Every year, the Arnold Expo pays tribute to Arnold Schwarzenegger, the bodybuilding legend, drawing crowds of bodybuilders, martial artists, and fitness enthusiasts from all over the world.
The first Arnold Classic was held in Columbus in 1989, resulting in the birth of the Arnold Sports Festival. Arnold Schwarzenegger is one of the most well-known bodybuilders in the world during the 1970s and 1980s and now. He founded the Arnold Classic to promote bodybuilding. As a result, the Arnold Classic has established itself as one of the most prestigious bodybuilding competitions in the world.
The 2022 Arnold Classic USA lineup is exceptionally competitive, with a Mr. Olympia winner and three Arnold Classic champions. Men’s Open, Classic Physique, Men’s Physique, Pro Wheelchair, Fitness, Figure, Bikini, and Wellness will compete in the 34th edition of the show. The Men’s Open, on the other hand, is the most anticipated event of the show.
After the prestigious Mr. Olympia, the Arnold Classic USA is considered the second-largest bodybuilding show in the United States. The winner of the AC USA is a strong contender for the Mr. O title, which will be held later that year.
There is no defending champion because the winner of the 2021 Arnold Classic, Nick Walker, will not participate in the 2022 edition of the show. However, Walker is preparing for the Mr. Olympia competition in 2022.
2022 Arnold Classic Competitors
Brandon Curry (USA)
William Bonac (Netherlands)
Maxx Charles (USA)
Samson Dauda (United Kingdom)
Regan Grimes (Canada)
Steve Kuclo (USA)
Fabio Giga Rezende (Brasil)
Justin Rodriguez (USA)
Brett Wilkin (USA)
Initially, 14 men were supposed to compete in the Men’s Open division. Cedric McMillan, Akim Williams, Rafael Brandao, Nathan De Asha, and Mohamed Shaaban, on the other hand, pulled out of the competition.
2022 Arnold Classic Predictions
Our top picks for Arnold Classic 2022 are –
1. Terrence Ruffin
“Ruff Diesel” is the defending Arnold Classic champion and finished second to Chris Bumstead at the 2020 and 2021 Olympias. Terrence Ruffin is one of the finest posers in the industry, and his stage presence is undeniably enhanced by it.
With his classic V-taper (broad shoulders and a tiny waist), perfect muscle symmetry, and conditioning, he is the favorite for the 2022 Arnold Classic USA.
Suppose he maintains his form and conditioning from the 2021 Olympia. In that case, he will become the first two-time Arnold Classic champion since the division’s inception at the AC in 2018.
2. Breon Ansley
Breon Ansley is one of the most accomplished Classic Physique competitors on the roster. He has won the Arnold Classic twice (in 2017 and 2018).
For the 2022 Arnold Classic, Ansley is training with bodybuilding legend Chris Cormier and will bring his best packages to the stage. If Ruffin misses a beat, Ansley has a good chance of winning.
At the 2021 Olympia, Ansley placed third. Now, he’ll compete in the Arnold Classic USA, the second-largest bodybuilding show in the United States after the Olympia. He’ll be Chris Bumstead’s number one challenger at the 2022 Olympia if he wins the show.
3. Urs Kalecinski
On the 2022 AC roster, he is one of the most promising bodybuilders. At the 2021 Olympia, the 23-year-old bodybuilder stunned Classic Physique fans with his incredibly chiseled physique. Urs is attractive from both the front and back. He possesses all of the necessary characteristics to soon become a Classic Physique champion. He comes in third on our list, but he could finish in the top two if he brings bigger arms to the 2022 AC USA. By winning the 2021 Tampa Pro, the German bodybuilder qualified for the 2021 Olympia. He is the second one on the list who has yet to be eligible for the 2022 Olympia, but he plans to change that on March 4, 2022.
4. Ramon Rocha Queiroz
In 2018, Ramon Rocha Queiroz won Mr. Olympia Amateur Brazil and earned his pro card. He finished second in his first pro show, the 2021 Europa Pro, qualifying him for the 2021 Olympia.
Ramon Dino obtained a position of number five during the 2021 Olympia. To improve his chances of competing in the 2022 Olympia, he will aim to surpass the top-notch Classic Physique bodybuilders. This is, however, easier said than done.
The top five finishers of the 2021 Olympia will compete in the 2022 AC, held in Columbus. It will be difficult for Ramon to finish in the top three, but it is not impossible.
5. Lenny Wicks
Being the winner of 2021 Ben Weider Natural Pro, Lenny Wicks qualified for the 2022 Classic Physique Olympia. Wicks is a natural bodybuilder, and he is a 4x USPA Drug Tested National Champ and 2x USPA Drug Tested World Champ,
Even though Lenny Wicks is not the heaviest or most muscular athlete on the list, he is known for his chiseled physique on competition day. He could finish fifth if he can nail his signature conditioning on D-Day. According to the progress photos, Wicks and Wilson will be fighting for fifth place.
6. Divine Wilson
Divine Wilson competed in the NPC nationals for the first time in 2016, and the Classic Physique division was introduced. He has won two professional competitions, including the Pittsburgh Pro in 2021 and the Savannah Pro in 2020. The bodybuilder has a knack for winning competitions, and it’ll be fascinating to see him compete at the Arnold Classic 2022. In the Classic Physique division, Wilson has one of the most shredded abs. He can efficiently finish in the top six in the show if he can bring his current conditioning and shape to the competition.
Conclusion
Lastly, Arnold Classic 2022 is one of the year’s most anticipated events. The event will decide the future of the bodybuilders because the winner straight goes to Mr. Olympia. We have listed our prediction; however, it is only a prediction. Anything can happen on that day on the stage of Arnold Classic. We are as much eager as you are for the finals to see who wins this year’s prestigious title.
