wesley Vissers is preparing to defend his title at the 2025 Arnold Classic in Columbus, OH, on the weekend of Feb. 28 through March 1, 2024. Vissers was recently a guest on The Truth Podcast with host Hany Rambod
Vissers spoke about how he got into bodybuilding and his nickname, “The Dutch Oak,” telling Rambod that he had already won every show he could in the Netherlands as a bodybuilder before the Classic Physique division existed.
It’s really good to have that background.
—Wesley Vissers
The entirety of the interview can be seen below:
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Emulating Arnold
Vissers recalled winning his first Classic Physique pro card in Europe in 2018 before rising in the pro ranks. He told Rambod that his first time stepping on the Olympia stage in 2018, where he finished outside the top 15, was eye-opening.
It’s one thing to win a pro show but another to be a top guy at the Olympia. That’s a whole different ball game.
—Wesley Vissers
After Vissers spoke about his 2024 Arnold Classic win, Rambod mentioned that many of the division’s athletes, including six-time Classic Physique Olympia champion Chris Bumstead, appeared to use Arnold Schwarzenegger as a reference when building their physiques. Vissers validated that statement, as he is often told that his physique is reminiscent of the seven-time Mr. Olympia turned movie star turned politician.
I was already being compared to [Schwarzenegger]. That’s what I grew up to be. His kind of physique was what I wanted.
—Wesley Vissers
Even though Vissers competes at the highest level of the sport and has found success, he still feels posing is his weakness. He recalled watching videos of Schwarzenegger’s posing routine at the 1980 Mr. Olympia and trying to recreate it to improve the presentation of his own body onstage.
2024 Olympia
Aside from his win in Columbus, Vissers also won the 2024 Arnold Classic UK Classic Physique show, and many fans felt he would challenge Bumstead at the Olympia that year. However, he finished eighth overall at the 2024 Olympia when Bumstead won his sixth and final title before retiring.
Vissers acknowledged the pressure he feels within the sport leading up to that contest in Las Vegas, NV. He told Rambod that he spoke to head judge Steve Weinberger about that placing to get feedback.
He said I need to be fuller. I think I overdid it at the Olympia because I wanted it all.
—Wesley Vissers
“Fuller,” in this case, means that Vissers’ muscles needed to be filled with more water so they appeared bigger when he posed. Vissers admitted his desire to cover all bases may have cost him at the Olympia.
That’s how the pressure got to me.
—Wesley Vissers
2025 Arnold Classic
Vissers has applied Weinberger’s feedback to his 2025 Arnold Classic prep and intends to defend his title. Rambod asked him how he was approaching this contest compared to his 2024 win and Vissers responded that Weinberger implied Vissers may have placed higher at the Olympia if he looked similar to how he did in Columbus.
Therefore, Vissers aims to present a similar version of that physique, but with more mass on his legs.
There will be improvements in the lower body, which will be visible for sure, especially in the posterior chain.
—Wesley Vissers
Should he succeed in Columbus, Vissers would be the first to repeat as Arnold Classic Physique champion since Terrence Ruffin went back-to-back in 2021 and 2022. Vissers needs a pro show win to qualify for the 2025 Classic Physique Olympia.
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Featured Image: @wesleyvissers on Instagram
