The Arnold Classic is the second most prestigious bodybuilding contest after the Mr. Olympia. Launched in 1989, it’s held the first weekend of each March in Columbus, Ohio. There have been 19 winners over the 35 contests. (We’re referring here to only the American Arnold Classic.) That’s the basic math. We dive deep into the numbers to compile the definitive, up-to-date database of Arnold Classic records, rankings, and fascinating statistics.
MOST ARNOLD CLASSIC WINS
5 — Dexter Jackson
4 — Flex Wheeler
3 — Jay Cutler
3 — Kai Greene
Wheeler held the record alone for 13 years until Jackson tied it in 2013 and then broke it in 2015.
MOST ARNOLD CLASSIC TOP 2 FINISHES
8 — Dexter Jackson
6 — Chris Cormier
6 — Flex Wheeler
All of Cormier’s top-two finishes were seconds.
MOST ARNOLD CLASSIC TOP 3 FINISHES
10 — Dexter Jackson
7 — Chris Cormier
6 — Vince Taylor
6 — Branch Warren
6 — Flex Wheeler
MOST CONSECUTIVE ARNOLD CLASSIC WINS
3 — Jay Cutler
Four other men—Flex Wheeler, Dexter Jackson, Kai Greene, and Branch Warren—won two consecutive titles, but only Cutler won three (2002-04).
MOST ARNOLD CLASSIC SECOND-PLACE FINISHES
6 — Chris Cormier
3 — Dexter Jackson
Incredibly (and incredibly painfully), Cormier’s record six seconds were consecutive: 2000-05.
MOST ARNOLD CLASSIC SECONDS WITHOUT A WIN
6 — Chris Cormier
2 — Phil Heath
Only these two legends have more than one runner-up finish without an Arnold Classic title. Heath has seven Mr. Olympia titles.
BEST ARNOLD CLASSIC DEBUT
1st — Mike Ashley (1990)
1st — Flex Wheeler (1993)
1st — Kevin Levrone (1994)
1st — Michael Francois (1995)
1st — William Bonac (2018)
Rich Gaspari also won the first Arnold Classic in 1989. In contrast, to the Mr. Olympia in which no one has won it on their first try aside from the initial contest, five men have won the Arnold on their first try. Only William Bonac has done so since 1995. And only Flex Wheeler did so in his rookie pro season.
YOUNGEST ARNOLD CLASSIC CHAMP
Shawn Ray (1991), 25
Nick Walker (2021), 27 years
Flex Wheeler, in 1993, was also 27 but about five months older than Walker.
OLDEST ARNOLD CLASSIC CHAMP
Dexter Jackson (2015), 45
Dexter Jackson (2013), 43
Jackson is the only man to win the Arnold at 40+, and he did it twice. Kai Greene won at 40 in 2016. Jackson was also second at 50 in 2020, his final Arnold Classic.
TALLEST ARNOLD CLASSIC CHAMP
Cedric McMillan 6’1″
SHORTEST ARNOLD CLASSIC CHAMP
Dexter Jackson 5’6″
Shawn Ray 5’6″
MOST ARNOLD CLASSIC ENTRIES
17 — Dexter Jackson
Jackson also holds the record for most Mr. Olympia entries (21). Both marks will be difficult to beat.
LARGEST ARNOLD CLASSIC LINEUP
20 competitors — 1992
17 competitors — 1991
The Arnold Classic is an invitational, and it averages around 13 invited competitors. These early contests had significantly more entries, at a time when the only other Arnold pro event was the Ms. International women’s bodybuilding contest.
SMALLEST ARNOLD CLASSIC LINEUP
9 competitors — 2022
10 competitors — 2017
10 competitors — 2021
10 competitors — 2023
The pandemic and visa issues for non-Americans both impacted the contest size this decade.
LONGEST TIME BETWEEN ARNOLD CLASSIC WINS
7 years — Dexter Jackson (2006 to 2013)
6 years — Kai Greene (2010 to 2016)
Yet another difficult-to-beat mark held by the legend who has rewritten the Arnold Classic record book from top to bottom: Dexter Jackson.
See also: Mr. Olympia Record Book
