2016 Arnold Sports Festival

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Two-time Arnold Classic champion Kai Greene will compete in Columbus for the first time since 2010 when he headlines a field of 13 of the world’s best professional men’s bodybuilders at the 2016 Arnold Classic, the Arnold Sports Festival announced today.

The Arnold Sports Festival and the IFBB Pro League today announced the invited athletes who will compete in the Arnold Classic, Arnold Classic 212, Fitness International, Figure International and Bikini International. The Arnold Classic Men’s Physique and Women’s Physique International contests are open in 2016 and will feature more than 100 combined athletes. All events will be held March 4-5 at the 2016 Arnold Sports Festival.

Greene won the Arnold Classic in 2009 and 2010 and finished second in Arnold Classic Europe in 2013. He also finished second in the Olympia in 2012, 2013 and 2014 but did not compete in any IFBB Pro League contests in 2014. Branch Warren, who won the Arnold Classic in 2011 and 2012, is also among the field of 13. Lukas Wyler earned an automatic invitation for winning the 2015 Arnold Amateur and Fouad Abiad earned an invitation with his win at the 2015 Europa Orlando.

In the Arnold Classic 212, defending champion Jose Raymond leads a field of 8 professionals. Hidetada Yamagishi, who finished second in 2015, and Charles Dixon, who finished fifth last year, are also in the field.

Jose Raymond. Photo: Arnold Sports Festival

In the Fitness International, two-time defending champion Oksana Grishina and 2013 winner Tanji Johnson headline a field of 12. Grishina also finished first in the Arnold Classic Europe in 2014 and 2015 and has won seven straight IFBB Pro League contests. Arnold Amateur champion Giorgia Fiorini earned an automatic invitation to her first Fitness International.

In the Figure International, defending champion Camala Rodriguez-McClure and Candice Keene, who won in Columbus in 2013 and 2014, lead a field of 14. Janaina Ferreira da Silva, who won the overall at the Arnold Amateur in 2015, earned an automatic invitation.

There will be a new champion in the Bikini International after Ashley Kaltwasser, the event’s only two- time champion, did not enter. Justine Munro, who finished second in 2015, and Janet Layug, third last year, lead a field of 13. India Paulino, who finished fourth last year, is also expected to contend.

For the first time, the Arnold Classic Men’s Physique and Women’s Physique International contests are open and do not require an invitation. More than 40 will compete in Arnold Classic Men’s Physique and more than 60 will compete in Women’s Physique International. Visit www.arnoldsportsfestival.com for the complete competitor lists.

The Arnold Classic 212, Fitness International, Figure International and Physique International will be held on Friday, March 4, 2016; while the Arnold Classic, Arnold Classic Men’s Physique and Bikini International will be held on Saturday, March 5, 2016 with prejudging and finals at Battelle Grand.