Arnold Classic 2024

In 1989, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jim Lorimer started the Arnold Sports Festival. The festival is celebrating its 36th year in 2024. What started as a humble effort by seven-time Mr. Olympia and Hollywood action star Arnold Schwarzenegger and legendary promoter Jim Lorimer has evolved into one of the world's most prestigious bodybuilding and sporting events. Rivaling the Super Bowl of bodybuilding, the IFBB Mr. Olympia, in many aspects, the Arnold Classic 2024 promises to be the grandest edition of the over three-decade-old event.

The history of the Arnold Classic

The Arnold Classic started after Arnie and Lorimer made good on their handshake agreement from 1970. In 2019, Arnold Schwarzenegger told the Columbus Dispatch that he met Lorimer at the most important event of his life. "It was the first bodybuilding show in which I defeated a very important competitor, Sergio Oliva, and I did it on neutral ground — Columbus," said Schwarzenegger.

Schwarzenegger was so impressed that promised Lorimer to return to Columbus. After the pair teamed up to hold the Mr. Olympia at Columbus, Ohio between 1976 and 1986, they founded the Arnold Classic in 1989. Since then, Schwarzenegger and Lorimer continued to organize the Arnold Sports Festival and its crown jewel The Arnold Classic. Unfortunately Jim Lorimer, the attorney, FBI agent, Mayer of Worthington, Ohi, and legendary promoter passed away in 2022. The 36th Arnold Classic is the second edition of the contest without Lorimer.

A look at past Arnold Classic champions

While the 36th Arnold Classic champion is yet to be crowned. 35 years have produced multiple champions, including those who have also won the Mr. Olympia multiple times. Two-time Mr. Olympia runner-up Rich Gaspari holds the distinction of being the inaugural champion in 1989. Mike Ashley won in 1990, Shaw Ray won the title in 1991, and Vince Taylor in 1992.

However, Flex Wheeler started his reign in 1993. The Sultan of Symmetry won the title four times in 1993, 1997, 1998, and 2000. In between Flex Wheeler's reign, Kevin Levrone won the title in 1994 and 1996, Mike Francois won in 1995 and Nasser El Sonbaty won in 1999. Ronnie Coleman made history by becoming the first man to win the Mr. Olympia and the Arnold Classic in the same season in 2001.

Coleman's rival and four-time Mr. Oympia Jay Cutler won three Arnold Classic titles consecutively from 2002 to 2004. Then came Dexter Jackson, the man who holds the record for the most Arnold Classic wins. Between 2005 to 2015, The Blade won five times in 2005, 2006, 2008, 20013, and 2015. Victor Martinez won in 2007. Kai Green won in 2009 and 2010 and finally in 2016.

Branch Warren won in 2011 and 2012. German bodybuilder Dennis Wolf won in 2014 before the late Cedric McMillan won't in 2017. William Bonca won in 2018 and 2020, followed by only the third man to both the Arnold Classic and the Mr. Olympia Brandon Curry in 2019 and 2022. Nick Walker won in 2021, before becoming runner-up to defending champion Smason Samson Dauda.

When is the Arnold Classic 2024 taking place?

Samson 'The Nigerian Lion' Dauda will compete to earn his second consecutive Arnold Classic title on the 1st and 2nd of March 2024. The 2024 Arnold Sports Festival will start on 29th February 29th and end on 3rd March 2024. The Arnold Expo, which is part of the ASF will be held from 1st to 3rd March 2024. Historically the Arnold Classic has always been held between late February and the first week of March. The only time this didn't happen was in 2021 due to the coronavirus lockdown. In 2021 the second most prestigious bodybuilding event happened in September.

The venue of Arnold Classic 2024

However, the venue of the Arnold Classic has always remained the same. The 2024 Arnold Classic will be held at Greater Columbus Convention Center, in Columbus, Ohio. Since Lorimer and Arnie shook hands to hold the event in Columbus, they have never changed venues. The massive Convention Center houses at least 900 booths during the Arnold Sports Festival and more athletes than the Olympics participate in the annual event in Ohio. Thanks to this long-standing tradition, the ASF even provides discounted hotel accommodation for those attending the show. Everyone attending the show will also have numerous ticket options.

What is the ticket price for the Arnold Classic 2024? 

There is a plethora of ticket categories for the 2024 Arnold Classic. The prices for tickets range between $20 to an eye-watering $799. $20 will get you the Thursday Admission (Weightlifting) ticket. With this pass event goers will only be able to attend the Weightlifting event on 29th February. Meanwhile, $799 will get you an access pass to everything the Arnold Sports Festival has to offer with the Platinum VIP ticket package.

This tier also included the Ultimate Expo Pass which costs $159 when bought separately. However, the $799 ticket doesn't mention anything about the photo ops with the Arnold Classic special guests. Each photo-op session costs $50 and there is a sixth slot where two of the guests will team up and that pass costs $80. Hence one looking to attend every photo-op will have to dish out $330.

"APPLICABLE SERVICE FEES WILL BE ADDED DURING PURCHASE," says the Arnold Classic website in all caps. However, anyone under 14 will get free entry to the Expo floor when accompanied by a parent.

The participants of Arnold Classic 2024 

Over 80 contestants across seven categories will participate in the Arnold Classic 2024.

Men’s Bodybuilding:

• Remeco Bose
• Rafael Brandao
• Hadi Choopan
• Samson Dauda
• Marcello De Angeles
• Jonathan De La Rosa
• James Hollingshead
• Andrew Jacked
• Rubiel Mosquera
• Justin Rodriguez
• Mohamed Shaaban
• Antoine Valliant
• Akim Williams

Arnold Classic Physique:

• Breon Ansley
• Eric Brown Jr.
• Michael Daboul
• Darren Farrell
• Urs Kalecinski
• Antoine Loth
• Courage Opara
• Damien Patrick
• Ramon Rocha Queiroz
• Emanuele Ricotti
• Terrence Ruffin
• Wesley Vissers

Men’s Physique:

• Mahmood Al-Maghrabi
• Vitor Chaves
• Emmanuel Costa
• Jeffrey Darko
• Ismael Martinez Dominguez
• Emanual Hunter
• Jonas Jamena
• Vinicius Mateus Vieira Lima
• Diego Montenegro
• Corey Morris
• Andres Ramos
• Emile Walker

Pro Wheelchair:

• Gabriele Andriulli
• Bradley Betts
• Tyler Brey
• Gaylon Grigsby
• Josue Fabiano
• Leonard Harmon
• Rajesh John
• Harold Kelley
• Antoni Khadraoui
• Chad McCrary

The 2024 Arnold Classic will also host contests in three Women's bodybuilding divisions.

Bikini International;

• Rhoda Allie
• Vania Auguste
• Tamekia Carter
• Lauralie Chapados
• Aimee Delgado
• Ivanna Escandar
• Eli Fernandez
• Phoebe Hagan
• Ottavia Mazza
• Elisa Pecini
• Amanda Marques Pereira
• Angelica Teixeira

Fitness International:

• Jaclyn Baker
• Jodi Boam
• Abby Bolton
• Tiffany Chandler
• Danielle Chikeles
• Ariel Khadr
• Michelle Fredua-Mensah
• Anna Fomina
• Minna Pajulahti
• Nikolett Szabo
• Aurika Tyrgale
• Tamara Vahn

Wellness International:

• Sandra Colorado Acal
• Amanda Burnett
• Johanna Calcano
• Lili Dong
• Anne-Marie Gobiel
• Andrea Hrenko
• Hye Yoon Kim
• Francielle Mattos
• Isabelle Nunes
• Tefani-Sam Rahzi
• Bruna Seredich
• Courtney Starr

All the bodybuilding contests will take place on the 1st and 2nd March 2024.

Arnold Classic 2024 schedule 

Prejudging and Finals will be held on 1st March, between 12:30 pm - 9:30 pm (12:30 to 21:30) and 2nd March, between 11:00 am - to 10:00 pm (11:00 to 22:00).

1st March:

Prejudging

• Classic Physique - 12:30 pm-1:30 pm
• Fitness International - 12:30 pm-1:30 pm
• Wellness International - 12:30 pm-1:30 pm
• Arnold Classic - 7:00 pm-9:30 pm

• Classic Physique - 7:00 pm-9:30 pm
• Fitness International - 7:00 pm-9:30 pm
• Wellness International - 7:00 pm-9:30 pm

• Arnold Men's Physique - 11:00 am-12:00 pm
• Bikini International - 11:00 am-12:00 pm

• Arnold Men's Physique - 7:00 pm-10:00 pm
• Bikini International - 7:00 pm-10:00 pm
• Arnold Classic - 7:00 pm-10:00 pm

The special guests in 2024 

This year's guest list will have familiar faces as well as a rising bodybuilding sensation. Arnold Schwarzenegger himself will be there for the Arnold Sunday Showcase on the final day from 9:30 am to 1:00 pm. 5x Classic Physique Olympia champion Chris Bumstead, 4x Mr. Olympia Jay Cutler, 8x Mr. Olympia Ronnie Coleman, 2018 WSM winner Hafthor Bjornsson, and 21-year-old social media bodybuilding sensation Sam Sulek, will be present for photo-ops and autographs.

Other fitness and bodybuilding personalities such as Martyn Ford, Dan Green, UFC fighter Bo Nickal, Shawn Ray, Shaun Clarida, and others will be present on the Expo floor at the Animal Pak, Mutant Nutrition, Joko Fuel, and Pure Vita Labs booths. However, no Arnold Classic is complete without the Lifetime Achievement awards.

The history of the Lifetime Achievement awards

Since the year 2000, The Arnold Classic has been honoring individuals who have made "notable contributions to the fitness industry and offered a lifetime of service to the enhancement of sports performance and promotion." This award has been Arnold Schwawrzengger's way of thanking bodybuilders, athletes, and personalities from other disciplines who have contributed to developing sports in one way or the other, consistently.

Past honorees include:

• 2000: Joe Weider
• 2001: Reg Park
• 2002: Jim Lorimer
• 2003: Frank Zane
• 2004: Bill Pearl
• 2005: Jack LaLanne
• 2006: Lee Haney
• 2007: Cory Everson
• 2008: Ben Weider
• 2009: Franco Columbu
• 2010: Sylvester Stallone
• 2011: Lou Ferrigno
• 2012: Robert Kennedy
• 2013: Rich Gaspari
• 2014: John Balik
• 2015: Jim Manion
• 2016: Dr. Raphael Santonja
• 2017: Betty Weider
• 2018: Dr. Robert Goldman
• 2019: Drs. Terry & Jan Todd
• 2020: Paul 'Triple H' Levesque
• 2021: Ronnie Coleman
• 2023: Kenneth 'Flex' Wheeler

We'll have to wait and watch to know who wins the prestigious award this year.