The 20th Anniversary of the Arnold Classic at the 2008 Arnold Sports Festival was a major highlight and so was the debut of the International Powerlifting Federation (IPF) and USA Powerlifting as the organizers of the sport of powerlifting at the Festival.
The weekend long events featured a packed house showcasing four separate events:
• The USA Powerlifting Raw Challenge in which lifters used only belt, knee sleeves, and wrist wraps
• The Quest American Invitational, a team competition sanctioned through the North American Powerlifting Federation and including teams from various parts of the United States and a team from Canada.
• The GNC ProPerformance IPF Deadlift Challenge which included some of the best deadlifters in the IPF
• The Titan Professional Bench Bash pitted teams from Europe, Asia, and the United States
The GNC ProPerformance Deadlift Competition was supported by General Nutrition Centers ProPerformance Line. 17 IPF athletes competed for a total of more than $7,000 in prize money. The USA's Brad Gillingham and lifter Priscilla Ribic completed the heaviest deadlifts. Results for all competitions is posted at www.powerlifting-ipf.com.
Branch Warren - Texas' favorite son and one of the world's leading champion professional bodybuilders - is a MASSIVE testament to self determination, focus, and persistence. Warren, born in the small town of Seymour, Texas, was a welcome surprise to his family when he arrived in 1975. His dad, a former football star at Texas's Stephen F. Austin University - was 49 when Branch arrived on the scene. He added size and energy to the family that included his parents and two older siblings. As Branch grew, he continued in his father's athletic footsteps pursuing football, and track & field.
Branch spent a big part of his youth working his family's large cattle ranch, attending school, and participating in sports. West Texas school sports included Rodeo Bull Riding, football, and track. At age 15, Branch and his parents moved from West Texas to Dallas where he could receive a better education. Branch went from a class of 30 to a class size of 650. It was quite an adjustment.
"Sports were a vehicle for me to make new friends," said Warren. "I loved football and I especially admired Hall of Famer and defensive tackle Randy White of the Dallas Cowboys. Joe Montana, San Francisco's world famous quarterback was another big favorite."
"Arnold Schwarzenegger was my biggest idol - even in high school," said Branch. "I admired that Arnold came here with nothing - no money - just his goals and achieved so much in such a short period of time. He's gone from athlete to actor to Governor. I admire his stamina in everything he has done."
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Posted April 22, 2008
Arnold Sports Festival Daily Photo
Arnold 20th Anniversary Video
The Arnold Classic 20th anniversary is over. What began as a simple bodybuilding competition to help celebrate amateur weightlifting has evolved into a three-day sports festival with 37 events testing athletes, their trainers and families to be the best.
Watch the eight chapters of the Arnold Classic 20th Anniversary DVD to see how we began the celebration of a weekend that benefits athletes, family and business.
Dexter Jackson of Jacksonville, Florida won the Arnold Classic bodybuilding competition at the Arnold Sports Festival 2008. A check for $130,000 was presented by Steve Blechman of Muscular Development, a trophy was presented by Brian Cavanaugh of GNC, an Audemars Piquet watch by Robert Ronen, and a Tony Nowak jacket and congratulations from Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Melvin Anthony won the Most Entertaining Posing Award and a $10,000 check presented by Bill Windscheif of Gold’s Gym International, Rich Gaspari of Gaspari Nutrition. Branch Warren was awarded the Most Muscular Man Award presented by Josef Kagerbauer of Joska Kristall.
Phil Heath of Denver, Colorado won 2nd place. He received $75,000 presented by Gerard Dente of MHP and an Arnold Classic medallion presented by Jill Tanowitz of NetJets.
Kai Green of New York, New York placed 3rd in this year’s Arnold Classic and was awarded $50,000 presented by Paul Hemingway of EAS and a medallion by Bernardo Gonzaga of Amino Vital.
Other major prizes awarded in the Arnold Classic were:
• 4th place: Branch Warren from Keller, Texas received $30,000 presented by Flex Wheeler of All American EFX and a medallion presented by Dave Conlon of MuscleTech.
• 5th place: Silvio Samuel of Puerto Rico received $15,000 presented by Kevin Farley of Star Trac and a medallion presented by Shaun Eckhardt of Twinlab.
• 6th place: Gustavo Badel from California received $10,000, presented by Michael Carrubba of Vitamin Shoppe and a medallion by John Teng of Sunrider.
Posted March 1, 2008
Zydrunas Savickas - Arnold Strongman 2008 Winner
Zydrunas Savickas of Lithuania won two events over an international field to capture the 7th Annual Arnold Strongman Classic title. Winner for the sixth year in a row Zydrunas Savickas received a $40,000 check from Gerard Dente of MHP, an Audemars Piquet watch by Robert Ronan and the Louis Cyr trophy and congratulations from Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Overall there were 12 world records set throughout the competition. Savickas set three of them. In the Tire Deadlift he lifted 1,027 lbs. In the Circus Dumbbell he tied with Derek Poundstone for the world record with nine lifts each. In the Manhood Stones he lifted 525 lbs. three times.
Finishing second was Derek Poundstone of America. He received $20,000 from Brian Cavanaugh on behalf of GNC.
The order of the other finishers was:
• 3rd place: Mikhail Koklyaev of Russia received $15,000 from Steve Blechman of Muscular Development.
• 4th place: Andrus Murumets, Estonia received $10,000 from Dave Conlon of MuscleTech.
• 5th place: Tie: Both Brian Siders of West Virginia, Benedikt Magnusson, of Iceland, each received $7,000 from Flex Wheeler of All American EFX and from Bernardo Gonzaga of Amino Vital.
• 7th place: Phil Pfister, West Virginia, USA, received $5,000 from Rich Gaspari of Gaspari Nutrition.
• 8th place: Oleksandr Pekanov of the Ukraine received $3,000 from Michael Carrubba of Vitamin Shoppe.
• 9th place: Van Hatfield of the United States, received $2,000 from Shaun Eckhardt of TwinLab.
• 10th place: Vasyl Virastyuk of the Ukraine, received $1,000 from Bill Windscheif of Gold’s Gym International.
Note: there is no 6th place winner, the prize money between 5th and 6th place was split evenly.
Posted March 1, 2008
Yaxeni Oriquen - Ms. International 2008
Yaxeni Oriquen of Miami, Florida is the winner of the Ms. International bodybuilding competition here at the Arnold Sports Festival 2008.
Yaxeni Oriquen received a prize of $25,000 and a trophy presented by Brian Cavanaugh of GNC, and Tony Nowak jacket from Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Other major prizes awarded in the Ms. International were:
• 2nd place: Dayana Cadeau, Ft. Lauderdale, FL received $13,000 presented by NetJets and a trophy from Muscular Development.
• 3rd place: Lisa Aukland, Bel Air, MD received $8,000 presented by All American EFX and a trophy from MuscleTech.
• 4th place: Betty Pariso, Bedford, TX received $5,000, presented by EAS and a trophy from AminoVital.
• 5th place: Brenda Raganot, Kent, WA received $3,000, presented by TwinLab and a trophy from Star Trac.
• 6th place: Cathy LeFrancois, El Monte, CA received $2,000 presented by Huntington Banks and a trophy from Joska Kristall.
Posted February 29, 2008
Gina Aliotti - Figure International Winner
Gina Aliotti of San Diego, California, won the Figure International Championships. She received $16,000, a trophy and a Tony Nowak jacket presented by Brian Cavanaugh of GNC and congratulations from Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Other prizes in the Figure International were:
• 2nd place: Jennifer Gates, Martinsville, IN received $10,000 presented by EAS and a trophy from Muscular Development.
• 3rd place: Amy Fry, South Park, PA received $8,000 presented by Vitamin Shoppe and a trophy from NetJets.
• 4th place: Chastity Sloan, Troy, OH received $5,000 presented by Gaspari Nutrition and a trophy from All American EFX.
• 5th place: Sonia Adcock, Oceanside, CA received $3,000 presented by Gold’s Gym International and a trophy from Sunrider.
• 6th place: Paola Americo, Miami, FL received $2,000 presented by Alive! and a trophy from Jan Tana.
Posted February, 2008
Kimberly Klein - Fitness International 2008
Kimberly Klein of Belmar, New Jersey, won the Fitness International competition at the Arnold Sports Festival 2008. She received $25,000 presented by Angela Mraz of MHP, a trophy presented by Brian Cavanaugh from GNC and a Tony Nowak jacket from Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Other prizes in the Fitness International were:
• 2nd place: Jennifer Hendershott, Worthington, OH received $13,000 presented by NetJets and a trophy from Muscular Development.
• 3rd place: Julie Palmer, Columbus, OH received $8,000 presented by AminoVital and a trophy from Alive!
• 4th place: Julie Lohre, Villa Hills, KY received $5,000 presented by Vitamin Shoppe and a trophy from EAS.
• 5th place: Tracey Greenwood, Wilmington, DE received $3,000 presented by Gaspari Nutrition and a trophy from MuscleTech.
• 6th place: Regiane DaSilva, Munich, Germany received $2,000 presented by Jan Tana and a trophy from Raisin Rack.
