One of bodybuilding’s most prestigious festivals, the Arnold Classic 2022, celebrated a triumphant return to form in early March at the Battelle Grand Ballroom in Columbus, Ohio. The event featured top athletes in a number of categories, with eight competitive divisions, exciting matchups, and a prize purse of almost $800,000. Let’s examine the highlights, noteworthy outcomes, and the earnings breakdown.
1. Men’s Open: Curry Wins a Tough Battle
The most well-known matchup took place in the Men’s Open division between longtime rival William Bonac and former Mr. Olympia Brandon Curry. With Bonac putting up a strong fight and taking home Most Muscular, Curry prevailed, winning his second Arnold Classic title since 2019.
SET FOR SET Generation Iron
- Brandon Curry won $200,000 plus $10,000 for the Ed Corney Best Poser Award.
- William Bonac came in second with $120,000 plus $10,000 for the Franco Columbu Most Muscular Award.
- Steve Kuclo came in third with $70,000.
- Fourth: $37,500 for Samson Dauda
- Fifth: $20,000 for Justin Rodriguez
- Sixth: Brett Wilkin, who will receive $12,500 from Old School Labs® for Set Fitness Volt
Response
Many fans and experts believed Bonac’s conditioning and intimidating musculature should have tipped the scales, especially after his Most Muscular victory, but Curry’s polished appearance and charisma on stage kept him ahead. Debate concerning judging standards and missed details was triggered by the outcome.
Iron Generation
2. Traditional Body Type: Ruffin Is Superior
Terrence Ruffin, the reigning champion in the Classic Physique division, amazed the judges with his exceptional symmetry and presentation skills.
SET FOR SET +1
- Terrence Ruffin won the Best Poser Award, which comes with a $60,000 bonus.
- Second: $30,000 for Ramon Rocha Queiroz
- Third: $20,000 for Urs Kalecinski
- Fourth: $7,000 for Breon Ansley
- Fifth: $4,000 for Michael Daboul
- Sixth: $2,000 SET FOR SET +1 for Peter Molnar
3. Men’s Body: Banks Wins
Erin Banks took first place in Men’s Physique with a remarkably well-proportioned and well-defined physique. Emanuel Hunter, a close rival, put forth a strong candidate that alluded to upcoming bouts.
SET FOR SET +1
- Erin Banks won $10,000.
- Emanuel Hunter came in second with $6,000.
- Third: $4,000 for Diogo Montenegro
- Fourth: $3,000 for Antoine Weatherspoon
- Fifth: $2,000 for Choi Bong Seok
- Sixth: $1,500 for Terrence Teo Kok Hua
4. Bikini International: A New Star Is Born
Lauralie Chapados, a newcomer to the Bikini International category, outperformed seasoned pros like Ashley Kaltwasser and Maureen Blanquisco in terms of tone and presentation.
BarBend Set for Set
- Lauralie Chapados won $10,000.
- Maureen Blanquisco came in second with $6,000.
- Third: $4,000 for Ashley Kaltwasser
- Fourth–sixth: Alessia Facchin ($1.5K), Jourdanne Lee ($1.5K), and Elisa Pecini ($3K)
5. Gillon Returns and Reigns in Figure International
Cydney Gillon returned to the Figure division after a two-year break, and her muscular lines and symmetry helped her regain the top spot.
SET FOR SET +1
- Cydney Gillon won $16,000.
- Second place: $10,000 for Jessica Reyes Padilla
- Third: $8,000 for Lola Montez
- Fourth place: $5,000 for Nicole Zenobia Graham
- Fifth: $3,000 for Natalia Soltero
- Sixth: $2,000 for Bojana Vasiljevic
6. Khadr’s Show-Stealing Routine at Fitness International
Ariel Khadr, who won the Fitness International title with a routine inspired by Terminator, gave one of the most dramatic performances. She differed from the front-runner Missy Truscott in her physicality and inventiveness.
SET FOR SET
Volt of Fitness
- Ariel Khadr won $25,000.
- Missy Truscott came in second with $13,000.
- Third: $8,000 for Jaclyn Baker
- Fourth: $5,000 for Kate Errington
- Fifth: $3,000 for Tamara Vahn
- Sixth: $2,000 for Allison Kramer
7. Wellness International: History Is Made by Nunes
Isabelle Nunes, who defeated her favorite rival Angela Borges by a slim margin, became the first-ever Wellness International champion and made IFBB Pro League history.
SET FOR SET BarBend
- Isabelle Nunes won $7,000.
- Second: $4,000 for Angela Borges
- Third: $3,000 for Sunny Andrews
- Fourth: $2,000 for Julia Chitarra
- Fifth: $1,500 for Yarishna Ayala
- Sixth: $1,000 for Kassandra Gillis
8. Pro Wheelchair: Andriulli’s Magnificent Distress
Five-time Arnold and four-time Olympia wheelchair champion Harold Kelley lost to Gabriele Andriulli in a thrilling victory to win the title.
BarBend
SET FOR SET
- Gabriele Andriulli won $4,000 for winning.
- Harold Kelley came in second with $2,500.
- Third: $1,500 for Bradley Betts
- Fourth place: Chad McCrary (no award mentioned)
Highlights and Important Lessons
- Drama between Curry and Bonac: After a closely watched outcome, many fans believed Bonac had done enough to win.
Iron Generation - Classic Physical Domination: Ruffin maintains his supremacy with flawless flow and detail.
- Changes in the bikini and fitness industry: The new rulers, Chapados and Khadr, represented up-and-coming talent.
- Historical victories: Andriulli pulls off a stunning upset in the wheelchair division; Nunes breaks ground.
Summary of Prize Money
Across all divisions, the total prize fund was close to $799,000.
BarBend The Arnold Classic is still one of the most profitable bodybuilding competitions, as evidenced by the Men’s Open, where Curry took home the top prize ($200,000), which was significantly more than his Olympia earnings.
The Barbell Is Fundamental to Sports
Concluding Remarks
The 2022 Arnold Classic featured debates deserving of late-night discussion, breakthrough champions, and unforgettable performances. It confirmed its position as the second most prestigious event after Mr. Olympia in terms of competition, spectacle, and finances.
