Canadians Competing in 2021 Arnold Classic USA
The Arnold Classic is held in Columbus, Ohio every year, but it is definitely an international competition. This year's show will feature 41 total athletes competing from ten countries. Outside of the United States, Canada has the most athletes competing this weekend with five competitors in three of the four contests. Here is a snapshot of each Canadian athlete that will be a part of the action this weekend.
Arnold Classic (Men's Bodybuilding):
Iain Valliere - Valliere has a good chance of winning the biggest contest of the weekend. He has won his last two pro shows, and is also preparing for the 2021 Mr. Olympia contest. At 30 years old, he has a long and bright future in bodybuilding. You can't blame him for not being patient, though. He is a relentless competitor that will pose and compete as hard as anyone in the IFBB Pro League.
Fitness International:
Missy Truscott (from Canada now living in USA) - The reigning Ms. Fitness Olympia may be living in the USA now, but she is still Canada's only defending champion this weekend, and she is the favorite to win again this year. She will have to defeat two past champions - Whitney Jones and Oksana Grishina. That said, she appears to be in the best shape of her life, and she has extra motivation. She wants to win in recognition of her coach, the late John Meadows.
Bikini International:
Lauralie Chapados - Chapados is the 2021 Chicago Pro winner. She may have presented her best physique ever at that contest. She also placed fifth at the Olympia last year, one place higher than Pecini. She was sixth in this contestback in 2019, but she has improved significantly in that time.
Jennifer Dorie - Dorie is the 2020 Bikini Olympia runner-up, and she won this year's Nashville Fit Show contest. She has never won the Bikini International, but she is in a great position to this time around. However, she faces defending champion Elisa Pecini as well as another champion from Canada.
Jourdanne Lee (from Canada now living in USA) - Like Truscott, Lee is from Canada but now lives in the USA. She's a dark horse in this contest. She won the 2020 Iron Games and the Sacramento Pro contest in 2018. She has been an IFBB Pro since 2015, but this will be her first time competing on the Arnold stage.