March is quickly approaching and here in Columbus Ohio that means one thing: The Arnold Sports Festival! This year will mark the 30th anniversary of the Arnold Sports Festival and the Arnold Classic bodybuilding championships. Columbus will host more than 75 events, 18,000 athletes from over 80 nations and 200,000 fans from all over the world March 1-4 at the Greater Columbus Convention Center, the Ohio Expo Center and other Central Ohio locations.
The Arnold Sports Festival first began in 1989 and for the past 30 years has established itself as a lucrative sports contest. For years it has attracted the top competitors in bodybuilding, strongman, powerlifting, physique, bikini and figure. This year, the Arnold Sports Festival will take place on five separate occasions in five different locations including Columbus, Australia, Brasil, South Africa and Spain.
Although many come to the festival to enjoy the booths, free samples and connect with other fitness enthusiasts, others come to the festival with a job to do and a competition to win. Team elitefts will be well represented this year and has a total of five competitors set to take the stage in Columbus at the invitation-only Xtreme Powerlifting Coalition directed by Dan Dague. elitefts will have competitors and coaches partaking in the Elite Classic, Pro Multi-Ply, Pro Classic, 21 Deadlift Salute and Bench Bash.
Here’s the running itinerary:
Friday, March 2nd
Rhodes Center, 717 E 17th Ave
Elite Classic
3 - 4 PM to TBD
Competitors: Julia Ladewski
Coaches: Christian Anto, Swede Burns
Saturday, March 3rd
Rhodes Center, 717 E 17th Ave
Pro Multi-Ply
8AM to 3-4 PM
Competitors: David Kirschen
Coaches: Nate Harvey
Saturday, March 3rd
Rhodes Center, 717 E 17th Ave
Pro Classic
3-4 PM to TBD
Competitors: JP Carroll
Coaches: Swede Burns, Steve Pulcinella, Casey Williams, Yessica Martinez, Joe Sullivan
Sunday, March 4th
The Greater Columbus Convention Center, 400 N High St Columbus Ohio
Bench Bash
12pm to 1pm
Competitors: Brandon Smitley
The Greater Columbus Convention Center, 400 N High St Columbus Ohio
21 Deadlift Salute
1pm to 2pm
Competitors: Bryan Doberdruk
Westside Barbell
In addition to the Arnold Sports Festival, be sure to get tickets for the world premiere of Westside vs. the World which is being screened at the Gateway Film Center in Columbus Ohio March 1st, 2nd, and 3rd. More information about the film and its origin can be found here.
If you are in Columbus this weekend come out and show your support for all the elitefts competitors and coaches. Be sure to stay updated with the elitefts competition results through elitefts.com all weekend!