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One of the most lauded events in fitness, the Arnold Sports Festival, is set to occur from March 2-5, 2023, in its one and only home of Columbus, OH. Since its inception in 1989 (as only a bodybuilding show), the event has grown to include over 50 sporting events, an expo, and plenty of sightings from the show’s namesake — seven-time Mr. Olympia, Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Typically, the stand-out events for fans are the Arnold Classic (or AC, and the other bodybuilding events) and the Arnold Strongman Classic (ASC). For fans who can’t attend the event in person, they can purchase a $59.99 pay-per-view with FanMio. It can be played on any Apple device, as well as on an Android TV, Google TV, and Amazon’s Fire TV.

2023 ASF Event Schedule

Below is an abbreviated (yup, that’s abbreviated) schedule for the 2023 Arnold Sports Festival. Head to the ASF’s website for a complete schedule.

Thursday, March 2

Friday, March 3

• Arnold Amateur, from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m., Battelle Grand
• USA Powerlifting, from 8 a.m. – 7 p.m., Columbus Convention Center — C-Pod
• USA Weightlifting, from 8 a.m. – 10 p.m., Columbus Convention Center — Union Station Ballroom
• Arnold Expo, from 10 a.m. – 7 p.m., Columbus Convention Center
• Arnold Strongman Classic, from 10 a.m. – 7 p.m., Columbus Convention Center
• Arnold Strongwoman Classic, from 10 a.m. – 7 p.m., Columbus Convention Center
• Classic Physique Prejudging, from 12:30 – 2 p.m., Arnold Expo Stage
• Fitness International Prejudging, from 12:30 – 2 p.m., Arnold Expo Stage
• Wellness International Prejudging, from 12:30 – 2 p.m., Arnold Expo Stage
• Wellness International Finals, from 7 – 9:30 p.m., Battelle Grand
• Fitness International Finals, from 7 – 9:30 p.m., Battelle Grand
• Arnold Classic Prejudging, from 7 – 9:30 p.m., Battelle Grand
• Classic Physique Finals, from 7 – 9:30 p.m., Battelle Grand

Saturday, March 4

• USA Powerlifting, from 8 a.m. – 7 p.m., Columbus Convention Center — C-Pod
• USA Weightlifting, from 8 a.m. – 8p.m., Columbus Convention Center — Union Station Ballroom
• Arnold Expo, from 10 a.m. – 7 p.m., Columbus Convention Center
• Pro Wheelchair Prejudging & Finals, from 10 – 11 a.m. Arnold Expo Stage
• Arnold Strongman Classic, from 10 a.m. – 7 p.m., Columbus Convention Center — Strongman Area
• Arnold Strongwoman Classic, from 10 a.m. – 7 p.m., Columbus Convention Center — Strongman Area
• Men’s Physique Prejudging, from 11 a.m. – 12 p.m., Arnold Expo Stage
• Bikini International Prejudging, from 11 a.m. – 12 p.m., Arnold Expo Stage
• Men’s Physique Finals, from 7 p.m. – 10 p.m., Battelle Grand
• Arnold Classic Finals, from 7 – 10 p.m., Battelle Grand
• Bikini International Finals, from 7 – 10 p.m., Battelle Grand

Sunday, March 5

• USA Powerlifting, from 8 a.m. – 7 p.m., Columbus Convention Center — C-Pod
• USA Weightlifting, from 8 a.m. – 8p.m., Columbus Convention Center — Union Station Ballroom
• Arnold Expo, from 10 a.m. – 7 p.m., Columbus Convention Center
• Rogue Record Breakers, from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Columbus Convention Center — Strongman Area

Some expected top contenders for the Men’s Open portion of the 2023 AC include Nick Walker, Mamdouh “Big Ramy” Elssbiay, and Andrew Jacked. There will be a $300,000 prize for the victor.

Here is the complete Men’s Open roster for the 2023 AC:

2023 Arnold Classic | Men’s Open Roster

• Nick Walker
• Mamdouh “Big Ramy” Elssbiay
• Andrew Jacked
• Shaun Clarida
• William Bonac
• Kamal Elgargni
• Samson Dauda
• Akim Williams
• Patrick Moore
• Justin Rodriguez
• Akim Williams

As for the 2023 ASC, reigning two-time World’s Strongest Man (WSM) Tom Stoltman and 2018 World’s Strongest Woman (WSW) champion Andrea Thompson headline the Men’s and Women’s rosters, respectively. They are as follows:

2023 Arnold Strongman Classic Roster | Men

• Tom Stoltman (United Kingdom)
• Mitchell Hooper (Canada)
• Trey Mitchell (United States)
• Mateusz Kieliszkowski (Poland)
• Pavlo Nakonechnyy (Ukraine)
• Luke Stoltman (United Kingdom)
• Rob Kearney (United States)
• *Kevin Faires (United States)
• Tom Evans (United States)
• Bobby Thompson (United States)

*Note: Faires is replacing Maxime Boudreault, who broke a shin bone in February 2023.

2023 Arnold Strongman Classic Roster | Women

• Tamara Walcott (U.S. Virgin Islands)
• Andrea Thompson (United Kingdom)
• Olga Liashchuk (Ukraine)
• Inez Carrasquillo (Puerto Rico)
• Melissa Peacock (Canada)
• Hannah Linzay (United States)
• Nadia Stowers (United States)
• Victoria Long (United States)
• Samantha Belliveau (Canada)
• Donna Moore (United Kingdom)

2023 Arnold Strongman Classic Events

Here are the events and schedule for the 2023 ASC:

Friday, March 3

• Event One: Wheel of Pain
• Event Two: The Austrian Oak

Saturday, March 4

• Event Three: Elephant Bar Deadlift
• Event Four: Unspunnen Stone Throw
• Event Five: Frame Carry

With defending ASC champion Martins Licis and runner-up Oleksii Novikov not participating, it could be anyone’s contest to win on the Men’s side. Meanwhile, for the Women, Thompson might face a stiff challenge from 2022 WSW winner Olga Liashchuk and three-time WSW winner Donna Moore (2016-2017, 2019).

The annual ASF acts as its own celebration of fitness and strength. The competitors in the 2023 AC and 2023 ASC should likely live up to that lofty objective.

Featured image: @nick_walker39 on Instagram

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On Feb. 24-26, 2023, during the Powerlifting America (AMP) Classic Open Nationals, powerlifter Natalie Richards broke new ground for her weight class. In a first-place National Championship performance, Richards notched a 501.2-kilogram (1,105-pound) raw total and became the first-ever 57-kilogram powerlifter in AMP to break the 500-kilogram barrier.

As part of her historical total, Richards recorded an all-time raw competition-best deadlift of 221.3 kilograms (488 pounds). Richards completed the pull from a sumo stance with a mixed grip. The athlete wore just a lifting belt for the deadlift, a belt and knee sleeves for her top squat, and wrist wraps for her bench press. The angle of a clip featuring Richards’ lifts makes it unclear whether the competitor was also wearing a belt on her press.

The only major powerlifting organization with a 57-kilogram category is the International Powerlifting Federation (IPF). According to its database, the IPF’s current raw all-time World Record total in the 57-kilogram division is 495.5 kilograms (1,092.4 pounds). That mark is held by France’s Jade Jacob, who captured it at the 2022 European Powerlifting Federation (EPF) European Classic Powerlifting Championships.

While Richards’ new total does not officially surpass Jade’s on an IPF level — because her achievement didn’t occur under its jurisdiction — she remains the first-ever 57-kilogram powerlifter to achieve at least 500 kilograms on a sanctioned lifting platform.

Marianna Gasparyan totaled 552.5 kilograms at 56 kilograms at the World Raw Powerlifting Federation’s The Showdown in 2020.

Here’s an overview of Richards’ all-time raw competition bests:

Natalie Richards (57KG) | All-Time Raw Competition Bests

• Squat — 178.5 kilograms (393.5 pounds)
• Bench Press — 107.5 kilograms (237 pounds)
• Deadlift — 221.5 kilograms (488.3 pounds)
• Total — 501.2 kilograms (1,105 pounds)

According to Open Powerlifting, Richards’ victory at the 2023 AMP Classic Open Nationals extends her current winning streak to three consecutive contests. Between occasionally simultaneous Junior and Open competitions, the athlete has only ever failed to finish in first place on two instances in 12 career competitive appearances.

Per the post’s caption featuring Richards’ 2023 AMP Nationals performance, the athlete will shift her training focus to preparing for the 2023 IPF World Classic Powerlifting Championships. The contest scheduled for Jun. 11-18, 2023, in Valletta, Malta, will serve as Richards’ IPF debut. Provided the athlete can transfer her strength to the tentpole contest, she will have a firm place in the IPF World Record books this summer.

Featured image: @kingofthelifts on Instagram

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