Tag: 2024 Arnold Classic
2024 Arnold Classic Results For All Divisions
The 2024 Arnold Classic Ohio featured seven divisions: Men’s Open, Classic Physique, Men’s Physique, Fitness, Bikini, Wellness, and Pro Wheelchair. Competitors vied for supremacy from February 29 to March 3 in Columbus, Ohio. Since 1989, the annual Arnold Sports Festival has become a staple event for fitness and bodybuilding enthusiasts. Fans and athletes from around […]
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Arnold Schwarzenegger Announces A Historic $500,000 First Prize For The 2025 Arnold Classic
Arnold Schwarzenegger announced a historic increase in the 2025 Arnold Classic prize money. The announcement came right after Hadi Choopan’s win at the 2024 Arnold Classic. Established in 1989, the Arnold Classic is the second most prestigious professional bodybuilding competition after the Mr. Olympia. Former Mr. Olympia Hadi Choopan bounced back from the 2023 Olympia […]
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Terrick El Guindy Says Hadi Choopan Sent a ‘Clear Message’ to Derek Lunsford W/ 2024 Arnold Classic Win
The dust settled in Columbus, Ohio with Hadi Choopan emerging as the 2024 Arnold Classic champion. In a recent YouTube video, judge Terrick El Guindy recapped the event and discussed Choopan’s chances of swiping Derek Lunsford’s Olympia title in October. Actions speak louder than words — and that was certainly the mantra Hadi Choopan lived […]
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Bryan Jones Lays Out Comeback Plans for Men’s Open in 2024, Says He Wants to be 270 Lbs
Classic Physique talent Bryan Jones is ready to battle with the big boys of the Men’s Open division. In a recent Muscular Development interview, Jones revealed he’s closing in on his anticipated move to the Open class and hopes to compete at next year’s 2024 Arnold Classic.
With exceptional definition, balanced proportions, and stellar quads, Bryan Jones has already proven himself against some of the world’s best. As a pro bodybuilder, he garnered hype quickly after finding success at the 2019 Ultimate Warriors Pro show where he placed fourth.
In 2020, Jones registered the best season of his IFBB Pro League career after earning gold at the Chicago Pro. This victory earned him an invite to the prestigious Mr. Olympia contest. Similar to Open star Nick Walker, Jones finished his first Olympia show in fifth place, a promising sign of his career’s trajectory. During the event, Jones stood against four-time Classic Physique Olympia Chris Bumstead, two-time winner Breon Ansley, and two-time Arnold Classic titleholder Terrence Ruffin.
Jones’ last pair of contests came in 2021 as he took fifth at the Arnold Classic and ninth in his sophomore Olympia appearance. Jones’ move to the Open class has been in the works for quite some time. He excited fans last March after making it clear he planned to switch divisions. At the time, he was weighing 244 pounds, though it appears now, Jones intends to add even more muscle before his big Open debut.
Bryan Jones Talks Comeback to Men’s Open in 2024, Growing Physique to 270 Lbs & Training Style/Diet
Looking ahead, Jones wants to make a ‘big statement’ when he tests his talents in the Open division next year.
“Yeah, I just want to make a big statement so I was like, I have to take as much time as I need. I don’t want to get on stage just to get on stage, you know? High volume, yeah, high volume, high intensity – yeah. Things of that nature. Very short rest breaks and whatnot, a lot of drop sets. Yeah, traditional bro split.”
“It’s gaining muscle – it’s easy for me but it just takes me longer to gain weight. I have a problem gaining weight. People think I’m bigger than what I am but for some reason my calories are high and for some reason, I don’t really gain too much weight really. Yeah, I stay lean no matter what. My fats are really high, but for some reason, my body doesn’t want to get fat so we’re trying to make me spill over a little bit, things of that nature,” said Bryan Jones.
As far as nutrition goes, Jones said he consumes cheat meals four times a week and struggles to gain weight. In the months to come, Jones says he wants to weigh 265-270 pounds.
“My meal plan, I have like three or four cheat meals a week,” said Jones. “I was in Classic, so I’m going to do Open now. This is a different ball game, you know, so maybe I don’t know yet… it’s hard to tell, I haven’t done a show as an Open competitor yet.”
“My off-seasons… I really couldn’t grow too much, I was really just maintaining for the off-season. Then my last two shows, we kind of grew, we kind of sucked up and we grew some. Then I was like oh shit, I can barely make weight. Exactly, now I’m barely making weight. I can’t do this for another 5-10 years.”
“I said 270, but we go by the eye test, it could be smaller, this could be the weight right here, no need to get any bigger you know. But yeah, 265-270 [pounds],” said Jones. “I’m back. I’m back.”
When asked by Ron Harris when he planned to step on stage, Bryan said the following:
“Most likely early 2024 most likely, Yeah [at the Arnold Classic]” said Jones. “My back, my hamstrings, I need to get the calves up a little, that’s really it. Hammies need some work still, I still haven’t figured that part out. I’m getting better. My back always [needs improvements].”
According to Jones, the criteria for judging physiques at bodybuilding shows hasn’t changed. Simply put, he believes the best physiques are being awarded at shows.
“It makes me excited and also too, I don’t know if that’s the actual direction they are looking at [at Olympia] I just think those guys are at the top of their game right now.”
“It’s no trend. Bodybuilding judges remain the same, it doesn’t change. They’re not looking for a specific waist size or anything of that nature, it’s whoever comes in that day, who peaks better, does everything better, it just so happens that the guys with better aesthetics for the past couple big show.”
“Just I could say the physiques have evolved but as far as judging-wise, it’s been the same. It’s been consistent for the most part. Trends… no, not really. I really haven’t seen any trends where like I have to look like this in order to win you know what I’m saying? It’s just the same criteria.”
Following the last Olympia and 2023 Arnold Classic, judging and scoring contests have become a hot-button issue. Fans online have debated whether or not former champ, Mamdouh ‘Big Ramy’ Elssbiay was unfairly overlooked on the Olympia stage.
Meanwhile, fans and some bodybuilding veterans took issue with Samson Dauda winning the Arnold Classic. Athletes rep Bob Cicherillo, on the other hand, believes the judges got it right in Vegas and in Columbus, Ohio. He has taken to various Voice of Bodybuilding Podcasts to lay out how to accurately score a bodybuilding contest to enlighten misled followers of the sport.
Given Bryan Jones’ experience at the highest level, when he does make his Men’s Open debut, fans expect something big. Aiming to tip the scales at 270 pounds, Jones’ transformation from Classic Physique to Open will make for an exciting storyline in 2024.
RELATED: ‘Don’t Give Big Ramy False Hope’: Bob Cicherillo Doubles Down on Fallen Champ & 2023 Arnold Classic Judging
Watch the full video from the Muscular Development YouTube channel below:
Published: 27 June, 2023 | 11:41 AM EDT
William Bonac: ‘If Give It My All, Then I Have the Possibility to Win Mr. Olympia’
William Bonac hasn’t given up hope on securing a Mr. Olympia title before calling it a career. In a recent interview with Desktop Bodybuilding, Bonac brushed off retirement rumors and said he’s taking the year to come back better than ever in 2024.
As a Men’s Open pro, William Bonac has participated at the highest level for over a decade. His thick compact muscle density and work ethic were vital components to his rise as a pro. Bonac is a two-time winner of the prestigious Arnold Classic, winning gold in 2018 and 2020. While proving himself as an elite talent, Bonac narrowly missed out on winning Mr. Olympia to Brandon Curry in 2019.
Last year (2022), ‘The Conqueror’ was unable to exact revenge against Curry at the Arnold Classic and finished second. The outcome was controversial and many pros like Lee Priest thought Bonac brought the winning package. Despite the setback, Bonac returned a week later to win gold at the Boston Pro, guaranteeing his passage to the Mr. Olympia show.
He went into Las Vegas’ 2022 Olympia as a notable favorite but failed to make the first call-out. Bonac finished ninth and his teammate, Mamdouh ‘Big Ramy’ Elssbiay, also came up short in fifth, which served as one of the biggest shocks of the night. Bonac attempted the latest Arnold Classic as well but finished seventh.
William Bonac Says He Can Still Win Arnold Classics and Mr. Olympias
During the video, Bonac said he was still in the running to win Arnold Classics and Mr. Olympias as long as he takes a year off to let his body recover.
“I do for sure [think] I can win the Arnold Classic; the possibility is still there. To win the Olympia… I don’t know man, where the judges are going with the kind of physiques that they want for that. But I think if I give it my all, like the next two years, then I might have the possibility to win the Olympia. Right now, it’s just taking time off, you know, let my body recover.”
“When you compete and compete and compete, your body adjusts to the system to your supplementation and diet, so it won’t react as it normally would be. Your receptors – everything would be sensitive. So I need to get rid of that. Once I have that and that’s what I’m doing now, so I’ll need a whole year off. Once I have that, then I can come back again and everything will feel fresh, my body will feel fresh because that’s what I did in 2022 as well at the Arnold Classic.”
According to Bonac, his ninth and seventh-place finishes at the Olympia and Arnold Classic were justified. He added that the judges made the correct decision and said the outcome could have been worse.
“It was the right decision. When I look back at the pictures, I was like I look shit. You know, so yeah, you can even say you have to be happy with your placing and what you got – it could have been worse. I looked like shit. At the Arnold, I looked better. Did I deserve my placings? Yeah. The judges put me there for a reason. I’m not a guy to complain about his placings. Of course, in the past, I had some issues.”
“I’ve grown, I understand the game. So, I don’t complain when I win, I’m happy when I win, so why should I complain when I lose some? It’s a big pie, everyone can have some of it,” added Bonac. “I know what I saw, and I was like [no], people told me I should have placed higher but I’m lucky that I got that place, believe me. It’s not the physique I wanted to represent at the Olympia.”
Bonac on Big Ramy: ‘Its Tough to Be 2x Mr. Olympia & Lose Your Title All in 6 Months’
Bonac sympathizes with Big Ramy since the Egyptian native lost his title after holding the honor for two years.
“To be honest with you, if I did qualify for the Olympia, I would have probably gone to the Olympia as well. For him [Big Ramy] to go, is a good thing as well. I wouldn’t be demotivated because of his placings that he didn’t maybe expect it at the Olympia and then maybe the Arnold. It’s tough you know, to be two-time Mr. Olympia, losing your title and all just in sixth months’ time. Losing your title and placing fifth and then going to the Arnold and not even placing in the top three, it’s kind of tough to be the king and then… you know,” said William Bonac.
“I thought he looked better at the Arnold and I think at the Olympia he didn’t look that bad. We all looked — we all didn’t look perfect. None of use except maybe three guys and those three guys were in the top three, simple as that. I think Big Ramy should maybe have a rest for this time now and start his prep for Olympia and then maybe after Olympia take a rest and go forward again. We are not as young as these guys anymore.”
The last time fans heard from Bonac he discussed his future in the sport. Given the strain his body has been under, he decided to take a year off for the sake of longevity. He believes the time off is exactly what his physique needs following a busy season. Considering how illusive the Olympia title has been for him, Bonac set his sights on another Arnold Classic victory next year.
Watch the full video below:
RELATED: William Bonac Completed Blood Work Before 2023 Arnold Classic, Says ‘There’s Nothing Wrong’ With Kidneys
While his time in the sport is limited, William Bonac hopes to come back stronger and more competitive in 2024.
Published: 13 April, 2023 | 6:38 PM EDT