In the bodybuilding world, a participant can gain prestige when they win the title of Mr. Olympia or Arnold Classic. These championships have defined the ideal template of a bodybuilder, and the ones who win make it to the top of the pyramid. So, if given an option between the two, what would one choose? Lebanese bodybuilding star, Samir Bannout, had an answer.

In a podcast episode along with Nick Trigili and John Hansen, Bannout shared his insights on where both championships stand. While both bring immense prestige to a participant, which one’s better?

Samir Bannout puts Arnold Classic and Mr. Olympia head to head

Speaking about the recent lineup for Arnold Classic, Bannout voted for some of his favorites and mentioned how he wanted some Mr. Olympia champions to sign up. This led to the debate – between Arnold Classic and Mr. Olympia, which would be more prestigious? Bodybuilders have always swung between the two, and even preferred going for one over the other. But when put to the test, which one’s better?

The way Bannout sees it, both Mr. Olympia and Arnold Classic have their own perks. While the former carried the reputation of the ultimate title a bodybuilder could achieve, the latter carried the perks of having good promotional qualities. But for the veteran, it all boiled down to which title was the most respected and powerful.

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Bannout had made his decision right away. In a proud proclamation, Bannout declared, “I don’t think the Arnold Classic will ever take over the name Olympia.” The veteran added that while Arnold Classic championships had more quality to their competitive process and promotion, Mr. Olympia outweighed the two in terms of its name and reputation. The title is just more powerful and impactful than the others, and the legend was confident in his decision.

Whether one prefers Mr. Olympia or the Arnold Classic, both titles have dominated the bodybuilding world with their grandeur and prestige. Bannout had previously listed his favorites for Mr. Olympia, hoping that they would make an appearance again this year. Participants who performed well in this year’s Mr. Olympia, like Chris Bumstead, Big Ramy, Derek Lunsford, etc. are expected to throw their names into this year’s Arnold Classic as well.

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While fans await the final lineup of this season, it will be interesting to see who scores the title. Who are you betting on? Let us know in the comments down below!