Dominant Harold Kelley Wins 2023 Arnold Classic Wheelchair Division
Harold Kelley Wins Sixth Arnold Classic Title in Columbus Wheelchair Division
The 2023 Arnold Classic took place in Columbus, OH and included seven bodybuilding divisions that competed over two days. The Wheelchair division competed on March 4, 2023, in the morning.
Harold “King Kong” Kelley maintained his dominance from his 2022 Olympia win in December 2022 by winning his sixth Arnold Classic title.
The results of the Wheelchair division at the 2023 Arnold Classic are listed below.
2023 Arnold Classic Wheelchair Division Results
- Harold Kelly
- Tory Jones
- Bradley Betts
- Woody Belfort
- James Berger
- Tim Caldwell
Initially, there were high hopes that the Wheelchair lineup would be more extensive for the competition weekend. However, the defending champion Gabrielle Andriulli relinquished the title, which meant that Kelley was expected to take back the crown.
Unfortunately, two significant competitors withdrew from the 2023 Wheelchair contest before it even began. Antoni Khadroui from Algeria was unable to attend due to travel problems, which prevented him from reaching Columbus, OH. Arnold Anand was expected to participate in his second Arnold Classic appearance, but an injury prevented him from competing on the big stage.
Harold Kelley: Unrivaled in Wheelchair Bodybuilding
Kelley’s debut in the Arnold Classic contest in 2016 marked his first victory in the event. Despite only participating in one pro show that year, according to NPC News Online, he carried that momentum into the following years.
Kelley defended his Arnold Wheelchair title in both 2017 and 2018, and in 2018, he won his first Olympia championship. In 2019, Kelley remained unbeaten in the Arnold, securing his fourth title.
Despite the COVID-19 pandemic resulting in the cancellation of many pro bodybuilding shows in 2020, Kelley managed to win his fifth Arnold and third Olympia title. Skipping ahead to 2021, Kelley didn’t compete in the Arnold, opting instead to maintain his position as the reigning Olympia champion.
In 2022, Andriulli proved that it was possible to defeat “King Kong,” and Kelley lost his record at the Arnold. However, this was short-lived, as Kelley reclaimed the crown in 2023 and remains the athlete to beat in the Wheelchair division.
Courtesy Image @ Arnoldsports (Instagram)
