It’s known as the ‘Super Bowl of Bodybuilding’ – a weekend where weightlifters gather in Columbus, Ohio to flex and put on display their hard work in achieving the ‘perfect physique.’
The Arnold Sports Festival made its return for a 37th year to show off the best in bulking that attracted athletes from 80 countries around the world.
The brainchild of movie star and bodybuilding icon Arnold Schwarzenegger, the festival is where men and women with massive muscles show themselves off for top honors. It’s also where weightlifters compete by throwing pounds around for fans.
But to outsiders, the images are hard to believe – with many believing that they must be enhanced by artificial intelligence.
Take Nick Walker for example. Video of the bodybuilder who won the award as the ‘most muscular’ male competitor went viral as his bulging lats and ultra-chiseled thighs led many to believe it had to be a fake image.
‘Please tell me this is fake… it’s gotta be. No one wants to look that bad. Do they?’ one user on X posted.
The annual Arnold Classic bodybuilding competition returned to Columbus, Ohio this week
The event, the brainchild of actor and bodybuilder Arnold Schwarzenegger, hit its 37th year
Men and women alike competed and showed off their physiques for the crowd of onlookers
‘Is this AI or is this The Thing?’ another wondered of Walker.
‘I respect the dedication and size of these dudes, but we are far past grotesque in looks,’ one comment read.
A different reply said, ‘Hate to see these competitors doing this to themselves. So unhealthy.’
Many others made baseless accusations of Walker being on steroids in order to achieve his look.
But bodybuilding wasn’t the only thing being exhibited. There were also demonstrations of weightlifting at the event.
At one point, Schwarzenegger himself was seen on a lat pulldown machine to train his shoulder muscles.
‘Old, not obsolete,’ the former Governor of California posted to his X account while a crowd of onlookers gathered around him.
But Schwarzenegger wasn’t the only one lifting weights that drew attention.
Schwarzenegger himself even got to lifting on a pulldown machine in front of his fans
Another video from the event went viral when a nine-year-old girl, Lucy Milgrim, displayed her strength by deadlifting 180 lbs.
While certainly an impressive feat, many in the comments below the video expressed concern for her future growth and development.
‘Impressive but way too young to be weightlifting,’ one comment read.
Another said, ‘I don’t like it. Putting that kind of resistance on a small child’s body isn’t natural in a child’s musculoskeletal development. There’s a reason we give foals a few years to grow before we start trying to ride them.’
One comment read, ‘Really, we should let kids be kids.’
However there were still plenty of people praising the child’s strength.
‘Omg love it,’ posted world boxing champion Alycia Baumgardner.
Another comment read, ‘Discipline at this age is incredible. The future generation is stronger than we think.’
