Preparations are in full swing for the upcoming 2023 Arnold Classic, scheduled for March 2-5 in Columbus, Ohio. Men’s Open standouts Samson Dauda, Nick Walker, Patrick Moore, and Justin Rodriguez took to Instagram to share their physique updates four weeks out from the show.
The 35th edition of the annual Arnold Classic, considered to be the second-most prestigious fitness showcase in the world behind the Mr. Olympia contests, will feature a range of events beyond bodybuilding, such as strongman, powerlifting, and arm-wrestling. The organizers announced the full roster last month with some notable additions coming in following an increase in the prize money for the Men’s Open class.
Bodybuilder Nick Walker enters the contest as the highest-ranked Olympian and the favorite to win his second Arnold Classic title. He’s coming off a sensational performance at the 2022 Mr. Olympia, where he defeated former two-time Mr. Olympia winner Mamdouh ‘Big Ramy’ Elssbiay to place third behind runner-up Derek Lunsford and winner Hadi Choopan.
Renowned bodybuilding guru Chris Aceto extended his support for Walker. He expects Walker to impress everyone with an even better package than what he brought to the Olympia two months ago. Meanwhile, coach Milos Sarcev sees it as a three-way battle between Walker, Andrew Jacked, and Samson Dauda for the top prize.
Nick Walker & Samson Dauda share impressive updates 4 weeks from 2023 Arnold Classic
In a recent Instagram post, Nick Walker shared an impressive physique update just four weeks out of the 2023 Arnold Classic.
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Walker is leaving no stone unturned in his preparations for the show. He opened up on using kratom for enhanced cardio sessions. He also specified that he’s used the drug for sleep as well.
Men’s Open standout Samson Dauda gained a lot of momentum over the last year and backed up the hype with a sixth-place finish in his debut at the latest Mr. Olympia.
In addition, two-time 212 Olympia victor Shaun Clarida is anticipating a clash with Dauda at the nearing event and believes the key to victory would be out-posing him. However, Dauda is confident he will reign supreme if he focuses on himself before the show. Former Mr. Olympia Samir Bannout expressed a similar sentiment when he backed Dauda to win if he came in shredded.
In a recent Instagram post, Dauda shared a gigantic physique update.
Seasoned bodybuilding pro Patrick Moore will mark his return to action at the 2023 Arnold Classic. He first gained attention for his massive frame and definition in 2018 as a Men’s Open competitor. He stayed on the periphery of the top ten for the majority of his career before scoring gold at the 2019 California Pro. The win secured him an invite to the 2019 Mr. Olympia, where he finished 10th.
He continued competing over the next two years and won the 2021 California Pro. In his latest Olympia appearance in 2021, Moore dropped down to the 14th spot. He chose to take a break from competing after the showing. Then, he weighed his options in the sport before needing surgery for his Achilles tendon. Moore confirmed his entry at the 2023 Arnold last month.
Patrick Moore shows off massive arms & Justin Rodriguez full as a house in physique update
In recent Instagram posts, Patrick Moore shared a physique update four weeks out of the 2023 Arnold Classic.
Dominican-American bodybuilder Justin Rodriguez will also be in the lineup. He rose to prominence for his conditioning and granite muscularity. He’s one of the most consistent athletes of the Open class with regular appearances at numerous shows over the last few years. Following a string of top-three finishes in the IFBB Pro League, Rodriguez finally scored a win at the 2021 Indy Pro.
After a 15th-place finish at the Olympia, Rodriguez will make a quick turnaround to compete at the Arnold Classic next month. Rodriguez gave fans a look into his preparations for the show on Instagram.
With the 2023 Arnold Classic just four weeks out, athletes will enter the final stages of their prep and tweak their macros and water intake accordingly.
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Fans are excited to see another thrilling showdown next month. For most fans and veterans, Nick Walker is the overwhelming favorite.
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