To Our Fitness Friends, Allies, and Supporters
The calendar flips from February to March, and that means one thing in our universe – the Arnold is here! Next weekend, Columbus, Ohio becomes the epicenter of the industry as athletes, fans, and insiders gather to celebrate community, fitness, and standards of excellence at the Arnold Sports Festival. We’ll obviously be bringing you everything you need to know before and after the big weekend, but I want to take a brief look back first.
In my last letter to you, I shared that our intentions and goals included to “elevate the athletes, support the brands that actually deliver, and provide you with the knowledge and inspiration to make your goals a reality.” Despite February being a short month, we hit the ground running by sharing the news of Fit Foods’ 30th anniversary and commitment from Westcap Mgt. Ltd. As the Insiders we are, we went straight to the man himself, Jim McMahon, to separate fact from fiction about this development. From there, we covered the moves that Perfect Shaker is making. Their growth from a small space to a global brand is only matched by their passion.
On the performance front, Muscle Insider contributor Dr. Nicole Rakowski was joined by Dr. Andrew Dold in a special report on the Hidden Cost of Chronic Pain and how load management can serve your longevity. Information like this is what helps athletes become Masters literally and figuratively. I highly encourage you to check that out while sipping your coffee or preworkout. Your future self will thank you.
The Road to Columbus and Beyond
Now that we are in a new month, we move forward with new objectives. The MI team will be your eyes and ears in Columbus to cover many of the best athletes in the world at the Arnold showcasing their greatness and to see how the business and sports are evolving from inside the Arnold Expo.
CEO Andrew Bukowsky got a head start on our coverage by training with 2023 Wellness International champion Kass Gillis as she prepares to compete for her second championship. It is worth the read and watch. We will also bring you previews and recaps of both the bodybuilding and strongman/strongwoman championship events. Remember, when I said we were serving a new sport? That starts now. You can also see the incredible photography of Simon Lau here and on our social media platforms to stay caught up on everything happening in the Greater Columbus Convention Center.
The Arnold is a culmination for many, but it is the beginning for us. We are already setting the stage for the rest of the month and working to be our best for the industry, which includes a special interview with the reigning six-time Ms. Olympia Andrea Shaw, herself. We will find out how she is juggling the offseason, preparing to promote a show, and the business of bodybuilding as well as her thoughts on the state of her division.
MI International Contributor Vance Ang also sat down with renowned actor and martial artist Joey Ansah to talk bodybuilding, fitness, and the movies. You can expect to see that exclusive later this month. The great Anna Rhymer will also share her insights and knowledge on longevity that you will thank her for now and later.
Arnold Schwarzenegger hosts his annual festival to celebrate the lifestyle we love, and this year marks 50 years of service as a promoter and fitness crusader. The entire Muscle Insider team is committed to being the advocates and champions that will carry the cause forward. We hope you will join us!
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