As a highly decorated bodybuilder, earning more Olympia titles than anyone in the sport, Iris Kyle stands as a highly influential figure in the community. Following the 2024 Arnold Classic, Iris Kyle took issue with the event leaving out a few prominent women’s divisions, including Women’s Physique, Women’s Bodybuilding, and Figure.
The 2024 Arnold Classic took place from February 29 through March 3 showcasing seven divisions in a display of muscle and talent. At the end of the night on day two of the event, Arnold Schwarzenegger presented the Men’s Open champion Hadi Choopan with first place while also making a huge announcement.
Schwarzenegger revealed that he would be increasing the Open prize money from $300,000 to $500,000 in 2025. This shocked spectators as he set fire to the previously agreed-upon protocols established within the sport to surpass the Olympia, bodybuilding’s biggest event, which currently awards $400,000 to the Mr. Olympia Open winner.
While this was an exciting moment for Arnold Classic history, not everyone was able to join in on the celebration. Bodybuilding divisions such as Women’s Bodybuilding, Women’s Figure, Women’s Physique, and Men’s 212 were not included at the latest Arnold Classic event.
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Iris Kyle Calls For More Female Divisions To Be Showcased at Arnold Classic Shows
This caught the attention of the highly esteemed Iris Kyle who currently holds the most Olympia titles ever. Kyle is a highly decorated and established bodybuilder who over the course of her career has raked in 10 Ms. Olympia wins, as well as seven Ms. International victories. She currently stands as one of the most successful bodybuilders of all time.
When Iris Kyle caught wind of the prize money announcement, she didn’t hold back on her opinion as she quickly took to Instagram to share her thoughts.
“My thoughts @arnoldsports with all due respect.
A call equality and recognition in Women’s sports. In the realms of sports,where the spirit of competition and excellence knows no bounds, it is disheartening to witness a glare of oversight in one of the prestigious event in our industry.The absence of opportunities for women athletes to perform and compete alongside their male counterparts is not just disappointing it highlights a broader issue of recognition appreciation within our sports community.Women athletes, through their hard work, dedication undeniable talent have proven time again that they are not only deserving but rightful participants in every arena of competition. The exclusive of categories such as women’s bodybuilding, physique and figure sends a discouraging message about how the achievements and contributions of women are valued in our society.
While I’m someone who typically observes reflects quietly respecting upholding the principles of responsibility and respect, there comes a time when silence no longer serves progress. It’s in these moments that we must stand together,raise our voices, and advocate for what is just and fair. Supporting and promoting women’s sports is not just about creating opportunities, it’s about acknowledging the hard-earned accomplishments of countless women athletes who inspire and aspire to reach the pinnacle of their careers. Lets us not forget the essence of sport is competition, improvement, and breaking barriers.
By denying women athletes their rightful place in prestigious events, we are not only limiting the potential of half the population but also diminishing the spirit of sportsmanship that is at the heart of what we do. I call on EVERYONE within our community and beyond to recognize the importance of inclusivity,equality and support for women sports.
Let us work together to ensure that women athletes are given the platforms they deserve to showcase their talents, share their stories, and inspire the next generation. In advocating for change and progress, we must remember that every athlete, regardless of GENDER, contributes to the rich tapestry of our sports heritage. Ms10x” Iris wrote.
Iris Kyle wasn’t the only one to take notice of the missing divisions. Sarah Villegas, a three-time Women’s Physique Olympia champion also took to Instagram to share her thoughts on the Arnold Classic.
Although the Arnold Classic doesn’t represent all divisions, Arnold Schwarzenegger remains a passionate ambassador of the sport looking to bring more recognition to the bodybuilding community. Through his conscious efforts like working alongside Down Syndrome fitness influencer Kyle Landi and his acknowledgment of how dangerous bodybuilding has become, Arnold Schwarzenegger is working towards making the sport better for all individuals.
In light of Arnold Schwarzenegger increasing the Open winner prize money to $500,000, it leaves fans questioning whether Mr. Olympia, who includes all divisions, will feel pressured to make an increase in response. With plenty of time till the 2024 Mr. Olympia, which takes place from October 10 through October 13, followers of the sport will have to wait and see what happens next.
RELATED: 2024 Arnold Classic Prize Money Breakdown For All Divisions
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You’d think they’d give more recognition, time, and money to women by now given there’s more women bodybuilding than ever and more wanting to compete than ever.
After all, women must be having some influence on the sport if male competitors are wearing women’s underwear onstage. Are you at least gonna give the women credit for that…
But seriously, if they dropped women’s physique, it’s only fair to drop the men’s physique too. There was probably almost as many competitors let down by dropping the women’s event as there would be if it happened to the men’s, so what gives? Of course the obviously better thing to do would be to restore women’s physique.
Seems like there’s just someone(s) with power behind the Arnold Classic (prob not Arnold himself since I know he loves muscle ladies) who has a paranoid neurotic problem with the increase in women gaining muscle and is attempting to de-emphasize that by truncating entire competitions, effectively screwing over the many people who would have competed. However I don’t think such a backlash will be successful. Holding back tidal waves never is.
Besides, having an event full of overbloated wailing grotesque muscleheads would only benefit by having as many women there to counterbalance that nonsense as much as possible. The less women’s events there are the more unpleasant it looks to bother attending it. I’m not going to any event where the organizers’ view of the world is at such a nadir that they trade off beautiful voluptuously developed and sculpted women for more ugly ogrillons. Yeah…thx for that. Perhaps Arnold Sports festival itself should be banned for this, or at least boycotted.
Also I guess Arnold Classic organizers missed the memo on gender equality (guess they were living under a rock on Mars for the last 50 years or so), title IX, etc. Funny that we live in a society where even the military allows women in all forms of combat now, some of the top UFC fighters are women, yet the memo was missed on equal representation for female bodybuilders, how does this get a pass?
Apparently female bodybuilders are the last kinds of women in previously all male domains where men are still allowed to practice discrimination against them, at least where the Arnold Sports people are concerned. Why and how would this be the case? If you can accept women in any form of combat in the military or playing combat sports, then how on earth is it a stretch to accept female bodybuilding just as much?? If this became a cause celebre for social media feminists looking for their next sexist target, the Arnold Sports guys could be in for some serious trouble, especially considering a legitimate case for discrimination can be made here.
If one can accept women in the military, in combat sports, as police, etc, it should be extremely easy then to accept them as bodybuilders. If anything bodybuilding seems more feminine actually, with its emphasis on the way the body looks and the body aesthetic. How is it hard to accept women to be engaged in something that focuses on the body? Women are 85 percent of all cosmetic surgeries; bodybuilding is a natural extension of this body focus behavior of women, that’s maybe why it’s becoming so common for women to do it. But evidently this is something the Arnold Sports people fail to understand.
Cutting out women’s competitions now would be something like attempting to ban automobiles in 1917, not a very prescient act that’s probably not going to last. Get with the times Arnold Sports and don’t embarrass yourselves by hiding from the future, or the present for that matter.
So yes paranoid neurotic needle penises and jealous body shaming women, musclewomen are here to stay and probably only going to increase. The Olympia accepts this so why can’t Arnold Sports?