This year, two of the most influential fitness figures, Larry Wheels and Sam Sulek, earned their coveted IFBB Pro Cards, marking a major milestone in their careers. With their sights set on competing against elite professionals — possibly even each other — they are already thinking of their next moves. So, both athletes have hinted at the possibility of stepping onto the prestigious stage of the 2026 Arnold Classic.
Larry Wheels talked about his future in bodybuilding on Instagram, sharing a story with his reply to a comment about the physique that secured him the IFBB Pro Card. Larry revealed that there is still a lot of work to be done, but also that competing has revitalized his life and motivation. As a part of his statement, Larry wrote that he plans to compete next spring, which led fans to believe that he is talking about the 2026 Arnold Classic.
“Admittedly, I have a significant amount of muscle and conditioning to add on before I can be taken seriously as a pro Classic competitor. I’m intending to do my next show next spring and have a productive offseason to finally get these chicken legs to grow! My objective isn’t to be the next Mr. O or a top pro competitor, but rather to have a sense of purpose for training and, each time I step on stage, to see noticeable improvement,” wrote Larry Wheels
Check out Larry Wheels’ statement here:
Related: Jay Cutler Coaches Larry Wheels on Back Training and Posing to Help Him Earn an IFBB Pro Card
On the other hand, immediately after securing his IFBB Pro Card, Larry Wheels turned to Instagram and called out Sam Sulek. He posed the question, “Sam Sulek when is your next show?” indicating that he wants to compete against the young bodybuilder and fitness influencer. This added to the speculation about Larry’s potential appearance at the 2026 Arnold Classic, since Sulek has pretty much confirmed that he is preparing for the aforementioned competition in hopes of stepping out on the stage.
Sam Sulek recently collaborated with one of the greatest Classic Physique bodybuilders currently, Urs Kalecinski. The two men performed a back workout, with Sulek receiving advice from his accomplished colleague. Well, while they were doing the Lat Pulldown, Urs revealed that Sam Sulek is preparing for the 2026 Arnold Classic.
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“The next target is the Arnold Classic Pro stage for this guy (Sam Sulek).”
Sam Sulek was not dismissive of Urs Kalecinski’s statement at all, indicating that there might be some truth to it.
Watch Sam Sulek and Urs Kalecinski’s full workout here:
Related: Sam Sulek Reveals His Bulking Plan for Next 4-5 Months, Shares Go-To Meal in 2025 Off-Season
Sam Sulek secured his IFBB Pro Card by winning the Classic Physique division at the 2025 Arnold Amateur. He turned up with an incredible physique, showing that he has tremendous potential in the sport. On the other hand, Larry Wheels secured his pro card at the 2025 Musclecontest Ireland, also taking the win in the Classic Physique.
Taking into account all information, including the timing of Larry Wheels’ next appearance, his callout toward Sam Sulek, and Urs Kalecinski’s statement about the future of the young bodybuilder, it is very possible that the two will compete against each other at the 2026 Arnold Classic. Both athletes compete in the Classic Physique division, which is another factor that supports the assumption.
The 2026 Arnold Classic will take place on March 2-6 in Columbus, Ohio. With Arnold Schwarzenegger himself confirming a record-breaking prize purse increase to $1.5 million in total, the stakes have never been higher. So, some of the world’s greatest bodybuilders will be giving their all to place as high as possible and, as things stand, Larry Wheels and Sam Sulek could very well be among them.
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