The winners of the Arnold Classic see a meteoric rise in popularity and rank in the sport of bodybuilding. The man who wins the Arnold is usually considered a top contender for the Mr. Olympia title immediately. Those factors combined with the $130,000 USD prize for first place make winning this contest a big deal.
The 2021 edition of this contest will feature 11 of the best bodybuilders in the world taking the stage and facing the judges on Saturday, September 25th in Columbus, Ohio. Anything can happen and any competitor can win a pro contest under the right circumstances, but there are always favorites and contenders to keep an eye on. Here’s what you should know about the athletes to watch this year.
The Favorites
William Bonac - Obviously the defending champion should be considered as the man to beat. In this case, that man is William “The Conqueror” Bonac. He is the only past champion in this lineup, and he’s a former runner-up at the Mr. Olympia. His portfolio of accomplishments make him an elite competitor on any stage. He may have trouble packing more mass on his frame without his symmetry being affected, but if he is in his usual great conditioning shape, then watch for him to be among the last men standing.
Iain Valliere - The Canadian superstar has been on a roll this season. Coming off a seventh place finish in the 2020 Mr. Olympia, he has won his last two contests - the 2021 Tampa Pro and the Texas Pro. At 30 years old, he will be a mainstay on big stages for many years to come. This will be his first Arnold Classic, but the 260 pounder has a lot of momentum. He is also in Columbus already to make final preparations. Bonac needs to be prepared to stand next to him in callouts.
Steve Kuclo - The former Arnold South America champion was fourth in the 2020 Arnold Classic. Two of the men that placed ahead of him last year (Dexter Jackson and Big Ramy) are not in this lineup. So the only man that beat him last year that is in this lineup is Bonac. However, Valliere beat Kuclo to take that Texas Pro win. If Kuclo can come in tighter than he did in that contest, then he will be likely to move up the placings in 2021.
Contenders
Nick Walker - Walker has made a big impact on the sport in his first full year as a pro. He won the 2021 New York Pro, and many experts see him as a threat to the men in this lineup as well as those in the Mr. Olympia, scheduled to take place on the weekend of October 7th through 10th. He won’t be the biggest man in the lineup, but the 27 year old will try to be the leanest and hardest. He’s been working on his back so he can hold his own against the likes of Valliere and Kuclo.
Akim Williams - Williams placed in the Top 6 of last year’s Olympia, one position behind Bonac, However, he seems to be overlooked in this lineup. The 2021 Puerto Rico winner is one of the bigger men to compete in this show, and he appears to have figured out his peaking process. If those factors hold true for him, then he can knock some of the other men out of his way so he can stand shoulder to shoulder with Bonac again.
Sergio Oliva Jr. - No one has seen Oliva onstage since he placed fifth at last year’s Arnold Classic. He was also awarded the title of Best Poser that year. Posing is scored in the Arnold, so that is a factor to consider. The second generation superstar is expected to be significantly bigger than he was on this stage in 2020. If he can display additional mass without losing separation and conditioning, then a win for him must be considered.
Justin Rodriguez - The 2021 Indy Pro champion shouldn’t be ignored either. He was tenth at the 2020 Mr. Olympia, and he has improved since then. He gave Walker a run for his money in New York this past May, and he has faced many of the other men in this lineup before. He shouldn’t try to outmuscle them, but being lean and dry will serve him well. Winning a contest of this magnitude will be a serious challenge, but he can knock some of the favorites out of higher placings if they are off the mark.
Dark Horses
The other men in the lineup aren’t being perceived as favorites, but that doesn’t mean they should be considered afterthoughts. They were invited to compete on this stage for a reason. If any of the previous seven men are off the mark, Maxx Charles, Mohamed El-Eman, Seung Chul Lee, and Hossan Mostafa can knock them down the placings. It’s opportunities like this that can help athletes increase awareness and open doors later on.
So who will win the 2021 Arnold Classic? We will all find out on Saturday, September 25th. Subscribe to the Muscle Insider newsletter to stay up to date on everything regarding the Arnold Classic.
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