Arnold Classic To
Celebrate It's 25th Anniversary
By The Bodybuilders.gr Editorial Team
January 18th, 2013
Once a year the bodybuilding and fitness world comes together in what is
commonly known as one of the best athletic events in the world, the Arnold
Sports Festival. This year the ASF celebrates the 25th anniversary of the men's
bodybuilding contest, the Arnold Classic. Each year some of the best
athletes in the sport of men's bodybuilding are invited to compete for the title
of Arnold Classic champion, which apart from the prestigious honor has a cash
prize of $130,000.
The 2013 Arnold Classic is going to be an amazing event, so don't miss our
coverage right here on The Largest Greek Bodybuilding & Fitness Site On The Web,
Bodybuilders.gr.
Here is the official press release:
Arnold Classic To
Celebrate 25th Anniversary.
The Arnold Classic will celebrate its 25th Anniversary during the
2013 Arnold
Sports Festival by honoring all former past winners of the men’s
professional bodybuilding championships named in honor of Gov. Arnold
Schwarzenegger, the sport’s greatest champion.
Four-time winner Flex Wheeler, three-time champion Jay Cutler and 2001 champ
Ronnie Coleman will headline the former Arnold Classic champions who will return
to the Veterans Memorial stage on Saturday, March 2. Also returning will be
two-time winners Kevin Levrone, Kai Greene and Branch Warren, inaugural champion
Rich Gaspari, and Mike Ashley, Shawn Ray, Vince Taylor, Michael Francois, Nasser
El Sonbaty and Victor Martinez.
Rich Gaspari, who won the inaugural Arnold Classic in 1989, will be
honored with the 2013 Lifetime Achievement Award during the 25th Anniversary
Celebration.
Dexter Jackson, who won the Arnold Classic, in 2005, 2006 and 2008, will try to
tie Wheeler’s record of four wins at the 2013 Arnold Classic. He is the only
former champion in the 2013 field and will be making his 14th appearance in the
Arnold Classic.
“We look forward to welcoming all of our great Arnold Classic champions back to
Columbus for our 25th Anniversary,” said Jim Lorimer, who co-founded the Arnold
Classic with Schwarzenegger in 1989. “The Arnold Classic has grown over the
years into one of our sport’s most prestigious events, and was the catalyst for
the Arnold Sports Festival – the nation’s largest multi-sport festival.”
Fourteen men have combined to win the previous 24 Arnold Classic titles. Wheeler
(four), Cutler (three), Jackson (three), Levrone, Greene and Warren (two each)
have accounted for 16 of the 24 titles.
In addition to appearing at the Arnold Classic on Saturday night, all previous
Arnold champs will also attend the Arnold Champions & Legends Sunday Morning
Showcase on Sunday, March 3 at the Hilton Columbus Downtown. Gov. Schwarzenegger
and Arnold Classic, Ms. International, Fitness International, Figure
International and Bikini International champions crowned on the weekend will
also attend. Bob Cicherello will moderate the program.
The Arnold Classic has grown over the years to include five IFBB Professional
League Divisions. In addition the Arnold Classic (professional men’s
bodybuilding) and the Ms. International (women’s professional bodybuilding),
which also debuted in 1989, the Arnold Classic Weekend also features the Fitness
International (founded in 1994), Figure International (2003) and the Bikini
International (2011).
The 2013 Arnold Classic and Bikini International Prejudging and Finals will be
held Saturday, March 2, 2013 at Veterans Memorial. Ms. International, Fitness
International and Bikini International Prejudging and Finals will be held on
Friday, March 1, 2013.
The Arnold Classic is the premier event of the Arnold Sports Festival, held
annually the first weekend in March in Columbus, Ohio. The Arnold Sports
Festival features 18,000 athletes from 80 nations compete in 45 sports and
events. Gov. Schwarzenegger attends each year and appears at each event.
2013 Lifetime Achievement Award
Rich Gaspari, who won the inaugural Arnold Classic in 1989, will receive the
Lifetime Achievement Award at Arnold Classic on Saturday, March 2 at Veterans
Memorial.
In addition to winning the first Arnold Classic, Gaspari’s past titles also
include Mr. America (now known as the NPC Nationals), Mr. Universe, Professional
Mr. World and three-time runner-up at the Mr. Olympia.
Over the past 15 years, Gaspari has developed a brand of supplements under the
Gaspari Nutrition brand into one of the most formidable and popular lines in the
world. Gaspari’s determination and love for the sport of bodybuilding has helped
his successfully transition from a competitive bodybuilder into an active CEO
who tours the globe teaching fitness to others and supporting the sports of
professional and amateur bodybuilding.
The Arnold Classic Lifetime Achievement Award was established in 2000 to honor
the industry’s legends for their contributions to the world of health and
fitness. Previous winners include: Joe Weider (2000), Reg Park (2001), Jim
Lorimer (2002), Frank Zane (2003), Bill Pearl (2004), Jack LaLanne (2005), Lee
Haney (2006), Cory Everson (2007), Ben Weider (2008), Franco Columbu (2009),
Sylvester Stallone (2010), Lou Ferrigno (2011) and Robert Kennedy (2012)
Tickets are available through Ticketmaster at www.ticketmaster.com/arnold or
800-745-3000.
Follow our 2013 Arnold Sports Festival coverage by clicking here:
2013 Arnold Sports Festival
- Bodybuilders.gr Coverage
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