writing: Caroline Albert
design: Wyatt Downey
permission to print: AP Newsroom
Lifting fanatic’s favorite part of the year is the first week of March. This is when the Arnold Sports festival or Arnold Classic brings athletes all over the world to Columbus Ohio. These athletes come to compete in one of the world’s best physique and strength sports competitions. Not only does the festival bring in athletes, but it brings in many people who want to try the latest fitness products being sold and watch these professional athletes compete.
There is a wide variety of competitions that athletes can compete in at the Arnold Sports Festival. The competitions are grouped into body building, strength sports, combat sports, strongman, and fitness which are all held in the Ohio Convention Cente. In addition, other competitions such as cheerleading, dance, baton twirling and martial arts are held in the Ohio Expo Center along with booths selling the latest fitness products such as supplements, apparel, and more.
According to the Columbus Dispatch, the festival was created in 1989 by Arnold Schwarzenegger, a famous actor and the governor of California during the 2000s. Most importantly, Schwarzenegger was arguably one of the greatest bodybuilders of all time.
“He was Mr. Olympia seven times and Mr. Universe three times” and “took lifting and bodybuilding to a new popularity in the famous documentary ‘Pumping Iron’,” the Columbus Dispatch said.
Due to Schwarzenegger’s influence on the festival, people from all over the world come to Columbus to compete in the Arnold Sports Festival. One of these people is Pesay Em, a 37 year old from Lewis Center who attends the Yoga/Fitness factory in Westerville Ohio.
“The events that I have competed in were bodybuilding shows. I have done about seven of them and I am getting ready for two more this year,” Em said.
There is a lot to do in order to prepare for these events, due to the intensity of the competitions. Many competitors have to be very aware of their diet and training leading up to the festival.
Em had to incorporate “a lot more gym time and more of a restricted diet. Gym time was about five days a week with more cardio and diet starts at a pretty high intake then slowly gets lower in calories closer to show day.”
Not only is preparation for these competitions hard on these athletes’ bodies but it is hard on their mental health as well.
“Your body changes so much from bulking season to maintaining your weight to leaning out. You are literally in a sport where you get judged on your appearance and every body part, so sometimes it can take a mental toll on questioning yourself if you are good enough,” Em said.
When preparing for these competitions these athletes usually need to find a coach. This can be difficult due to many inexperienced competitors trying to sell meal and competition preparation packages with limited experience.
“A true seasoned coach who has been coaching for years will know how to assess other people’s bodies other than their own. There are so many factors to consider with other people such as hormonal issues, different ages, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), and diet restrictions,” Em said.
Although the competitions are the main point of the Arnold Sports Festival there are still other activities available for viewers to do. These other activities are held in the Ohio Expo center.
“A lot of people attend for the Expo. Some of the top vendors in supplements, workout equipment, and apparel are there to give out samples and offer great deals,” English Teacher Christine Dutrow said.
Dutrow attends the festival every year due to her love for powerlifting. Even though she does not compete at the Arnold, she has competed in smaller, local meets.
“This year I plan to be there to watch the powerlifting Pro Series. Jen Thompson, Celine Crum, and Sam Calhoun are just some of the super strong women I’m excited to cheer on,” Dutrow said.
There are many different competitions to watch and samples to try at the Arnold Festival. This festival is the perfect opportunity for someone to get involved in the fitness community and witness the intense competitions these athletes compete in. More information on this festival can be found on the Arnold Sports Festival website including tickets, competitions, and more.
