The 2026 Arnold Classic is taking place from March 5-8, in Columbus, Ohio. On Friday, March 6, starting at 12:30 PM EST, Fitness contenders battled during prejudging on the Expo Stage at the Greater Columbus Convention Center. At the end, it appeared Michelle Fredua-Mensah, Stephanie Jones, Allison Kramer, and Tamara Vahn were fighting for gold.
Jaclyn Baker won this contest last year, but she opted not to compete this time around. Therefore, when the smoke settles, a new champion will emerge. Heading into the event, one name stood out when the roster went public: Michelle Fredua-Mensah. She took second at last year’s Arnold and rallied to win her first Olympia title in 2025. Her biggest on-paper threat today was Amber Steffen, a consistent star who claimed fourth-place finishes in last year’s Arnold and Olympia.
As prejudging heated up, Michelle Fredua‘s shape and muscularity made her a shoo-in for center stage. Stephanie Jones also drew attention with her presence and muscle fullness. Allison Kramer and Tamara Vahn put forth impressive looks. The judges did not give these athletes a break, dissecting their flaws pose-by-pose. It’s anyone’s title heading into this evening.
Fitness Volt has you covered with live coverage from the 2026 Arnold Classic. The Fitness International division prejudging has wrapped up—check out the full report on all the action.
2026 Arnold Classic Fitness International Callouts:
First Callout
- Michelle Fredua-Mensah
- Stephanie Jones
- Allison Kramer
- Jeanine Renee Taddeo
- Tamara Vahn
- Jessica Ann Zehr
Second Callout
- Abby Bolton
- Danielle Chikeles
- Anna Fomina
- Michelle Gales
- Michaela Paveleova
- Amber Steffen
- Aurika Tyrgale
- Jessica Ann Zehr
Final Callout
- Michelle Fredua-Mensah
- Stephanie Jones
- Allison Kramer
- Tamara Vahn
2026 Arnold Classic Fitness International Highlights:
2026 Arnold Classic Schedule
Friday, March 6
Prejudging: (12:30 pm – 1:30 pm EST)
Finals: (7:00 pm – 9:30 pm EST)
Saturday, Mar 7, 2026
Prejudging: (10:00 am – 12:00 pm EST)
- Arnold Men’s Physique (Starts at 11 AM)
- Bikini International (Starts at 11 AM)
- Pro Wheelchair – Prejudging & Finals (10 AM)
Finals: (7:00 pm – 10:00 pm EST)
- Arnold Classic
- Arnold Men’s Physique
- Bikini International
Follow the 2026 Arnold Classic live – prejudging breakdowns, event recaps, expert analysis, and complete results as they happen. Get full coverage at our Arnold Classic hub: FitnessVolt.com/arnold-classic
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