The 2024 Arnold Classic Physique results are in and it’s a massive upset. Despite defending champion Ramon Dino and Urs Kalecinski being the favorites, underdog Wesley Vissers has defied expectations. The Dutch Oak brought the height advantage against Dino and Kalecisnki and arguably outmatched Dino in conditioning. In the end, he walked out as the winner with $60,000 in the bag.
Leading up to the show all eyes were on the Dino to become a two-time champion. Meanwhile, Urs Kalecinski fans thought he might be Dino’s biggest challenge. However, Wesley Vissers made massive improvements, gaining muscle mass and improving his conditioning. Although he couldn’t match Urs Kalecinski’s posing skill, The Dutch Oak did enough to emerge as the 2024 Arnold Classic Physique champion.
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Did Wesley Vissers cause the biggest bodybuilding upset of the year?
Before the Arnold Classic, Ramon Dino and Wesley Vissers were clear favorites going into the show. However, warning signs of Ramon Dino not being at his best were visible from the pre-judging. While Dino improved his back and overall muscularity, his conditioning seemed slightly worse than last year’s Olympia. His posing also lacked last year’s flair and energy.
Meanwhile, one of Dino’s biggest rivals, Urs Kalecinsksi, didn’t make massive improvements. While the bodybuilder seemed to have improved his legs, The Mircale Bear’s upper body required further improvements. However, the German bodybuilder’s posing stole the show. On the other hand, Wesley Vissers improved every aspect of his physique in just three months.
The 6’3 bodybuilder looked more muscular and shredded than before. While he wasn’t the best poser the Dutch oak understood his strengths and highlighted them through his posing. Bodybuilding veteran Denis James understood that Vissers might cause the year’s biggest upset at the Arnold classic. It turned out the 90s bodybuilding icon was spot on. Vissers won more than five-time Classic Physique champion Chris Bumstead at the 2023 Mr. Olympia.
How much prize money did the Classic Physique top-five win?
While the Arnold Classic cannot legally surpass the Mr. Olympia’s prize money for the open division, it did so for the Classic Physique division. While Cbum won $50,000 in 2023, Wesley Vissers won $60,000. Former champion Ramon Dino won $30,000, while Urs Kalecinski won $20,000. However, the Miracle Bear won an additional $10,000 as the best poser.
Meanwhile, the original Arnold Classic Physique champion and former two-time Classic Physique Olympia winner Brean Ansley took home $7,000 after placing fourth. Finally, Michael Daouol finished among the top five, earning $4000. Damien Patrick, who finished in sixth place, won $2,000. However, the rest of the top ten didn’t win any prize money.
While few people might have predicted that Wesley Vissers would win, the Dutch Oak made history, becoming the 6th bodybuilder to win the Arnold Classic Physique title.
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Smrutisnat Jena