All the winners of Arnold Classic South America to have walked the stage and won.
We all know the name; Arnold Schwarzenegger. A legend in the bodybuilding community, his Arnold Classic event took the world by storm and athletes far and wide would come to compete and walk one of the biggest stages in bodybuilding and the chance to win this top prize. Now with more and more athletes involved with the sport, and the sport’s popularity on the rise as well, the Arnold Classic has since expanded around the world in places like Australia and the United Kingdom.
With this event held in South America, the Arnold Classic opens up a new market, albeit not as popular as some of the others, but still a great event full of real competition and great physiques. It might not compare to the show in Columbus, Ohio, but it certainly is an event that holds some clout in the bodybuilding world.
This contest is set to take place on April 29-30 in São Paulo, Brazil as competitors continue down the road to the 2022 Mr. Olympia contest. With a line-up of about 6 athletes, who knows what will happen down in Brazil when these mass monsters take the stage to compete.
Arnold Classic South America Winners
- Brandon Curry- 2013
- Steve Kuclo- 2014
- Mamdouh “Big Ramy’ Elssbiay- 2015
- Kai Greene- 2016
- Lukas Osladil- 2017
- Fabricio Moreira- 2018
- Juan Morel- 2019
Brandon Curry (2013)
Health and fitness was always a part of Brandon Curry and his routine. A football player early on, he switched his focus to bodybuilding and began competing in shows. This win at the Arnold Classic South America came a few years after his NPC runs where for a few years he switched between the light-heavyweight class and heavyweight division.
He would go on to win the Arnold Classic and Mr. Olympia, placing himself in Olympia’s history books and a top competitor on the bodybuilding circuit. Despite his thick and muscular appearance, his victory came as a surprise to some but that hasn’t stopped one bit as he continues to dominate with two second place finishes at Mr. Olympia in 2020 and 2021 and a first place finish at the 2022 Arnold Classic.
Steve Kuclo (2014)
Steve Kuclo was a hockey player doing everything he could to better his athletic ability. So, he hit the gym and naturally his passion for bodybuilding grew. He first competed in 2004 and would win a string of teen competitions and through training and competing, finally got his pro card in 2011. But his big win came at the Arnold Classic South America when he proved to himself he could compete with the best.
After this contest, he started training with pro coach George Farah and continued to strive towards a top finish at Mr. Olympia. Landing in the top ten only once in 2014, he continues to find self-improvement on his mission for success.
Mamdouh “Big Ramy’ Elssbiay (2015)
Mamdouh Elssbiay, better known as Big Ramy, earned his pro card just three years after he started training. His pro debut was at the New York Pro, which he won in 2013. Entering the Arnold Classic South America contest, Big Ramy was the next new guy, the one who bodybuilders were looking towards to see what would happen. He continued a great run with winning this event and proved he would be a real force in future years to come.
He slowly climbed the ranks of Olympia finishes until finally teaming up with bodybuilding legend, Dennis James, and putting a new emphasis on his training. He finally reached that top spot in 2020 and repeated in 2021 taking home the Olympia top prize.
Kai Greene (2016)
Kai Greene took on the pro circuit in 2004 and had a string of success leading into the earlier 2010’s. He finished second at the Mr. Olympia contest in 2012, 2013, and 2014. Despite falling just short, Greene’s 2016 was a great year and he would take the Arnold Classic South America crown, as well as Arnold Classic and Arnold Classic Australia. He has not competed since then.
Related: A Complete List Of Mr. Olympia Winners Throughout The Years
Lukas Osladil (2017)
Lukas Osladil was lifting at an early age and he seemed destined to become a bodybuilder. Competing in a number of amateur shows, he got his pro card and opportunity in 2011 and competed in Toronto for his first ever pro show. When he moved permanently in the Open division in 2014, Osladil took his career to the next level and this win at the Arnold Classic South America contest in 2017 would kick into gear success at other competitions.
Fabricio Moreira (2018)
By 2018, the Arnold Classic South America competition was put into the IFBB Elite Pro division and Fabricio Moreira was keen on taking the top prize. He had just come off a win at the IFBB Arnold Classic South America Amateur show in the same year and was ready to take on the field of ten competitors. Moreira managed to take the top prize and this would serve to be one of, if not his biggest, win to date.
Juan Morel (2019)
This boxer turned bodybuilder, Juan Morel made his amateur debut in 2007 and earned his pro card in 2011. He was constantly battling among the best in the field and finished in the top ten at Mr. Olympia in 2014. Things slowed a bit after for Morel and it wasn’t until 2019 when he strung together three huge wins at the New York Pro, Japan Pro, and the Arnold Classic South America contest.
Wrap Up
With this contest set to take place on April 29-30 in São Paulo, Brazil, fans around the world are eager to watch what will happen when these giants stalk the stage in efforts to take home the top prize. The past winners include some big names in bodybuilding and future competitors hope to put themselves right up there with them as winners of the Arnold Classic South America.
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*Images courtesy of Big Ramy, Brandon Curry, and Kai Greene Instagram
