Classic Physique Prejudging Arnold Classic 2026

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Competitors in the popular Classic Physique category gathered on the Expo Stage at the Greater Columbus Convention Center on Friday, March 6 at 12:30 p.m. EST to compete in the closely watched semifinals of the prestigious Arnold Classic 2026. After the initial comparisons, it's already clear that Wesley Vissers, Matheus Menegate, Kim Angel and Andrea Mammoli are in a fierce battle for first place.

Shocking withdrawal of the defending champion

While last year reigning champion Mike Sommerfeld showed a perfect balance of muscle bulk and extreme preparedness, this year came as a huge shock. Sommerfeld failed to meet the strict weight limit for the Classic Physique category and was forced to withdraw from the competition. This guarantees fans one thing - this weekend we will meet a brand new champion.

Vissers' return and the fight of the "black horses"

All eyes were on the 2024 champion, Wesley Vissers, after the withdrawal of the defending champion. He fell to fifth place at last year's Arnold Classic, but promised a huge improvement for this year. And he delivered - he worked significantly on his quadriceps and hamstrings, making him the front-runner once again. Right from the first quarterbacks, his incredibly narrow waist and great muscle balance helped him to dominate.

However, before the show, competitors with wild card status such as Andrea Mammoli, Matheus Menegate and Sam Sulek were already attracting a lot of attention. Matheus Menegate in particular did absolutely great in the frontal poses and his muscle striations immediately caught the judges' attention. Kim Angel and Andrea Mammoli in the first call-up just confirmed that they are a force to be reckoned with by the world's top riders this year.

First Callout

The judges pulled the following four fighters for the first, and therefore the most important callout for the overall standings:

• Wesley Vissers
• Matheus Menegate
• Kim Angel
• Andrea Mammoli

Looking at the balanced form of these fantastic competitors, it is certain that tonight's final, which will kick off at 19:00 EST, will bring an incredible battle for the valuable trophy and fat prize money.

Stay tuned to our website for more updates and complete results from the Arnold Classic 2026!