Retribution is coming! Vissers reports lifetime form and grinds his teeth against Sommerfeld and Sulek

In 2024, Vissers shocked the bodybuilding world when he managed to beat Ramon Rocha Queiroz at the Arnold Classic and made his mark among the absolute elite. But last season did not go as he had hoped. At the very end of his preparation for the Arnold Classic he fell ill, which cost him his form and he had to settle for fifth place. Although he recovered at the subsequent Detroit Pro, he narrowly missed out on gold there too, when he was beaten by Matt Greggo. But now Vissers is back and hungry for a rematch.

"I'm looking my absolute best."

In a recent interview with bodybuilding legend Dennis James, Vissers spoke candidly about his current setup and plans.

"I promised myself that I wouldn't go into a contest thinking I had to win. When I dominated the Arnold Classic in '24, I had no expectations at all. It was an underdog position and just finishing in the top five would have been an achievement for me. But I have to be honest - I'm looking the absolute best I've ever looked in my life at the moment," Vissersrevealed confidently.

The pressure of the new rules and plans for the 2026 season

For this year, the rules for qualifying for the prestigious Mr. Olympia have changed. If Vissers fails to win the Ohio Arnold Classic (which ensures direct advancement), he will have to win two professional competitions to qualify for Olympia.

That's part of why he has a busy calendar. The obvious choice for him is the Arnold Classic. And what about the aforementioned Detroit Pro on March 14?

"It depends on how the Arnold in Ohio goes and what happens after that, but I might go to Detroit. I'm going to the Arnold Classic UK anyway," Vissersconfirmed .

He also mentioned the show in his native Netherlands and his participation at FIBO.

Muscle separation as the main weapon

Vissers has always relied on extreme detail and muscle depth. It is the first-class separation without water retention that should be his ticket to the next title.

This was appreciated by Dennis James himself, who particularly praised Vissers' shoulders and their clean, deep striations (striae). According to James, this is a rarity these days, as about 80 percent of today's athletes destroy their shoulders with topical applications of substances, which creates scar tissue and then the muscles lose their natural detail.

"It's clean, sharp. I appreciate you bringing something like that to the stage because that's what helps you win," Jamessaid .

Fierce competition in Ohio

The 2026 Arnold Classic, which takes place March 5-8 in Columbus, promises to be an epic battle in the Classic Physique division. Vissers will have to face a very strong lineup. He will be facing reigning champion Mike Sommerfeld, who is grinding his teeth for another gold, as well as dangerous opponents like Andrea Mammoli, Matheus Menegate and the hugely popular Sam Sulek.

Will Wesley Vissers' lifetime form be enough to dominate one of the world's most prestigious stages once again? We will find out on the first weekend of March!