Kang Kyung Won of Korea made history when he won the Overall Men’s Bodybuilding title at the 2014 Arnold Amateur IFBB/NPC International Bodybuilding, Fitness, Figure, Bikini & Physique Championships.
Won, 40, became the first bodybuilder from Far East Asia to take the Arnold Amateur overall title in the event’s eight-year history.
Won, who won the Light Heavyweight class, was making his Arnold Amateur debut. He has been competing for nearly 25 years and is currently working on his doctorate in Sports Medicine at the University of Incheon.
Overall winners in the other categories:
Fitness: Aurika Tyrgale (Russia)
Figure: Andressa Ribeiro (Brasil)
Bikini: Kenea Yancey (USA)
Women’s Physique: Bruna Miyagui (Brasil)
Men Classic Bodybuilding: Sergii Gorenkov (Ukraine)
Men’s Physique: Felipe Murakami (Brasil)
Masters Figure: Jessica MacMillan (Canada)
Masters Bodybuilding: Eduardo Zoega (Brazil)
COMPLETE 2014 ARNOLD AMATEUR RESULTS
The Arnold Amateur IFBB International Bodybuilding, Fitness, Figure, Bikini & Physique Championships has earned the 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.
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 and Mari Garmen Gomez. 2012 Arnold Amateur Bikini overall champion Ashley Kaltwasser earned her pro card in 2012 and competed in the Bikini International in 2013 before winning the Bikini Olympia in September.
2011 Arnold Amateur overall winner Matthias Botthof made his IFBB Pro League debut at the 2012 Arnold Classic.
The eighth-annual Arnold Amateur IFBB International Bodybuilding, Fitness, Figure, Bikini & Physique Championships featured amateurs from USA’s NPC and IFBB and competitors from throughout Europe, Asia, and Canada.
THERE ARE NO QUALIFICATIONS NEEDED FOR U.S. ATHLETES TO COMPETE IN MEN’S MASTERS BODYBUILDING, 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.
Overall winners at the Arnold Amateur contest in men’s bodybuilding, fitness, figure, bikini and physique 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, Arnold Classic 212, Figure International, Fitness International or Bikini International.
Arnold Amateur OVERALL WINNERS receive two tickets to the Arnold Classic bodybuilding finals and are recognized on stage and photographed with Arnold Schwarzenegger. The Arnold Amateur receives a tremendous amount of national and international coverage from leading publications, offering winners an unprecedented amount of media exposure.
Need To Know
The 2015 Arnold Amateur Bodybuilding, Fitness, Figure, Bikini & Physique Championships will be held March 5-8, 2015 at the Arnold Sports Festival.
More Information, Registration Information and Entry Forms at http://www.arnoldamateur.com.
Registration deadline is January 31, 2015.
More @ http://arnoldsportsfestival.com/amateur-bodybuilding/