*The Arnold Classic, sanctioned by the International Federation of Body Building and the world's most prestigious title for professional male bodybuilders, will be held Saturday, March 5 at Veterans Memorial as part of the Arnold Sports Festival. Prejudging will begin a noon and finals at 7 p.m. Two-time defending champion Kai Green will not compete in 2011, leaving Dexter Jackson, winner in 2005, 2006 and 2008, leading a field of 15 who will vie for the coveted Arnold Classic crown.
Evan Centopani
United States
Age: 29
Height: 5’11”
Weight: 250 pounds
Centopani is not your typical 97-pound weakling who turned to bodybuilding to gain weight. At 12 years old he was 220 fleshy pounds and started gym work to decrease the bulk. This 2007 NPC Nationals overall champ is touted as an emerging star of the next decade; a rep he fully backed up by winning the 2009 New York Pro Show in his pose-for-pay debut. He has the muscle and conditionwise he promises to be in the same mode as the last syllable of his home state, Connecticut.
Roelly Winklaar
Netherlands
Age: 33
Height: 5'7"
Weight: 250 pounds
The winner of the 2009 Arnold Amateur title made a sensational seventh place pro debut at last year's Classic. He then went on to win the New York Pro Show. Originally from the Dutch Antilles (in the Caribbean) he now calls Rotterdam home where Ditch fans have anointed him as The Beast. Known for his outgoing personality he devotes quite a bit of time to helping causes for disadvantaged children. With a smile as wide as his lat spread he's guaranteed to light up the Columbus stage.
Branch Warren
United States
Age: 36
Height: 5'7"
Weight: 245 pounds
Warren turned pro by winning the heavyweight division at the 2001 NPC Nationals, and is today a threat in any contest he enters. He's been an ever-present at the last five Arnold Classics with a record that includes one second place (2006) and two thirds (2009 and 2010). This Texas Tornado is renowned for his Herculean physique and blue-collar take-no-prisoners approach to training. Having won the Most Muscular trophy four times in his Columbus career he states he'd give them all up for being named 2011 Arnold Classic champ.
Dexter Jackson
United States
Age: 41
Height: 5'6-1/2"
Weight: 235 pounds
Dexter Jackson has entered more Arnold Classic contests than any other competitor in the event’s history and this marks his eleventh appearance on the Columbus stage. The 2008 Mr. Olympia has in fact been triumphant three times (2005, 2006 and 2008) in this contest and he is in all-guns-blazing mode this year to equal Flex Wheeler’s record of four Arnold victories. With his classy physique and presentation don’t bet against the Jacksonville, Florida native being the last man standing tonight.
Victor Martinez
Donminican Republic
Age: 37
Height: 5'9"
Weight: 255 pounds
The 2000 NPC Nationals overall champ has been on flexing duty at five previous Arnold Classics – the best results for the adopted New Jerseyite being first in 2007, second in 2009 and third in 2006. Somewhat derailed by a serious leg injury in 2008 and the murder of his sister in 2009 the likeable Martinez is determined to return to winning ways in 2011 and put his disappointing eighth place at last year’s Olympia showdown behind him.
Johnnie Jackson
Age: 40
Height: 5’8”
Weight: 255 pounds
This is the fifth Arnold Classic outing for this Fort Worth, Texas, resident, with his best finish being 9th in 2008 and 2009. A veteran of the Gulf War, Jackson’s workouts are legendary for the blood-and-guts efforts he puts into them in tandem with training partner and Arnold rival Branch Warren. Having won the title of The World’s Strongest Bodybuilder in 2009 he’s looking to lift his heaviest ever Arnold check this time around.
Dennis Wolf
Germany
Age: 32
Height: 5'11"
Weight: 270 pounds
Dipping his toe, for the first time, into the dispute for Arnold Classics honors is The Big Bad Wolf. With one of the most spectacular physiques ever seen the native-born Russian had a bit of a down period in 2009 and early 2010 before rebounding to top tier eminence with fifth spot at last year's Olympia. Now living in Las Vegas he has adopted a “no more gurus" approach to contest preparation and mindful of that strategy we await and see if this particular Wolf can huff and puff his way to Columbus glory and take the Arnold at his first attempt
Essa Obaid
United Arab Emirates
Age: 31
Height: 5'10"
Weight: 250 pounds
Last March Obaid -- with a blend of size, shape and condition -- won the overall title at the Arnold Amateur Championships, in the process earning an IFBB pro card. Sensationally he then joined an elite class of bodybuilders by entering and winning his first pro contest -- in his case the 2010 Europa Supershow in Dallas. His success may well be a precursor for the emergence of world-class bodybuilders from the Middle East as the sport in that region is booming.
Robert Piotrkowicz
Poland
Age: 37
Height: 5'8"
Weight: 250 pounds
Visually, and in the prodigious weights he throws around, Piotrkowicz seems like Eastern Europe's answer to Branch Warren. Born in Warsaw and initially a karate exponent, he took up bodybuilding in 2002 and entered his first contest in 2005. He earned his pro card in 2009 and made his Arnold Classic debut with 10th place last year. Known in his homeland as The Terminator he may fast become a fixture at the contest promoted by the original “I'll be back" action hero.
Ronny Rockel
Germany
Age: 38
Height: 5'6"
Weight: 225 pounds
There's maybe no pro on the current scene who is as hard and full as Germany's Rockel: which perhaps prompts the introduction of the nickname, Herr Conditioner? Whatever, his progress from being a 143 pound 18-year old to being one of the best bodybuilders on the planet is an inspiring tale. In four previous Arnold Classic soirees his best placing was 6th in 2010. Herr Conditioner looks to be a blast and build on the momentum of last year so as to do better than sixth place this time around.
Ben Pakulski
Canada
Age: 29
Height: 5'10"
Weight: 255 pounds
This Toronto native annexed his pro card by winning the Superheavyweight and overall titles at the 2008 Canadian Championships. He's now a Venice, California resident, having moved there last year to work under the supervision of training legend Charles Glass. With his surname engendering the moniker Pak-Man this Canadian export looks to be pressing all the right buttons for his Arnold Classic debut. Check out his crazy calves: it looks like muscle fibers were poured into them and someone forgot to say, "When."
Toney Freeman
United States
Age: 44
Height: 6’2”
Weight: 295 pounds
After making his Arnold Classic debut in 2005 this is Freeman’s seventh appearance here in Columbus, with his best showing being third in 2007. Born in South Bend, Indiana he is blessed with a massive but shapely (narrow-waisted) frame that has bequeathed him the sobriquet, The X-Man. He will enter the 2011 Arnold Classic looking for his best ever finish and promises to be at an all-time peak to underline succinctly that The X-Man is not becoming The Ex-man.
Sergey Shelestov
Russia
Age: 32
Height: 5’10”
Weight: 245 Pounds
After sitting out the 2010 competitive season Abiad returned to competition at the FLEX Pro contest two weeks ago. Prior to that his best showing was second at the 2009 Pro Bodybuilding Weekly Championships. This is his first Arnold appearance and the 2006 Canadian overall champ, whose power pecked physique has earned him the nickname Hoss, hopes to be in home straight action as the field gallops toward the finish line.
Mohammed Touri
Morocco
Height: 5’ 8”
Weight: 215 pounds
With teak hard muscularity Touri was a clear winner of the heavyweight and overall titles at the 2010 IFBB World Amateur Championships, staged in Qatar last November. Lauded as Morocco’s best ever bodybuilder he has hurtled up the amateur rankings in recent years with his Qatar victory earning him enlistment in the pro division. Like Essa Obaid his rise signals that bodybuilding is fast growing across the globe and that we should expect more overseas competitors to swell the IFBB ranks in future years.
Fouad Abiad
Canada
Age: 32
Height: 5’10”
Weight: 245 Pounds
After sitting out the 2010 competitive season Abiad returned to competition at the FLEX Pro contest two weeks ago. Prior to that his best showing was second at the 2009 Pro Bodybuilding Weekly Championships. This is his first Arnold appearance and the 2006 Canadian overall champ, whose power pecked physique has earned him the nickname Hoss, hopes to be in home straight action as the field gallops toward the finish line.
