The 2026 Arnold Classic is taking place from March 5-8, in Columbus, Ohio. On Friday, March 6, starting at 12:30 PM EST, Fitness contenders battled during prejudging on the Expo Stage at the Greater Columbus Convention Center. At the end, it appeared Michelle Fredua-Mensah, Stephanie Jones, Allison Kramer, and Tamara Vahn were fighting for gold.
Jaclyn Baker won this contest last year, but she opted not to compete this time around. Therefore, when the smoke settles, a new champion will emerge. Heading into the event, one name stood out when the roster went public: Michelle Fredua-Mensah. She took second at last year’s Arnold and rallied to win her first Olympia title in 2025. Her biggest on-paper threat today was Amber Steffen, a consistent star who claimed fourth-place finishes in last year’s Arnold and Olympia.
As prejudging heated up, Michelle Fredua‘s shape and muscularity made her a shoo-in for center stage. Stephanie Jones also drew attention with her presence and muscle fullness. Allison Kramer and Tamara Vahn put forth impressive looks. The judges did not give these athletes a break, dissecting their flaws pose-by-pose. It’s anyone’s title heading into this evening.
Fitness Volt has you covered with live coverage from the 2026 Arnold Classic. The Fitness International division prejudging has wrapped up—check out the full report on all the action.
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2026 Arnold Classic Fitness International Callouts:
First Callout
Michelle Fredua-Mensah
Stephanie Jones
Allison Kramer
Jeanine Renee Taddeo
Tamara Vahn
Jessica Ann Zehr
2026 Arnold Classic Fitness International Prejudging Report First Callout
Second Callout
Abby Bolton
Danielle Chikeles
Anna Fomina
Michelle Gales
Michaela Paveleova
Amber Steffen
Aurika Tyrgale
Jessica Ann Zehr
2026 Arnold Classic Fitness International Prejudging Report First Callout 1 1
Final Callout
Michelle Fredua-Mensah
Stephanie Jones
Allison Kramer
Tamara Vahn
2026 Arnold Classic Fitness International Prejudging Report First Callout 1 2
2026 Arnold Classic Fitness International Highlights:
2026 Arnold Classic Schedule
Friday, March 6
Prejudging: (12:30 pm – 1:30 pm EST)
Arnold Classic Physique
Fitness International
Wellness International
Finals: (7:00 pm – 9:30 pm EST)
Arnold Classic Physique Results
Fitness International Results
Wellness International Results
Saturday, Mar 7, 2026
Prejudging: (10:00 am – 12:00 pm EST)
Arnold Men’s Physique (Starts at 11 AM)
Bikini International (Starts at 11 AM)
Pro Wheelchair – Prejudging & Finals (10 AM)
Finals: (7:00 pm – 10:00 pm EST)
Arnold Classic
Arnold Men’s Physique
Bikini International
Follow the 2026 Arnold Classic live – prejudging breakdowns, event recaps, expert analysis, and complete results as they happen. Get full coverage at our Arnold Classic hub: FitnessVolt.com/arnold-classic
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