Arnold Classic: Classic Physique 2026, This Time It's Serious

 

Just a couple of weeks remain until the start of the Arnold Classic 2026, the first major event of the year in the bodybuilding world, and this edition has all the ingredients to deliver surprises.

Last year, Mike Sommerfeld was crowned champion in Classic Physique, but the title came under circumstances worth examining closely. The only real surprise was Logan Franklin, who battled him from second place, a result that's hard to interpret when we consider that Franklin couldn't even crack the Top 10 at Mr. Olympia. That forces an uncomfortable question: Did Sommerfeld really face solid competition at the Arnold 2025? Was Mike at his best version? Or was the overall level of that edition simply not the highest?

The numbers speak for themselves. Aside from Sommerfeld, no other member of the Mr. Olympia Top 5 appeared in the Arnold Top 5. High caliber competitors like Terrence Ruffin, Josema Beast, or Niall Darwen simply showed no interest in being there. And that, though no one says it openly, worked against Sommerfeld. Seeing him dominate a competition without his toughest rivals inflated his confidence, and that overconfidence was part of what cost him the title against Ramon Rocha at the Olympia. When the moment of truth arrived, reality hit differently.

This year, Sommerfeld returns to defend his title at the Arnold. Personally, I don't think it's the best strategy, but that's his decision, and we'll have to respect and observe the outcome. His legs are starting to dominate his physique in a disproportionate way, which could lead him to lose classic proportions or force him to come in at lower bodyweight.

What's clear is that the 2026 scenario will be far more complex. The Olympia 2025 Top 5 is notably absent, except for Sommerfeld, but the names showing up this year carry real weight. Wesley Vissers had a forgettable year last year, but don't lose track of him: he was the Arnold champion in 2024, and his current physique promises a serious fight.

Adding to that are new names starting to carve out their place in Classic Physique, and everything points to them being protagonists in the coming years. Andreas Mammoli, Matheus Menegate, and Kim Angel sound like legitimate title contenders, not just filler competitors. They have the physique, the ambition, and the timing to make noise.

And then there's the case drawing the most media attention: Sam Sulek's professional debut. His mission, to put it bluntly, is to crack the Top 5. With the level of the competitors mentioned, it won't be easy at all for the king of social media to achieve that goal in his first pro show. But what's undeniable is that his presence ramps up the overall interest, and this edition will feature much tighter competition than last year's.

We shouldn't forget either the significance this category holds for Arnold Schwarzenegger himself. As one of the biggest current advocates for classic aesthetics, proportion, and physical balance, Arnold is likely the one betting most heavily on the growth of Classic Physique within modern bodybuilding. That gives this division a symbolic weight that no other has at this event.

My take is that the most dangerous rivals for Sommerfeld are Vissers and Mammoli, though Menegate or Angel have real potential to pull off a surprise. Winning the title could be much harder this time.

Good luck, Sam.