Branch Warren Wins Arnold Classic for Second Year in a Row at Arnold Sports Festival 2012

COLUMBUS, OH – Branch Warren of the United States won the Arnold Classic bodybuilding competition at the Arnold Sports Festival 2012.  A check for $130,000 was presented by Gerard Dente of MHP, a trophy presented by Tim Bentley of GNC, and a Tony Nowak Original jacket and congratulations from Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Branch Warren won the Most Entertaining Posing Award and a $10,000 check presented by Dr. Steven Hertzler, Todd Jewell and Rick Ricart, and a medallion presented by Twinlab, EAS and Ricart.com. Branch Warren of the United States also was awarded the Most Muscular Man Trophy presented by Dave Reisman of Gold’s Gym. 

Dennis Wolf of Germany finished second. He received $75,000 presented by Rich Gaspari of Gaspari Nutrition and an Arnold Classic medallion presented by Jay Jacobson of Optimum Nutrition.

Evan Centopani of the United States placed third and was awarded $50,000 presented by Eric Schwartz of Animal Universal Nutrition and a medallion by Dean Donlon of Bodybuilding.com.

Other major prizes awarded in the Arnold Classic were:

  • 4th place: Ben Pakulski of Canada received $30,000 presented by Nick Dodson of Michelob ULTRA and a medallion presented by Brian Yersky of MET-Rx.
  • 5th place:  Dexter Jackson of the United States received $15,000 presented by Dave Reisman of Gold’s Gym and a medallion presented by Mustafa Hashimi of Vitamin Shoppe.
  • 6th place: Lionel Beyeke of France received $10,000, presented by Chris Mackenzie of bpi Sports and a medallion by Amanda Latona of BSN.

A total of 14 bodybuilders competed in the March 3 competition

The Arnold Schwarzenegger Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Robert Kennedy by Schwarzenegger. Accepting the award on behalf of Mr. Kennedy was his wife, Tosca Reno. In 1974 Kennedy started his first magazine, MuscleMag International. The magazine is still in publication 35 years later. In addition to MuscleMag International, Kennedy has also written 53 books, including several New York Times bestsellers. Robert Kennedy Publishing has published over 53 books with titles emphasizing fitness, health, lifestyle and nutrition. Kennedy is married to fitness writer Tosca Reno, the author of the best-selling book series The Eat-Clean Diet. Kennedy and Reno, along with their five children, live in the Caledon Hills of Ontario just north of Toronto.