The Arnold Amateur IFBB International Bodybuilding, Fitness, Figure and Bikini Championships is quickly earning a reputation as the quickest route from little-known amateur to rising star.
Two of the hottest names in men's professional bodybuilding were discovered at the Arnold Amateur. Roelly Winklaar, 2009 Arnold Amateur winner, made his professional debut at the 2010 Arnold Classic in stellar fashion, finishing a surprising seventh. He followed that up with a Mr. Olympia-qualifying third-place finish in Australia before winning his first IFBB championship at the New York Pro in May 2010.
Essa Obaid, the 2010 Arnold Amateur champ, took even less time to make his presence known on the professional circuit. Four months after winning in Columbus, Obaid shocked the men's bodybuilding world when he won the IFBB Europa Super Show in Dallas in his pro debut in August 2010.
Winklaar and Obaid both competed in the 2012 Arnold Classic.
Other Arnold Amatuer men's bodybuilding champions who have turned professional include Tarek Elsetouhi, the 2008 winner who competed besides the world's elite at the 2010 Arnold Classic. Women's bodybuilding champs who have gone from the Arnold stage to the pro ranks include Maria Rita Bello, Elana Shportu andMari Garmen Gomez.
2011 Arnold Amateur overall winner Matthias Botthof made his IFBB Pro League debut at the 2012 Arnold Classic.
The sixth-annual Arnold Amateur IFBB International Bodybuilding, Fitness, Figure and Bikini Championshipsand NPC Men's Physique will once again include amateurs from USA's NPC and IFBB and competitors from throughout Europe, Asia, and Canada.
New in 2013 is the NPC Women's Physique.
THERE ARE NO QUALIFICATIONS NEEDED TO COMPETE IN NPC MEN'S & WOMEN'S PHYSIQUE AND BIKINI.
U.S. competitors must finish in the top five at an NPC national qualifying-sanctioned event to be eligible for the Arnold Amateur. Get entry form at www.arnoldamateur.com.
Overall winners at the Arnold Amateur contest in men's bodybuilding, women's bodybuilding, fitness, figure and bikini divisions may petition their national federations for pro status in the IFBB Professional League.
Arnold Amateur winners who earn Pro cards will be invited to compete in a future Arnold Classic, Ms. International, Figure International, Fitness International or Bikini International.
This is a tremendous and unique opportunity to secure a spot in one of the most prestigious professional bodybuilding shows in the world.
Arnold Amateur winners also receive two tickets to the Arnold Classic bodybuilding finals on Saturday, March 2 and will be recognized on stage and be photographed with Arnold. The Arnold Amateur receives a tremendous amount of national and international coverage from leading publications, offering winners an unprecedented amount of media exposure.
