Arnold Schwarzenegger was mostly satisfied with how the Arnold Sports Festival unfolded from February 27 to March 1 in Columbus, Ohio. During the broadcast, he took issue with the long shorts on display in the Men’s Physique category, calling them ‘bogus’ because they don’t show off leg definition.
The Arnold Classic was packed with unforgettable moments on stage. One of which was 2024 Olympia runner-up Ali Bilal’s performance. Bilal defeated defending AC champ Diogo Montenegro and second-place finisher Erin Banks en route to securing gold.
Schwarzenegger was critical of the attires used in Men’s Physique, which hide the thighs and hamstrings. Although some believe legs aren’t scored in Men’s Physique, athletes rep Bob Cicherillo has confirmed that it is included in the official IFBB Pro League judging criteria, so Schwarzenegger might be on to something.
Arnold Schwarzenegger Says He’d Change Long Shorts in Men’s Physique If He Could: “For Me, That’s Bogus”
While enjoying the Men’s Physique competition at the Arnold Classic, Schwarzenegger questioned why longer shorts are standard in the division.
“The interesting thing is they also have really well developed thighs, a lot of those guys. So I don’t know why they make them wear those long shorts. For me, that’s bogus.”
“Let’s see the whole body; that’s what we’re judging. Why would you hide the legs all of a sudden?” asks Schwarzenegger.
Schwarzenegger stated that he couldn’t change the criteria to require legs to be shown in Men’s Physique. He emphasized that calf development is crucial in the division and should be proportional to the size of competitors’ biceps.
“It’s a federation thing. I have nothing to do with that. Nope [I can’t change it]. If it was my choice, I’d say put regular bathing suits on so you can see the thighs also,” he shared. “You need to have symmetry. Your calves should always be the size of your biceps. In this case, maybe he has 16-17-inch biceps; his calves should be 16-17 inches as well.”
“Look at his thighs, his thighs are just as developed as his upper body,” Schwarzenegger said about Ali Bilal.
Balanced proportions remain a hallmark of the Men’s Physique category, and for that reason, Schwarzenegger argued that the whole package should be judged, including the lower body. If it were up to him, he’d advocate for ‘regular bathing suits’ that show off additional leg detail.
Do you agree with Schwarzenegger’s opinion of long shorts in the Men’s Physique class? Let us know in the comments.
RELATED: Bob Cicherillo Clears Air on Men’s Physique Rules, Says Leg Training is Still Needed for Proportions
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with a doubt agree with Arnold. Thought for a long time since this class was developed that it was silly to have board shorts, developed upper bodies with chicken legs.