The Arnold Sports Festival is known worldwide for its bodybuilding and strength competitions, but the four-day event draws more than just onlookers to see ripped and shredded bodies.
You don't have to be a fan of these exhibitions to attend, though many people flock to the Greater Columbus Convention Center to watch the Arnold Classic, weightlifting, and strongman/strongwoman events that are the festival's highlights. There are plenty of other attractions to appeal to all kinds of visitors, including pillow fights (seriously).
“Arnold appeals to a wide range of people because it features a wide range of competitions and events, from bodybuilding and weightlifting to events such as cheerleading, dance and foosball,” said Brent Lalonde, Arnold's event director. I think it is,” he said. Thursday through Sunday, primarily at the Greater Columbus Convention Center.
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How did the Arnold Sports Festival begin?
Arnold Schwarzenegger was a bodybuilder in his early 20s when he met Jim Lorimer, then the mayor of Worthington, at the 1970 Mr. World Bodybuilding Championship. The two developed a decades-long friendship and partnership that included him founding the Arnold Classic (which later became the Arnold Sports Festival) in 1989.
In an Instagram post following Lorimer's death in November 2022, Schwarzenegger announced a “handshake agreement” to promote bodybuilding together and a “200,000 person “It's become a sports festival that attracts more visitors and athletes than the Olympics,” he said, referring to Arnold's growth.
Lalonde echoed Schwarzenegger's comments.
He said: “In 36 years, this event has grown significantly from a bodybuilding competition to a sports festival, one of the largest integrated sports festivals in the country. It is a true highlight of the year for athletes, participants and sponsors. ” he said.
“I’m really happy to be back and looking forward to putting on a good show.”
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Arnold Schwarzenegger performs Friday through Sunday
Arnold's wouldn't be complete without its namesake and co-founder Arnold Schwarzenegger, who attends the sports festival every year. From Friday through Sunday, audiences will find him everywhere. You'll also find him at the 5K Pump & Run starting at 10:30 a.m. Sunday at the Convention Center.
If you want to see Schwarzenegger up close and personal, attend the Arnold Showcase starting at 9:30 a.m. Sunday in the Battelle Grand Ballroom at the Convention Center. Schwarzenegger appears later in the showcase.
“The Arnold Showcase draws about 2,000 people to the Battelle Grand. At the showcase,[Schwarzenegger]does a Q&A that touches on every aspect of his career, from bodybuilding to movies to politics. '' Lalonde said. “This is a great opportunity to meet Arnold, hear his story and ask questions.”
And, no, Lalonde added, Schwarzenegger doesn't mind being asked to say famous “Terminator” catchphrases like “I'll be back” or “Hasta la vista, baby.”
Martial arts is one of the popular events at the Arnold Sports Festival.
Lalonde said martial arts, along with physique and lifting events, complete the “three pillars” of Arnold's biggest crowd-pleasers. This year's martial arts will include Muay Thai boxing, grappling, MMA combat, and the Martial Arts Festival, which will be held at the Ohio Expo Center from Friday through Sunday.
Also under the combat umbrella is a medieval battle, which Lalonde called the sports festival's “most unique” event. In this game, combatants use their 14th to 16th century armor and weapons and compete to be the last man standing.
Guns & Horses return to festival boxing ring
Perhaps the most popular combat attraction is the Guns and Hoes charity boxing event, which pits local police officers and firefighters against each other. “We always get a sold-out crowd. It's a fun night of boxing and raising money for charity,” Lalonde said.
Guns & Horses, now in its ninth year, is a year of tiebreakers with a 4-4 split between police and fire, said Deputy Troy Speakman of the Franklin County Sheriff's Office, Guns & Horses event director. It is said that there is also.
Donovan Biers, who will represent the Columbus Fire Department in defense of the heavyweight title he won last year, said he is looking forward to the opportunity for both firefighters and police officers to showcase talent they don't usually get to see. .
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Bierce, 35, signed up for his first Guns N' Hoes at the urging of colleague Tony Koop, a former professional fighter who also competed in Arnold Boxing Events. “I've loved boxing since I was little, and I've been a fan of all sports since I was a kid, and I've always wanted to box myself,” he said.
“I went to the Barak Rec Center as much as I could and trained with EJ Reed, another professional fighter at the (fire) department. I tried to balance my home life and work life as much as I could. , I'm trying to reach my goal.'' Some of us are sparring in preparation for this event. ”
Mr. Beers will be taking his gloves off against a first-time candidate, Deputy Joe Smith of the Franklin County Sheriff's Office. Mr Smith said he “jumped at the chance” to join Guns N' Hoes after being approached by Speakman.
“It's a good opportunity for police and firefighters to have a little bit of competition with each other and beat each other up instead of always badmouthing each other,” Smith said, joking about the friendly rivalry between police and firefighters. . .
The 40-year-old executive said Guns & Hoes is also a chance for contestants to do something outside of their “regular” jobs. “This is a good opportunity for people to get out and see police and firefighters doing something for the community,” said Smith, who has done mixed martial arts in the past. Ta.
“It’s also an opportunity to express who you work for, have fun and break out of your normal routine in a non-professional atmosphere.”
This year's fistfight competition will benefit the Fraternal Order of Police Foundation and the International Association of Firefighters, which help police officers and firefighters injured in the line of duty, Speakman said.
Gymnasts in action at Arnold Sports Festival
Looking for a low-contact sport? Plain City's Integrity Athletics will return to the gymnastics competition in Arnold this year, with contestants from gyms across the country taking part in trampoline, tumbling and women's gymnastics competitions.
Integrity gymnast Rav Bryant has been competing internationally for several years, but his next contest will be on home soil as he makes his debut at the Arnold. “I've never been there before, so it's going to be a different experience for me, something new,” said the 21-year-old Worthington resident.
As a power tumbler, Bryant will be tasked with performing difficult twists in the air, including consecutive single and double flips. Although a newcomer to the festival, he's used to facing off against other athletes, having started gymnastics at an age when many kids struggle to color inside the lines.
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“I've been competing since I was 4 years old. I started the baby program with my dad at Buckeye Gymnastics, and one day we were watching (other gymnasts) and… My father said, “Raph, why don't you try it?'' Looks like fun.''
“I joined the team when I was four or five years old. When I got to a level where the coach could only take me so far, I finally decided to switch to Integrity. I've been there for a year and they've helped me grow as an international athlete and be where I am today,'' Bryant said. Bryant's competitive career took him to many countries, including Japan, Bulgaria, Azerbaijan, and the United Kingdom.
Arnold Classic, Strongman/Strongwoman Anchor Festival
Lalonde touted the Arnold Classic as “the highlight event of the weekend” and said contestants will be judged on criteria such as shape, size and muscularity.
Of the 90 or so total bodybuilders participating in this year's Sportsfest, 11 will be oiled up and posed for the classic. Representing Great Britain, defending champion Samson Dauda, also known as the 'Nigerian Lion', returns to seek his second title.
Lalonde pointed out that while the Arnold Classic and other bodybuilding competitions focus on appearance, other events are judged on physical strength.
“At the Arnold Strongman Classic and Arnold Strongwoman Classic, athletes are judged on how much they can lift, not how they look,” he says.
Strength competition challenges include elephant bar deadlifts up to 1,100 pounds and Deanie stone carries over 700 pounds. These stones are replicas of the Dinnie Stones, a 733-pound granite lifting stone located in Potarch, Aberdeenshire, Scotland.
Other must-see events at the Arnold Sports Festival
If you're looking for the latest in sporting goods, apparel, and nutrition, you're likely to find it at: arnold expo. The Fitness Expo returns to the Convention Center with hundreds of vendor booths, non-stop competitions and entertainment on three stages. Stop by to sign autographs and take pictures with your favorite professional bodybuilders and strongmen.
Expo hours are Friday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Children 14 and under are admitted free to the Expo with a paying adult.
Mr. Lalonde said: female bodybuilding Arnold hosts the Fitness International, Bikini International, and Wellness International competitions, and the events grow in popularity each year. “Each department is evaluated a little differently,” Lalonde said. “They create new divisions every few years based on demand so that more women can get on stage and compete.”
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He also recommended checking out the professional wheelchair bodybuilding event on Saturday at 10 a.m., where pre-judging and finals will take place. Candidates include reigning champion Harold Kelly, who has won the competition every year since 2016, while Gabriele Andreuli (also returning) won in 2022.
“These athletes are forced to live in wheelchairs for whatever reason, but they've built incredible upper body strength,” Lalonde said. “It’s very inspiring to watch them compete.”
You don't have to be a pro to participate in the Arnold, as there are amateur competitions for bodybuilders, strongmen, and strongmen. Registration is still being accepted for the Arnold Amateur on Thursday and Friday. Each event draws about 250 bodybuilders, Lalonde said. See arnoldamateur.com for rules and eligibility information.
bpaschal@dispatch.com
At a glance
The Arnold Sports Festival will be held Thursday through Sunday at the Greater Columbus Convention Center, 400 N. High St. Select events will be held at the Ohio Expo Center, Columbus Athenaeum, Hilton Columbus, and Hyatt Regency. Please visit our website for specific event times, locations and ticket prices. (arnoldsports.com)
