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Arnold Classic 2022 Fitness International Results
Ariel Khadr wins Fitness International at the Arnold Classic 2022.
The Arnold Sports Festival was back to normal this year with the event taking place over the course of the first weekend in March. This has been a competition dominated by Missy Truscott. This time around, Ariel Khadr took home the title during the finals on Friday night.
For the second consecutive year, Truscott and Khadr were highlighted in the final callout during prejudging. As we have seen in the past, results can change come the finals. Jaclyn Baker also impressed during prejudging and gave herself a chance to jump in the final results. The finals were set up well and it did not disappoint during the nightcap.
The full results have been announced. Check out our full breakdown of the Classic Physique division of the Arnold Classic 2022 results below.
Arnold Classic 2022 Fitness International Results
First Place – Ariel Khadr
Second Place – Missy Truscott
Third Place – Jaclyn Baker
Fourth Place – Kate Errington
Fifth Place – Tamara Vahn
Sixth Place – Allison Kramer
Seventh Place – Minna Pajulahti
Eighth Place – Aurika Tyrgale
Ninth Place – Sara Kovach
Tenth Place – Amanda Ciani
Generation Iron Fitness Network will provide coverage of the full Arnold Classic 2022 event including pre-judging reports, analysis, and results updates. Stay tuned to Generation Iron and visit our official Arnold Classic 2021 coverage hub right here!
Greg has covered the four major sports for six years and has been featured on sites such as Sports Illustrated, Fox Sports, SB Nation, NJ.com, and FanSided. Now, he is transitioning into the world of bodybuilding and strength sports.
Arnold Classic 2022 Figure International Results
Cydney Gillon wins Figure International at the Arnold Classic 2022.
The Arnold Sports Festival was back to normal this year with the event taking place over the course of the first weekend in March. The Figure International division returned to the Arnold Classic this year and it was also the return of Cydney Gillon, who did not compete in 2020 at this event. She made up for it with her second career Arnold Classic victory.
Gillon is the reigning five-time Olympia champion. She was a big favorite coming into the event and did not disappoint. During prejudging, it was clear Gillon was the competitor to beat but some other elite athletes made it close.
Jessica Reyes Padilla and Lola Montez impressed during prejudging and put themselves in position to make a move. In the end, Gillon was just a bit too strong.
The full results have been announced. Check out our full breakdown of the Classic Physique division of the Arnold Classic 2022 results below.
Arnold Classic 2022 Figure International Results
First Place – Cydney Gillon
Second Place – Jessica Reyes Padilla
Third Place – Lola Montez
Fourth Place – Nicole Zenobia Graham
Fifth Place – Natalia Soltero
Sixth Place – Bojana Vasiljevic
Seventh Place – Latoya Farley
Eighth Place – Larhannah Robinson
Ninth Place – An Da-Jong
Tenth Place – Wendy Fortino
Generation Iron Fitness Network will provide coverage of the full Arnold Classic 2022 event including pre-judging reports, analysis, and results updates. Stay tuned to Generation Iron and visit our official Arnold Classic 2021 coverage hub right here!
Greg has covered the four major sports for six years and has been featured on sites such as Sports Illustrated, Fox Sports, SB Nation, NJ.com, and FanSided. Now, he is transitioning into the world of bodybuilding and strength sports.
Arnold Classic 2022 Classic Physique Results
Terrence Ruffin wins Classic Physique at the Arnold Classic 2022.
The Arnold Sports Festival was back to normal this year with the event taking place over the course of the first weekend in March. During the bodybuilding portion, Classic Physique attempted to steal the show. On Friday night, Terrence Ruffin was crowned champion at the Arnold Classic 2022 in the Classic Physique division for the second consecutive year.
This was a very top-heavy division and it showed during prejudging. Ruffin headlined the callouts, along with Ramon Rocha Queiroz and Breon Ansley. Urs Kalecinski rounded out a group of four competitors who were all top-five finishers at the 2021 Olympia. This competition was wide open this year but it was Ruffin who quickly took control on Friday night.
The best poser award was introduced to the Classic Physique division last year with Logan Franklin winning the inaugural award. This year, it was Ruffin who earned the honor and swept the night.
The full results have been announced. Check out our full breakdown of the Classic Physique division of the Arnold Classic 2022 results below.
Arnold Classic 2022 Classic Physique Results
First Place – Terrence Ruffin
Second Place – Ramon Rocha Queiroz
Third Place – Urs Kalecinski
Fourth Place – Breon Ansley
Fifth Place – Michael Daboul
Sixth Place – Peter Molnar
Seventh Place – Divine Wilson
Eighth Place – Darwin Uribe
Ninth Place – Lenny Wicks
Generation Iron Fitness Network will provide coverage of the full Arnold Classic 2022 event including pre-judging reports, analysis, and results updates. Stay tuned to Generation Iron and visit our official Arnold Classic 2021 coverage hub right here!
Greg has covered the four major sports for six years and has been featured on sites such as Sports Illustrated, Fox Sports, SB Nation, NJ.com, and FanSided. Now, he is transitioning into the world of bodybuilding and strength sports.
2022 Arnold Strongman Classic Results (Day 1)
A complete breakdown of the 2022 Arnold Strongman Classic Day One
The 2022 Arnold Strongman Classic is here and 10 of the best strongmen took to the stage and showed off what they could do. Held in the Columbus Convention Center in Columbus, Ohio, this event was thrilling as always and proved why Strongman is a sport growing more and more popular every single day. Day one of the epic event has just come to a close. Below are the results and standings so far at the 2022 Arnold Strongman Classic.
When we think of Strongman, many of us revert back to watching it on television, watching these monsters, these specimens of strength and sheer will lifting incredible, and at times what seem like immovable objects, with ease. This is event was no different and an impressive set of strongmen showed up and proved why they are the best in the world.
This is your one stop shop for all things Arnold Strongman Classic 2022. We have who competed, a breakdown of how each event went, what events occurred, the total payout, and of course, the results of this amazing event.
Arnold Classic Strongman Standings (Day 1)
For this event, there were 10 impressive and well-known strongmen competing for that top prize. You recognize the names and can easily see why this event was so great.
Below are the current standings for the Arnold Strongman Classic 2022:
Rob Kearney — 18 points
Oleksii Novikov — 16 points
Martins Licis — 15 points
JF Caron — 12.5 points
Maxime Boudreault — 9.5 points
Bobby Thompson — 9.5 points
Evgeny Markov — 9 points
Luke Stoltman — 8 points
Tom Stoltman — 7 points
Trey Mitchell — 5.5 points
Top Competitors Coming In
With an impressive field of dedicated and accomplished strongmen, there were a few to note coming into this event. Tom Stoltman is the current holder of the World’s Strongest Man title and came in as a real force. Martins Licis just had an impressive win at the first ever Rogue Invitational and also came into the event as a top competitor.
But with guys like Oleksii Novikov, the 2020 World’s Strongest Man winner, this event was wide open for the taking. Bobby Thompson stepped in at the last minute to replace Mateusz Kieliszkowski, who withdrew his name with an injury.
Currently Rob Kearney is leading the pack after two intense lifting events. He is followed closely by Oleksii Novikov in second – who also has been open about representing Ukraine during this very catastrophic time for the country. Currently only two events have been completed, the Max Squat and the Monster Dumbbell Press. The Max Squat in particular contained strategy as well as strength – as the athletes could decide which weight to enter into the competition and have a max of three attempts to earn the heaviest lift.
In an interesting turn of events – Rob Kearney is in first place despite not nabbing a number one spot in either of the two events. But due to a solid second place victory in both events and two different winners across the two as well, he statistically lands in the number one spot overall in the leaderboard in Day 1.
Event Breakdown
For the Arnold Strongman Classic 2022, there were 5 events that competitors trained for and studied in efforts to be as prepared as possible. These events have been seen before, but with this cast of strongmen, the battle for first was fierce and one you didn’t want to miss.
Spread out over two days, two events were held on Friday and three events on Saturday, so both strength and conditioning were imperative for the success of each athlete.
Event #1: Max Squat
Each competitor had three attempts to hit their max weight. This was a new event for the Arnold Strongman Classic and a very entertaining one to watch.
This event came right down to the wire between J.F. Caron, Rob Kearney, and Martins Licis. The bar was set close to 1,000 pounds and it was Caron who took home first place. After Licis squatted 956 pounds, Kearney raised him five pounds. This is when Caron decided to take it up even higher and completed a 966-pound squat on the final attempt of the event.
First Place: J.F. Caron – 966 lbs
Second Place: Rob Kearney – 961 lbs
Third Place: Martins Licis – 956 lbs
Fourth Place: Bobby Thompson – 946 lbs
Fifth Place: Oleksii Novikov – 906 lbs
T-Sixth Place: Maxime Boudreault – 861 lbs
T-Sixth Place: Tom Stoltman – 861 lbs
Eighth Place: Trey Mitchell – 856 lbs
Ninth Place: Evgeny Markov – 821 lbs
Tenth Place: Luke Stoltman – 816 lbs
Event #2: Monster Dumbbell Press
This event was performed for reps at 275 lbs. Athletes were required to take the dumbbell off the ground and lift overhead as many reps as possible in a time frame of 90 seconds.
In a difficult event, Novikov made it look easy. The Ukrainian strongman stepped up to the 275-pound dumbbell and dominated with seven reps. This was more than enough to clinch first place in the event. Kearney was able to claim the second spot by himself with a late rep to get to four, besting three other competitors.
First Place: Oleksii Novikov – 7 reps
Second Place: Rob Kearney – 4 reps
T-Third Place: Luke Stoltman – 3 reps
T-Third Place: Evgeny Markov – 3 reps
T-Third Place: Martins Licis – 3 reps
Sixth Place: Maxime Boudreault – 1 rep
T-Seventh Place: Trey Mitchell – 0 reps
T-Seventh Place: Tom Stoltman – 0 reps
T-Seventh Place: Bobby Thompson – 0 reps
T-Seventh Place: J.F Caron – 0 reps
Event #3: Austrian Oak
These athletes were required to lift the log for a max rep with three attempts each. The name alone indicates the real test of strength these athletes had to endure for the third event.
Results coming soon
Event #4: Timber Carry
With a time cap of 30 seconds, athletes were required to carry an 880 lbs. timber frame up a 35-foot ramp.
Results coming soon
Event #5: Stone To Shoulder
This event saw the famous Odd Haugen tombstone come out and athletes were required to lift this from the ground to their shoulder in a stationary position for max reps. The time cap for this 2 minutes and 30 seconds.
Results coming soon
Photo via @novikov_strong_wsm Instagram
Prize Money Payout For Arnold Strongman Classic 2022
The prize money has hit a record number $182,000, ensuring all athletes get paid.
Top three places are as follows:
1st Place: $80,000
2nd Place: $25,000
3rd Place: $20,000
The rest of the finishers receive prize money given the payout scale proposed by organizers.
Wrap Up
In what was an exciting event at the Arnold Strongman Classic 2022, this event has come to a close for this year. With 10 athletes competing for that top spot, it has been an epic showdown and one that will be remembered alongside others in the history of this event. For fans, it has been exhilarating. For competitors, it has been grueling. And for the sport of Strongman, it has been another testament to these athletes and what they do to compete and promote a sport they love.
With only half of the overall event completed – we are excited to see what Day 2 brings on Saturday, March 5th, 2022.
Let us know what you think in the comments below. Also, be sure to follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Did Mr. Olympia Just Finally Tease A Special Invite For Flex Lewis?
Image via Instagram @flex_lewis
The Mr. Olympia top brass made a surprise visit to Flex Lewis’ gym – is it for an official special invite?
On Friday, March 4th, 2022 – Dan Solomon posted what he labeled a “developing story” by making a surprise visit to Flex Lewis seemingly teasing a special invite to Mr. Olympia 2022. This news comes after much controversy earlier in the year, when Solomon seemed to indicate that, without an official special invite, Flex Lewis was currently not qualified to compete at the Olympia. While the video in question did not reveal or confirm a special invite – it ended with a “too be continued” graphic.
Flex Lewis has had quite the roller coaster of a career ever since his retirement from the Men’s 212 stage in 2018. Lewis is already a confirmed true legend in the sport. He is a 7x Men’s 212 Olympia champion. He is considered by many to have one of the greatest physiques in modern bodybuilding history. After his retirement, many thought he was done for good. But he later confirmed that he would in fact move up to the Men’s Open division to compete in the Mr. Olympia.
Unfortunately, we have yet to see him on the Mr. Olympia stage. Due to a variety of circumstances, Flex Lewis had to defer his Men’s Open debut. Many believed that 2022 would finally be his year to step on stage and challenge the Men’s Open top brass.
But this excitement was somewhat dashed when Dan Solomon did a Q&A on Instagram earlier in the year. Answering a fan question, Solomon claimed that, as it stands now, Flex Lewis is not qualified for the Mr. Olympia 2022. Usually former Olympia champions and top 5 athletes get automatic invites to the next year Olympia. But due to a technicality, Lewis has not yet qualified. While he was a Men’s 212 Olympia champion – he never competed in Men’s Open. So technically he is not yet qualified.
But all of that seems to be about to change based on the teaser video Dan Solomon posted on Instagram. In the video, Dan Solomon along with other key Mr. Olympia personnel made what they call a “surprise visit” to Flex Lewis’ gym. The camera follows them through the parking lot, into the gym, and show a hardy greeting with Flex Lewis. Then the video cuts to show a graphic – “TO BE CONTINUED.”
Dan Solomon also included this comment with the video:
“Developing Story: The Olympia bosses made a surprise visit yesterday to the Dragon’s Lair gym in Las Vegas….and the cameras were rolling!”
The fact that Solomon has posted the video using official Mr. Olympia branding seems to all but confirm that he will be receiving a special invite. When they decide to drop the other half of the video revealing the full info is currently unknown.
Many fans and fellow athletes were enraged upon originally hearing that Flex Lewis was not automatically qualified for the Mr. Olympia. Though there were some who believe that a special invite was always in the cards – and that the Olympia brand was simply trying to drum up headlines to build excitement and promote the event as a whole.
While we cannot at this moment say that Flex Lewis is officially invited, it seems more than likely considering other special invites that have been given over the years. There’s no doubt Lewis being present on the Olympia stage is a big draw for many fans. It will be one of the true X factors of the event. We hope that he will be able to compete – whether it be via special invite or an official qualification through competition. Time will soon tell.
Make sure to stick around the Generation Iron Fitness Network for more updates on everything bodybuilding, fitness, and strength sports!
Bikini Divas Natural Bodybuilding Champion Nicole Joy Switches to Full Body Workouts Postpartum
Image via Instagram @fit2njoy
INBA PNBA Bikini Divas natural bodybuilding champ Nicole Joy shifts to full body workouts after giving birth.
Any mother knows the changes her body undergoes after conceiving a child. And if you’re a woman who lifts too, you know it takes time to build your body back up to where it was before giving birth. International Natural Bodybuilding Association (INBA)/Professional Natural Bodybuilding Association (PNBA) Bikini Divas natural bodybuilder Nicole Joy recently switched to full body workouts postpartum. She recently gave birth to her newborn son, who is seven months of age as of February 2022.
Nicole Joy is a Bikini athlete and 3x Natural Olympia champion.
In an Instagram (IG) post on October 4, 2021, Joy stated:
“I’m no where near as strong as I once was. Not even at my starting weight. Post partem 2 months now. And slowly building my strength back up. I feel like it’s just as hard on the pride as it was on my body today.”
Since then, Joy has shifted gears from building strength to focusing on mobility and maintaining her strength. Joy said:
“I’m not lifting as heavy as I used to but when the time is right I’ll get back to that. Creating and birthing life takes so much energy that trying to pick up where I left off is just not going to happen.”
Nicole Joy plans to continue doing full body workouts until she regains her strength and stamina.
Nicole Joy’s Full Body Workout Postpartum
Below is the full body workout Nicole Joy recently completed.
Below is Nicole Joy’s full IG post and workout clip.
https://www.instagram.com/tv/CaaOxMbl5i0/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Full Body Workouts
Full body workouts may not seem as effective as split routines, but they can be, depending on your goal. Typically, full body workouts are best for giving you flexibility with your schedule since you’re working your entire body in one training session. But they’re also great for reaching your fitness goals. You’ll burn more calories from full body workouts than split routines since you’re working more muscles.
Although to prevent overtraining and save time, you usually won’t do any more than 1-2 exercises per muscle group, which is why split training is superior for most bodybuilders. That’s because split routines allow bodybuilders to do more volume via completing more reps and sets for a muscle group since you’re only focusing on targeting one or two muscle groups with a split routine.
However, some bodybuilders do full body workouts regularly, and in the golden age of bodybuilding (the 1950s and ‘60s), many bodybuilders did full body workouts, including Leroy Colbert and Vince Gironda. If you do enough volume per workout, they can effectively support bodybuilders. Just make sure you get plenty of rest between workouts to prevent overtraining.
Supplements
Nicole Joy knows that certain supplements are essential for aiding workouts, especially after birth. She takes glutamine to help with post-workout recovery, branch chain amino acids (BCAAs) to keep her muscles hydrated, a pre-workout for energy during workouts, and a protein shake after training to build muscle.
Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for more workouts from natural bodybuilders!
Arnold Classic Moments: The History Of Arnold Classic Champions Part 2 (2005-2018)
Shawn Ray continues his breakdown of every Arnold Classic champion up to 2017.
ARNOLD CLASSIC MOMENTS – is a special video series commemorating the 30 year anniversary of one of the biggest bodybuilding competitions in the world. Legendary bodybuilders tell their personal moments in the Arnold Classic and share the oral history of what makes this specific competition rise above the rest – making a lasting impression for years to come. Each new moment airs every Thursday.
Shawn Ray returns for part two of this two part video special recounting and breaking down every single Arnold Classic champion from 1989 to the present. This second installment covers the latter half of the event’s long and prestigious history – specifically 2005 to 2017.
With the sport further evolving, these later years of the Arnold Classic competition is most notable for how it lead the charge towards changing how the world looked at mass monsters and judged physiques.
Not only did Cedric McMillan’s work on stage lead the way for the introduction of the Classic Physique division (mostly because of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s comments about Cedric’s physique and how he should have won) – but the competition also changed policy to put scored judging on the actual art of the posing routine. This brings back the artistry behind posing and will perhaps further change the way we see routines in future years.
See the complete evolution and rundown of the best champions the Arnold Classic had to offer in the full video above!
2022 Arnold Classic Analysis: Terrence Ruffin Vs Ramon Rocha Queiroz Battle For First
Terrence Ruffin stays strong front and center as Ramon Rocha Queiroz seemingly edges out Breon Ansley at the 2022 Arnold Classic pre-judging.
Friday afternoon held the day one pre-judging at the 2022 Arnold Classic, with the Classic Physique division taking center stage of the group. This year’s lineup was certainly stacked – with many pointing out that the roster included basically all top tier athletes from the Olympia minus Chris Bumstead. Many were excited to see how top competitors Terrence Ruffin and Breon Ansley would compare. Others were excited for relative newcomers and rising stars Urs Kalecinski and Ramon Rocha Queiroz. Ultimately, the Classic Physique comparison round ended with a strong face-off between returning champ Terrence Ruffin and Ramon Rocha Queiroz.
In what might come as a surprise to longtime fans fo the Arnold Classic, the pre-judging round for Classic Physique was relatively short. In total there were only three callouts. And most notably, the final callout did not involve any shifting of athletes. Each competitor stayed in their exact spot as they were originally called out.
Typically, head judge Steve Weinberger likes to keep both the athletes and the audience off balance by swapping competitors around. He also often will push the final callout with multiple posing rounds. This time he kept it short and sweet.
So what does that tell us? Perhaps that the judges feel confident in who will be landing in the top positions. Terrence Ruffin and Ramon Rocha Queiroz stood squarely in the center of the four person callout. While that leaves no room for a direct center athlete – it’s clear that these two were battling for first place. Ruffin in particular looked to be the absolute standout.
2022 Arnold Classic Pre-Judging: The Top 4 Standout Competitors
The final callout also seemed to match up with how the individual posing rounds were perceived. Terrence Ruffin was the first to pose – setting the standard that all other competitors needed to match up towards. Ruffin is the returning champion, so there was already some weight behind him starting first with posing routines. In addition to this, the moment he stepped on stage, he showcased an incredible package.
Urs Kalecinski also turned some heads upon stepping onto the stage for his posing routine. Urs has been gaining a lot of hype due to his physique updates on social media leading into the show. He’s a relative newcomer – but he did not disappoint. At first, it seemed that he would perhaps be impressive enough to land a first place spot. Though the final callouts seem to indicate he might be pushed down somewhere closer to third or fourth.
Ramon Rocha Queiroz, on the other hand, seemed to bring a wonderful package but one that was falling a little short. Originally, upon his individual routine, we had him placed closer to the bottom fo the top 5 pack. All of that changed upon seeing him standing next to his fellow competitors. Not only did he stand out among the other athletes on stage – he was placed by the judges right in the middle next to Terrence Ruffin. He was also never moved from that spot – despite being put through two complete rounds of posing.
Breon Ansley continues to bring a solid physique. Upon seeing his individual posing routine, we could see him easily landing a second place spot. But there is a world of difference between individual rounds and the comparison rounds. Ramon, perhaps using his height to his advantage, kept drawing eyes closer to his overall package in the final callout.
That being said, a lot can change in the six or so hours between the pre-judging and the finals. Each of these competitors will reflect on the callouts, review video if possible, and determine how they can improve ever so slightly to change the outcome of the final results. All four of these competitors have a chance to re-arrange what we saw in the final callout this afternoon.
One competitor that we see staying in place is Terrence Ruffin. Unless he makes some sort of fatal mistake leading into the finals, he brought a near perfect package. We predict that he will land the first place spot and the rest will battle for second. While Ramon Rocha Queiroz seems a shoe-in currently for second, we can see a scenario where Breon Ansley creeps up above him to grab that second place spot.
Only time will tell – and Generation Iron will continue to provide updates, analysis, and result updates later tonight when we return for the 2022 Arnold Classic finals!
Arnold Classic 2022 Classic Physique Prejudging Report & Analysis
Highlights from the Arnold Classic 2022 Classic Physique prejudging.
The Arnold Classic 2022 Classic Physique prejudging has been completed and gave a clear picture on who will be leading the way going into the finals on Friday night. Terrence Ruffin came into Columbus, OH looking to defend his title against some other elite competitors in the division.
This competition featured four of the top five finishers from the 2021 Classic Physique Olympia, with the exception of Chris Bumstead. Ruffin finished as the runner-up back in October to solidify his place as one of the top athletes in Classic Physique. Breon Ansley is a former Arnold Classic champion and still performing at a high level. Urs Kalecinski and Ramon Rocha Queiroz are up-and-comers who impressed during the Olympia.
It is no surprise that this is the group of four featured in the first callout. Classic Physique is a division that has become extremely popular and there is a top-tier of competitors that has been established. Ruffin and Ansley remain near as threats come Olympia time and they were the athletes to beat at the Arnold Classic.
Kalecinski and Queiroz entered the weekend as the two competitors that seem to be battling for third place but that might not be the case. The next five competitors were given a chance on stage in the second callout. Michael Daboul impressed during his individual time and got a chance in centerstage.
The judges brought back the same four competitors from the first callout once again for the third. Queiroz was featured next to Ruffin in the center, which makes one think that it could be Kalecinski and Ansley battling for third. There was not any movement in the third callout. This is an interesting development that will add some more drama heading into the finals on Friday night.
This is one division that was highly-anticipated coming into the weekend and it did not disappoint during prejudging. Make sure to keep a close eye on comparisons and the rest of the results leading into the night option of the event. Stay tuned to Generation Iron Fitness Network as we continue to provide coverage.
Classic Physique Callout Report
First Callout
Terrence Ruffin
Breon Ansley
Urs Kalecinski
Ramon Rocha Queiroz
Second Callout
Darwin Uribe
Peter Molnar
Divine Wilson
Lenny Wicks
Michael Daboul
Third Callout (Top 4)
Terrence Ruffn
Breon Ansley
Urs Kalecinski
Ramon Rocha Queiroz
Generation Iron Fitness Network will provide full coverage of the Arnold Classic 2022 event including pre-judging reports, analysis, and results updates. Stay tuned to Generation Iron and visit out official Arnold Classic 2021 coverage hub right here!
Greg has covered the four major sports for six years and has been featured on sites such as Sports Illustrated, Fox Sports, SB Nation, NJ.com, and FanSided. Now, he is transitioning into the world of bodybuilding and strength sports.
Arnold Classic 2022 Figure International Prejudging Report & Analysis
Highlights from the Arnold Classic 2022 Figure International prejudging.
The Arnold 2022 Figure International prejudging has come to an end and it has given a clear view on who will be favored heading into the finals. Cydney Gillon has dominated the division but did not compete in 2020, which was the last time Figure was featured at the Arnold Classic.
Gillon has won the Olympia five consecutive times and will look to make it six in December. Before that, she is attempting to add another Arnold Classic victory. In 2020, Natalia Soltero took home the prize with Gillon out of the lineup and now she will look to pull off an upset during the event.
The judges broke down this division into two callouts of five. Gillon and Soltero headlined the first callout but the depth of Figure was on display. Jessica Reyes Padilla and Nicole Zenobia Graham were also featured, along with Lola Montez. Gillon remained in the middle of the group as she is at the peak of the division.
The second callout featured the other five competitors. Bojana Vasiljevic entered with great conditioning and this showed in centerstage. Larhannah Robinson also provided an impressive presence on stage. Vasiljevic and Soltero were brought back out for the third callout, along with Nicole Zenobia Graham.
Graham was able to work her way into the final callout next to Gillon and Padilla. Montez was also brought back out and will have a chance to finish near the top on Friday night in the finals. Montez began in the middle next to Gillon before being switched to the outside in favor of Padilla. While Gillon is considered a big favorite, the rest of the field has a chance to make some noise in other positions.
This division might very well come down to the wire during the finals. Make sure to keep a close eye on comparisons and the rest of the results leading into the night portion of the event. Stay tuned to Generation Iron Fitness Network as we continue to provide coverage.
Figure International Callout Report
First Callout
Nicole Zenobia Graham
Natalia Soltero
Cydney Gillon
Lola Montez
Jessica Reyes Padilla
Second Callout
Bojana Vasiljevic
Wendy Fortino
Larhannah Robinson
An Da-Jong
Latoya Farley
Third Callout
Bojana Vasiljevic
Nicole Zenobia Graham
Natalia Soltero
Fourth Callout (Top 4)
Nicole Zenobia Graham
Jessica Reyes Padilla
Cydney Gillon
Lola Montez
Generation Iron Fitness Network will provide full coverage of the Arnold Classic 2022 event including pre-judging reports, analysis, and results updates. Stay tuned to Generation Iron and visit our official Arnold Classic 2022 coverage hub right here!
Greg has covered the four major sports for six years and has been featured on sites such as Sports Illustrated, Fox Sports, SB Nation, NJ.com, and FanSided. Now, he is transitioning into the world of bodybuilding and strength sports.