Arnold Classic

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The Arnold Classic, renamed Arnold Fitness Weekend, is an annual bodybuilding competition, named after Arnold Schwarzenegger, that takes place in late February or early March in Columbus, Ohio, United States. It is considered the most lucrative competition in bodybuilding, with a number of large prizes. Most notably, first prize consists of $130,000 check, a Hummer vehicle, and a Rolex watch. The Arnold Classic rivals the Mr. Olympia in prestige and popularity^{[citation needed]}. Like most bodybuilding competitions it is always hotly contested and often only one or two competition points will separate the winners.

The Arnold Classic includes three competitions for women: Ms. International, Fitness International, and Figure International. It has also been expanded to feature gymnastics, cheerleading, dance, fencing, table tennis, yoga, martial arts, strongman competitions, archery, wrestling, powerlifting and many other sports.

The Arnold Expo is held in the Greater Columbus Convention Center, while finals of the bodybuilding, fitness, figure, and strongman competitions are held in the Franklin County Veterans Memorial Auditorium. Beginning in 2006, events in boxing, martial arts and figure skating were added at Nationwide Arena.

The date for the 2008 event is February 29 - March 2, 2008.

[edit] Arnold Classic 2008 Competitors

No.	Competitors
1	Melvin Anthony
2	David Henry
3	Gustavo Badell
4	Dexter Jackson
5	Adorthus Cherry
6	Johnnie Jackson
7	Toney Freeman
8	Desmond Miller
9	Kai Greene
10	Ronny Rockel
11	Deshaun Grimez
12	Silvio Samuel
13	Phil Heath
14	Branch Warren

[edit] Winners

Year	Arnold Classic	Ms. International	Fitness International	Figure International
1989	Rich Gaspari	Jackie Paisley
1990	Mike Ashley	Laura Creavalle
1991	Shawn Ray	Tonya Knight
1992	Vince Taylor	Anja Schreiner
1993	Flex Wheeler	Kim Chizevsky
1994	Kevin Levrone	Laura Creavalle
1995	Mike Francois	Laura Creavalle
1996	Kevin Levrone	Kim Chizevsky
1997	Flex Wheeler	Yolanda Hughes	Carol Semple-Marzetta
1998	Flex Wheeler	Yolanda Hughes	Susie Curry
1999	Nasser El Sonbaty	Vickie Gates	Susie Curry
2000	Flex Wheeler	Vickie Gates	Kelly Ryan
2001	Ronnie Coleman	Vickie Gates	Jenny Worth
2002	Jay Cutler	Yaxeni Oriquen	Susie Curry
2003	Jay Cutler	Yaxeni Oriquen	Susie Curry	Jenny Lynn
2004	Jay Cutler	Iris Kyle	Adela Garcia-Friedmansky	Jenny Lynn
2005	Dexter Jackson	Yaxeni Oriquen	Jen Hendershott	Jenny Lynn
2006	Dexter Jackson	Iris Kyle	Adela Garcia	Mary Elizabeth Lado
2007	Victor Martinez	Iris Kyle	Kim Klein	Mary Elizabeth Lado
2008	Dexter Jackson	Yaxeni Oriquen	Kim Klein	Gina Aliotti