Kai Greene Returns to Columbus, Wins The Third Arnold Classic Title

COLUMBUS, Ohio (March 5, 2016)  – Kai Greene of Brooklyn, New York edged Cedric McMillan of Heath Springs, S.C., to win his third Arnold Classic, the marquee event of the 2016 Arnold Sports Festival.

Greene, who also won the Arnold Classic in 2009 and 2010, joins five-time winner Dexter Jackson, four-time champ Flex Wheeler and three-time winner Jay Cutler as the only men with more than two Arnold Classic trophies.

Greene received congratulations from Arnold Schwarzenegger, a check for $130,000, a Tony Nowak Official Champions Jacket and the champion’s trophy from Eric Hillman of Europa Sports Products and Eric Torgeson of EAS.

McMillan received $75,000 and a medal from Ultimate Nutrition and MHP for his second place showing.

Josh Lenartowicz, who burst onto the pro bodybuilding scene when he won pro shows on back-to-back weekends late in the 2015 season, finished a surprising third. Lenartowicz of Australia received $50,000 from Muscle & Fitness and Jan Tana.

Justin Compon, who finished third in the Arnold Classic in 2015, was fourth and received $30,000 from Optimum Nurtion and Body Fortress.

Branch Warren of Copper Canyon, Texas, who won the Arnold Classic in 2011 and 2012, finished fifth and received $15,000 from Blackstone Labs and Rule One Proteins.

Juan “Diesel” Morel of Deer Park, N.Y., was sixth in his long-awaited Arnold Classic debut and received $10,000 from Lone Star Distribution and Quest Nutrition.

Also competing and placing seventh through 12^th, respectively, were Maxx Charles of Huntington, N.Y.; Evan Centopani of Trumbull, Conn.; Lukas Wyler of Switzerland; Cody Montgomery of San Antonio, Texas; Johnnie O. Jackson of Hurst, Texas; and Toney Freeman of Canton, Ga.

 

India Paulino Wins Bikini International For The Second Time, First Since 2013

COLUMBUS, Ohio (March 5, 2016) – India Paulino of Weston, Fla., won the Bikini International to become just the second two-time winner of the IFBB Pro League contest that was first held at the Arnold Sports Festival in 2011.

Paulino received congratulations from Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, $7,000, a Tony Nowak Official Champions Jacket and the champion’s trophy from Eric Hillman of Europa Sports Products and Eric Torgeson of EAS.
Paulino, who won also won here in 2013, joins Ohio native Ashley Kaltwasser (2014, 2015) as the only two-time winners of the event.

The remainder of the Bikini International top six:

• 2^nd place: Justine Munro of Canada received $3,000 and a trophy from MHP and Animal.
• 3^rd place: Janet Layug of Lakeland, Fla., received $2,000 and a trophy from BPI and BSN.
• 4^th place: Angelica Texeira of Newark, N.J., received $1,000 and a trophy from Digital Muscle and Ultimate Nutrition.
• 5^th place:  Courtney King of Lakewood, Ill., received $1,000 and a trophy from Ricart Automotive and Quest Nutrition.
• 6^th place:  Michelle Sylvia of Coconut Creek, Fla., received $1,000 and a trophy from Metabolic Nutrition and Body Fortress.

Brandon Hendrickson Outlasts Large Field To Win Arnold Men’s Physique

Brandon Hendrickson of Bartlett, Ill., outlasted a field of nearly 40 competitors to win the Arnold Classic Men’s Physique for the biggest win of his three-year career in the IFBB Pro League. Hendrickson received congratulations from Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, $5,000, a Tony Nowak Official Champions Jacket and the champion’s trophy from Eric Hillman of Europa Sports Products and Eric Torgeson of EAS.

The remainder of the Arnold Men’s Physique top six:

• 2^nd place: George Brown of Columbus, Ohio received $2,000 and a trophy from Jan Tana and MHP.
• 3^rd place: Jason Poston of Dallas, Texas, received $1,500 and a trophy from Blackstone Labs and Muscle & Fitness.
• 4^th place: Ryan Terry of England received $1,500 and a trophy from Lone Star Distribution and Optimum Nutrition.
• 5^th place: Andre Ferguson of Selden, New York received $1,000 and a trophy from Scitec Nutrition and Rule One Proteins.
• 6^th place: Raymont Edmonds received $500 and a trophy from VPX and Black Skull.

 

Harold Kelley Wins Inaugural Arnold Classic Pro Wheelchair

Harold Kelley of Grand Prairie, Texas, continued his dominance of the sport of professional wheelchair bodybuilding when he won the inaugural Arnold Classic Pro Wheelchair Presented By Bodybuilding.com at the 2016 Arnold Sports Festival.

Kelly earned $3,000 and a one-of-a-kind Arnold Classic Pro Wheelchair Championship Ring from event founder Nick Scott. Ludovic Marchand of Thailand finished second and earned $2,000, while Gabriele Andriulli of Italy was third and earned $1,000.

Kelley has won four straight pro wheelchair contests and eight of the nine professional wheelchair contests held since the division was awarded pro status by the IFBB Pro League in 2011.

 

Lifetime Achievement Award – Dr. Rafael Santonja 

Arnold Sports Festival promoters Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and James J. Lorimer present an annual Lifetime Achievement Award each to an individual who has made notable contributions to the fitness industry and offered a lifetime of service to the enhancement of sports performance and promotion.

The 2016 recipient is Dr. Rafael Santonja, the president of the International Federation of Bodybuilding & Fitness for the past ten years. The IFBB is the worldwide governing body for bodybuilding and fitness. Santonja was first elected to replace the legendary Ben Weider in 2006 before being re-elected in 2010 and 2014. Ben Weider and his brother, Joe, founded the IFBB in 1946 and Ben Weider served as its president until retiring in 2006. Prior to becoming IFBB president, Santonja was Ben Weider’s personal assistant as well as president of the European Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation.

The IFBB is the second-largest sports federation in the world with more than 190 member nations. Santonja has worked tirelessly to get the sport of bodybuilding and fitness recognized by the International Olympic Committee. The sport is now recognized by more than 90 national Olympic committees and is part of several IOC-affiliated regional games, including the European Games. The IFBB holds more than 2,500 competitions each year on the local, national, regional and World Championship levels.

 

Savickas Tops Shaw To Win Record 8^th Arnold Strongman Classic

COLUMBUS, Ohio (March 5, 2016) – The legendary Zydrunas Savickas of Lithuania won the Arnold Strongman Classic for the eighth time when he came from behind in the final event to beat Brian Shaw of Lupton, Colo., by one point and win the 2016 Arnold Strongman Classic in dramatic fashion.

Savickas trailed Shaw 35-32 entering The Timber Carry, the contest’s final event. Savickas carried the 1,102-pound wooden frame up a 35-foot-ramp in 13.0 seconds, good for first place in the event and 10 points. Shaw got the frame up in 18.62 seconds but was fifth, giving Zavickas a 42-41 win.

Savickas received congratulations from Arnold Schwarzenegger, $72,000 and the Louis Cyr Trophy. Shaw, the 2011 and 2015 champion, received $22,000 for finishing second.

Also competing were:

• 3^rd place (36 points): Vytautas Lalas of Lithuania received $17,000.
• 4^th place (33.5): Mateusz Kieliskowski of Poland received $12,000.
• 5^th place (32.5): Hafthor Bjornsson of Iceland received $10,000.
• 6^th place (24.5): Jerry Pritchett of Phoenix, Ariz., received $7,000
• 7^th place (22.5): Mikael Shivilyakov of Russia received $6,000
• 8^th place (18.5): Dimitar Savatinov of Russia received $4,000.
• 9^th place (11): Eddie Hall of the United Kingdom received $3,000.
• 10^th place (10.5): Aleksandr Lysenko of Russia received $2,000.

The 2016 Arnold Strongman Classic was contested over two days in five events: Rogue Elephant Bar Deadlift, The Austrian Oak, The Cyr Dumbbell, The Bale Tote and The Timber Carry. The Timber Carry was held at the Battelle Grand at the Greater Columbus Convention Center as part of the Arnold Classic, Bikini International and Arnold Men’s Physique Finals.