Journey To The Arnold Classic USA 2021

Every year the Arnold Sports Festival is around late February to early March. Travelers from all around the world would come to the festival held in Columbus, Ohio. The Arnold Sports Festival usually includes the Worlds Strongest Man competition, women’s bodybuilding competitions, men’s bodybuilding competition including classic physique, martial arts, kids expo, cheerleading, Arnold Art, Sunday Showcase, Pump and Run 5K and many more. Most famously, fans would be lining up in front of the Arnold Schwarzenegger Statue to do the signature pose which is fantastic.

March 2021-- you would think and imagine thousands of people traveling to Columbus, Ohio for the Arnold Sports Festival. With the increase in cases and deaths involving Covid-19, Arnold Sports Festival announced to everyone that it would be postponed.

Fast-forward to September 2021, the show continues on except for no expo and fully focusing on the Arnold Classic bodybuilding competitions. The famous Sunday Morning Showcase was now on a Friday, cancelling meet and greet sessions due to covid restrictions. 

On top of that, the 7th Annual Experience Arnold After-School All-Stars event was happening as well. While talking to Melissa, my wife, we decided to go this year. We have been going for the past 7 years and the fun fact was that it was our 5 year wedding anniversary 9/24. This would be our first trip since the pandemic. Last vacation and air travel was March 2020 for the Arnold Sports Festival.

Thursday September 23, 2021

We land in Columbus, Ohio at John Glenn Columbus International. When going to the checkpoint, I noticed there wasn’t that many people there for “The Arnold” as everyone calls it. Usually you would see athletes excited for their competitions, famous bodybuilders like Kai Greene, but no sign. While heading towards the Baggage Claim area you would usually see a poster saying “Welcome To The Arnolds Sports Festival in Columbus Ohio, with a picture of Arnold. This time there wasn’t.

Friday September 24, 2021

Today was the day for the Experience Arnold Event. I decided to go ahead and go to the Greater Columbus Convention Center to see if there was anything Arnold related. When walking in the convention center, it was quiet and as soon as I got closer to where they have the stage I saw my first Arnold signage where they used the “Arnold Classic” logo for the event. I saw the area where spectators can pick up their tickets and on top of the escalators they had a “miniature” expo featuring clothing line from Represent.com which had different Arnold Classic designs and Homage the vendor that usually was there was not present. Big signage said “Welcome To The Arnold Classic” before entering the area where the bodybuilding competitions were to take place. I told myself “I’ll Be Back” tomorrow to watch the bodybuilding prejudging and return that evening for the show. 

Dr. Bob Goldman’s International Sports Hall of Fame was moved to the Mr. Olympia competition in Orlando, Florida which is happening in October. 

No Arnold signage or flags near the convention center which was totally different.

Experience Arnold Event by After-School All-Stars

One tradition that we usually have is to go to the Experience Arnold Event by the After-School All-Stars Ohio. This is where Arnold himself will come and make a speech and you will be able to be in the same room as him and possibly get a quick selfie if lucky. Every year there is a different experience at different venues and the event grows and gets better. This year was at the new Lower.com soccer stadium in downtown Columbus close to the convention center.  By entering the building we were greeted by the staff of the After-School All-Stars, got our picture taken and we entered into the main attraction. The event was a Casino event where people play casino games for prizes for the winners which was great. 

Every year there is a silent auction and this time there was plenty of Arnold items great for the ultimate fan, a Scarface picture signed by Al Pacino, Waynes World cast autographs, sports memorabilia, and travel packages. For the Arnold related items there were a few metal print paintings from famous artist Glen Folan from the UK. There was a Conan the Barbarian painting, Predator painting, Terminator 2 painting, a Pumping Iron painting and my favorite a painting of John Matrix vs. John Rambo. This was the perfect painting for my collection and for our wedding anniversary. My wife is a big Stallone fan and this caught her attention as well. Other items included a screen used head piece from the movie Conan the Barbarian, a 1:1 Conan the Barbarian Sword, Predator knife and some Expendables knives.

We learned that Arnold’s flight was delayed from Los Angeles due to technical difficulties and Arnold did not show up yet. This was also the same night where he was to attend for the Friday Showcase at 8:30PM. 

We enjoyed our drinks, this time no cigars due to no smoking in the new arena and shared some memorable experiences. Next thing we know, Arnold is here so he wanted to give his speech outside on the new field. Arnold was wearing a blazer with a green polo shirt and he had a boot on his foot due to a recent injury.


I ran into one of Arnold’s friends Daniel Marshall of Daniel Marshall cigars. We had a brief conversation last time I saw him and he remembered me. We had a small conversation and then Arnold starts speaking. The speakers to the mic were inside where the party was going on and nobody could hear Arnold. I sure did being right near him. He talked for about 5 minutes and then he had to depart to get to the convention center for the showcase.

Overall it was a really fun experience at the After-School All-Stars. Executive Director Tracy Ensign recognized Melissa and I during her speech. She told everyone “When we first met you all, you both were dating, then engaged, then married, then 8 months pregnant and then your wedding anniversary." I am truly honored to be recognized and we see everyone there as family. 


 

Saturday 9/25/21

Entering back into the Convention Center, there was more excitement. This was 9:30AM, and it was prejudging time. Bob Cicherillo, a well known bodybuilder also know as the voice of bodybuilding was there presenting all the athletes. I was there enjoying the show, taking video footage of the prejudging and ended up buying an Arnold Classic short from one of the booths at the mini expo. 

Saturday evening I brought Melissa to help me with taking pictures and videos of the competition. Arnold made a speech talking about that this event needed to happen and also said that “He was born a bodybuilder, he will die a bodybuilder.”

We also saw Arnold present a Lifetime Achievement Award to the famous Ronnie Coleman “Yeah Buddy” his famous line. He gave a great emotional speech which made the crowd applaud. Congratulations to Ronnie Coleman from The ArnoldFans.

Watching the rest of the competition, I saw Sergio Oliva Jr do his performance which was fantastic. His dad Sergio Oliva Sr used to compete with Arnold when he was alive. You might see a reenactment of his father in the movie Bigger. Nick Walker was getting the crowd pumped up and killing the show with his performance. While Melissa and I are watching this, found out that Arnold was backstage doing commentary on the whole competition with Cedric McMillan whom was suppose to compete but backed out. The winner of the 2021 Arnold Classic was Nick Walker.


 

Overall the experience was way different than previous years due to the pandemic, but we had a great time. We will be back in March 2022 for the Arnold Sports Festival USA.