The 2023 Arnold Traditional is a stone’s throw away; the thirty fifth version of the second most prestigious bodybuilding present will happen between Mar. 2-5, 2023, within the Battelle Grand room of the Larger Columbus Conference Middle in Columbus, OH. 

The 2023 Arnold Traditional shall be this calendar yr’s first Males’s Open Bodybuilding contest. To make the present extra thrilling and encourage participation, the AC promoters raised the prize cash for the Open division to a mind-boggling $300,000, an enormous soar from the $200,000 winner cheque awarded to the 2022 AC champ Brandon Curry. 

Ten elite Open division professional bodybuilders shall be locking horns for the Arnold Traditional trophy. Though the coveted 3/4 again pose trophy is the second most distinguished trophy within the sport, after the Mr. Olympia Sandow trophy, the Arnold Traditional present is way greater than the Olympia weekend. The 2023 Arnold Traditional will host 50-plus sports activities and occasions and see 10,000 athletes from 80 nations compete for the highest prize of their respective divisions. 

2023 Arnold Traditional Males’s Open Division Roster

Listed below are the bodybuilders that can take the stage on Mar. 3 and 4:

1. William Bonac
2. Shaun Clarida
3. Samson Dauda
4. Kamal Elgargni
5. Mamdouh “Large Ramy” Elssbiay
6. Chinedu Andrew Obiekea “Andrew Jacked”
7. Patrick Moore
8. Justin Rodriguez
9. Nick Walker
10. Akim Williams

2022 was an thrilling yr for professional bodybuilding. We witnessed a brand new crop of bodybuilders take over the game. The competitors on the 2022 Olympia was so intense that the reigning Mr. Olympia champ Large Ramy and the 2019 Mr. O winner Brandon Curry completed within the fifth and the fourth spots. 

This main rejig within the higher echelons of professional bodybuilding had an sudden end result. Most high canines declined the Arnold Traditional invitation, leaving the expertise pool of the second most prestigious bodybuilding present shallow. The Arnold Traditional promoters, nevertheless, discovered a intelligent technique to repair the issue; they upped the winner’s prize from $200,000 to $300,000. Many elite bodybuilders just like the 2021 Arnold Traditional champ Nick Walker, Andrew Jacked, and Large Ramy tossed their hats into the ring after the prize hike. 

Curiously, the Mr. Olympia winner will get $400,000 for being topped the very best bodybuilder on the earth. Specialists imagine that Arnold Traditional’s prize cash hike will blur the strains between Mr. O and AC, and AC will see an uptick in athlete participation within the coming years. Notably, Arnold Traditional is an invite-only competitors, whereas Mr. O follows a qualification system (OQS). 

2023 AC would be the fourth consecutive yr the Arnold Traditional reigning champion is not going to defend his title. Apart from being the second most prestigious bodybuilding title and an enormous payday, the AC champ wins a direct qualification for Mr. Olympia. Moreover, he’s thought of the most important menace to the reigning Mr. Olympia’s throne. 

2023 Arnold Traditional Preview

Going right into a sporting contest with out figuring out the present standings and athlete type might be complicated and take away out of your expertise. Studying about every athlete earlier than they take the stage will inform you who you must keep watch over. 

Though not cramped, the 2023 AC lineup has some extremely proficient and in-form bodybuilders. We are going to see two fashioned AC champs — Nick Walker and William Bonac — stake their declare for the highest prize. The roster additionally has a former Mr. Olympia champ, Large Ramy, who shall be in search of his maiden Arnold Traditional title. Moreover, the reigning 212 Olympia champ Shaun Clarida and former 212 O winner Kamal Elgargni will problem the massive canines of their first Arnold Traditional look. 

Here’s a primer on every 2023 Arnold Traditional contestant:

William Bonac

William “The Conquerer” Bonac is the lineup’s most skilled Arnold Traditional competitor. He additionally has two AC titles below his belt, which he gained in 2018 and 2020. The Dutch bodybuilder acquired a lukewarm reception on the 2022 Olympia, the place he ended ninth. He had positioned sixth on the 2021 Olympia. 

The Conquerer has a fame for bouncing again sharply after a awful efficiency. Bonac is thought for his freakish dimension and at all times is available in high conditioning. Though Bonac took a backseat in most specialists’ opinions after Walker, Jacked, and Large Ramy entered the present, counting the 2020 AC champ out can be a mistake. Bonac had bested Ramy in 2020 to win his second Arnold Traditional title. The Egyptian bodybuilder had positioned third behind Bonac and Dexter Jackson. Bonac’s career-best end on the Olympia has been a runner-up place on the 2019 Mr. O. 

Bonac completed second behind Curry on the 2022 Arnold Traditional, making him one of many frontrunners to win the crown this yr. He’ll be again with a vengeance this yr, as many individuals imagine he was denied the AC throne in 2022 regardless of coming in higher form than Curry. 

If Bonac wins the 2023 Arnold Traditional, he’ll match bodybuilding legends Jay Cutler and Kai Greene’s file, who’ve each gained the AC title thrice. 

Shaun Clarida

Clarida is a two-time 212 Olympia champion, having gained the title in 2020 and 2022. The reigning 212 champ gained his maiden Open division present, the 2021 Legion Sports activities Fest beating the likes of Sergio Oliva Jr. and Regan Grimes, incomes him the moniker “The Large Killer.”

The 5-foot-2-inch bodybuilder was among the many first opponents to signal the 2023 AC contract. Bodybuilding legend Flex Wheeler, in an interview, claimed that Clarida might beat Walker if he got here together with his signature conditioning. 

Clarida is likely one of the freakish bodybuilders within the recreation. His dense muscle mass on his small body makes him stand out. Though bodybuilding exhibits mark symmetry, stability, and conditioning, it’ll be attention-grabbing to see how The Large Killer hangs with mass monsters akin to Large Ramy, Nick Walker, and Samson Dauda. 

The 2022 212 Olympia champ was being thought of the frontrunner for the 2023 AC throne when the primary record of opponents got here out, however that modified shortly after Walker, Ramy, and Jacked put of their rivalry. Clarida won’t win the 2023 AC, however he can upset among the greatest names within the division. 

Associated: Flex Wheeler Will Be Honored With a Lifetime Achievement Award on the 2023 Arnold Traditional

Samson Dauda

Saying that Dauda shocked bodybuilding followers on the 2022 Olympia can be an understatement. “The Nigerian Lion” stepped on stage with Large Ramy for the eight necessary poses, giving the reigning champ a run for his cash in every shot. 

Dauda positioned sixth at his Olympia debut, which may be very spectacular, given the depth of the lineup on the 2022 Mr. O. He beat huge pictures like Andrew Jacked, Hunter Labrada, and Bonac to enter the higher echelons of professional bodybuilding. 

Dauda has some of the symmetrical and balanced physiques within the business. Plus, he can skew a contest in his favor together with his impeccable posing abilities. This shall be Dauda’s sophomore yr on the Arnold Traditional. He positioned fourth on the 2022 AC. 

Kamal Elgargni

Elgargini is a 51-year-old Libyan bodybuilder who’s displaying no indicators of slowing down. The 2019 212 Olympia champ completed third behind Clarida and Angel Calderon Frias on the 2022 Olympia. 

The 2023 Arnold Traditional shall be “The Lion of Libya’s” third Open division contest. He positioned runner-up on the 2022 Tampa Professional and fourth on the 2022 Texas Professional. 

Curiously, Elgargni gained the Arnold Traditional 212 division when it was launched in 2018. The Libyan would be the first bodybuilder to win an Arnold Traditional USA title in two divisions if he can seize the throne on Mar. 4. 

Though Elgargni shall be in search of his maiden Open division win on the 2023 AC, it’s unlikely that he’ll come out on high when the mud settles. 

Mamdouh “Large Ramy” Elssbiay

The 2020 and 2021 Mr. Olympia champ is in search of redemption. He fell to fifth place and misplaced his throne to Hadi Choopan on the 2022 Olympia when he confirmed up for the apex bodybuilding contest with dents in his quads and lacking triceps and decrease again. 

The Egyptian bodybuilder is present process stem cell therapy in Dubai to repair his muscle atrophy points. His medical doctors are claiming that he’s already displaying enhancements and can step on stage with picture-perfect quads and much-improved triceps and decrease again. 

Though many pundits are claiming that Ramy is over his prime, the two-time Mr. O champ has no plans to tug down the curtain on his aggressive profession. 

Large Ramy was the final competitor to enroll in the 2023 AC. He has by no means gained an Arnold Traditional USA title however desires to vary that. The Egyptian bodybuilder gained the Arnold South America in 2014. 

Followers stay up for seeing the 300-pound-plus bodybuilder on stage and seeing if his muscle atrophy has improved. Large Ramy is preserving his physique below wraps for the 2023 AC, and followers can’t wait to see him take the stage. 

Chinedu Andrew Obiekea “Andrew Jacked”

Andrew Jacked is likely one of the most fun bodybuilding prospects. He’s the cream of the crop that entered the professional circuit in 2022. Jacked had a dream run in 2022. The Nigerian bodybuilder competed in 4 exhibits in 2022, profitable three. 

He turned professional by profitable the 2022 Arnold Novice; he then gained the 2022 Texas Professional and 2022 Arnold Traditional UK. He took eighth place in his rookie yr on the Olympia. Jacked’s then-coach, George Farah, had later revealed that he had a 102-degree fever on the 2022 Olympia. 

Many bodybuilding followers, gurus, and different professional bodybuilders take into account Jacked a future Mr. Olympia champ. The 6-foot-2-inch bodybuilder is likely one of the greatest and most aesthetically interesting physiques within the professional circuit. 

Though Jacked has a flawless entrance and sides, his posterior chain lacks separation, dimension, and definition. Jacked is working with the late Shawn Rhoden’s coach Chris “Pyscho” Lewis, and Chris Aceto for the 2023 season. His coach and nutritionist have confirmed that the Nigerian bodybuilder appears significantly better than his Olympia bundle. 

Jacked, together with Walker and Dauda, is likely one of the favorites to win the 2023 Arnold Traditional. 

Patrick Moore

This shall be Moore’s rookie look on the Arnold Traditional. He took a break from competing to work on his physique after ending 14th on the 2021 Olympia. Issues, nevertheless, didn’t go as deliberate, as he suffered a career-threatening Achilles tendon damage.

Moore has unbelievable potential however hasn’t been capable of convert it on stage. He has gained two professional exhibits in his profession — the California Professional in 2019 and 2021. Though Moore has an aesthetical and balanced physique, the highest canines gained’t probably be bothered by him. 

Moore has an uphill battle in entrance of him. He’ll go head-to-head with among the finest bodybuilders within the division and shall be stepping on stage after an extended absence from the aggressive circuit. 

Justin Rodriguez

Rodriguez has turn out to be some of the unpredictable bodybuilders these days. He exhibits up shredded to the bone for some exhibits however then is comfortable and puffy within the following contests. 

Rodriguez completed fifth on the 2022 Arnold Traditional and fourth on the 2021 contest. He scored a disappointing Fifteenth-place end on the 2022 Olympia and shall be trying to clear his identify on the 2023 AC by bringing a much-better bundle. 2023 AC shall be Rodriguez’s fourth Arnold Traditional look. 

It’ll be attention-grabbing to see the enhancements Rodriguez has made in his physique within the final couple of months since he shall be going up towards 5 bodybuilders that beat him on the 2022 Mr. O. It’ll be an enormous achievement for Rodriguez if he can crack the highest 5 on the 2023 AC. 

Nick Walker

Walker is the 2021 Arnold Traditional champion. He shocked the bodybuilding neighborhood by profitable the AC and New York Professional in his rookie yr. Walker vacated his throne in 2022 to concentrate on his 2022 Olympia marketing campaign, which paid dividends as he positioned third behind Choopan and Derek Lunsford on the 2022 Olympia. 

“The Mutant” entered the Arnold Traditional after the promoters raised the prize cash. The New Jersey native is likely one of the two bodybuilders on the 2023 AC roster that’s already certified for the 2023 Olympia within the Open division. In response to the OQS, the highest 5 finishers on the Olympia earn computerized qualification for the next yr’s contest. Large Ramy is the opposite contestant. Mr. Olympia champions earn a lifetime qualification for the Olympia of their respective divisions. 

Walker is thought for his monster dimension and razor-sharp conditioning. He has mastered his physique in a brief interval and has earned a fame for at all times displaying up crisp for competitions. 

Walker’s latest physique updates present that he has acquired his varicose veins eliminated, which has majorly improved his decrease leg aesthetics. The Mutant, nevertheless, has rejected the allegations.

The Mutant beat all the opposite Open division opponents on the 2022 Olympia, making him the favourite to win the 2023 AC. If Nick wins the 2023 AC, he’ll match Bonac’s, Kevin Levrone’s, Department Warren’s, and Curry’s file for profitable the coveted title twice. 

He just lately revealed that the 2023 AC prep has been the toughest prep of his bodybuilding profession. This disclosure has psyched up his followers, and we will’t wait to see the bundle he brings to the 2023 AC. 

Akim Williams

Williams is likely one of the underdogs going into the 2023 Arnold Traditional. The 2022 Tampa Professional champ has issues to show on the primary weekend of Mar. 2023, as he didn’t place on the 2022 Olympia. He had completed ninth on the 2021 Mr. O. 

This shall be Williams’s second Arnold Traditional outing. He positioned fifth on the 2021 AC. Followers and judges will count on higher definition and conditioning from Williams than he introduced on the 2022 O. 

Given the powerful competitors on the high of the lineup, Williams will probably compete with Elgargni, Rodriguez, and Moore for a seventh to tenth spot. 

2023 Arnold Traditional Predictions

Now that the Arnold Traditional USA is a couple of days away, most bodybuilding pundits have come out with their high picks. Here’s a transient overview of the place specialists have these bodybuilders end on the 2023 AC:

Prime Three

• Nick Walker
• Andrew Jacked
• Samson Dauda

Fourth to Sixth

• Large Ramy
• William Bonac
• Shaun Clarida

Seventh to Tenth

• Kamal Elgargni
• Justin Rodriguez
• Akim Williams
• Patrick Moore

Notice: That is an summary; the athletes usually are not positioned in numerical order. 

2023 Arnold Traditional Males’s Open Bodybuilding Schedule 

• Prejudging: Friday, Mar 03: 7:00 p.m.-9:30 p.m (Columbus Conference Middle, Battelle Grand)
• Finals: Saturday, Mar 04: 7:00 p.m.-10:00 .p.m (Columbus Conference Middle, Battelle Grand)

* Occasions are in Japanese Normal Time (EST)

Wrapping Up

Because the 2022 Arnold Traditional champ Curry just isn’t competing on the 2023 AC, the throne is up for grabs.

The Arnold Traditional USA is the second-biggest bodybuilding contest after Mr. Olympia. Every bodybuilder will put every part on the road on present day to hoist the coveted trophy. The competitors has clear frontrunners akin to Walker, Jacked, Bonac, and Samson, however we should not depend out the darkish horses — Williams, Rodriguez, and Moore. 

Will one of many two earlier Arnold Traditional champs get the choose’s nod, or will we see a twentieth AC winner topped on Mar. 4, 2022? Solely time will inform. 

Each Arnold Traditional Champion Since 1989

Under is the record of bodybuilders who’ve hoisted the Arnold Traditional trophy:

Health Volt will cowl the 2023 Arnold Traditional and produce you all the most recent information and updates from the competition. Keep tuned for the most recent and best updates from Columbus, OH!

Catch full protection of the 2023 Arnold Traditional, together with pre-judging, occasion recaps, evaluation, and last outcomes at our Arnold Traditional protection hub: FitnessVolt.com/arnold-classic