Wesley Vissers nightmare leading up to the 2025 Arnold Classic.
Arnold Classic champion, Wesley Vissers‘ 2025 Arnold Classic campaign, did not go as planned.
From winning two consecutive Arnold Classic titles in 2024, Wesley ended up finishing in fifth place at the 2025 Arnold Classic.
Many questions were asked on that day, after the final results were announced. How can Wesley go from champion to finishing in fifth place?
In his latest podcast, with his wife Marly Nooijen, and coach Stefan Kienzl, Wesley reveals what happened to him, leading up to the 2025 Arnold Classic, and how he managed to step on stage to complete his mission.
From using a wheelchair to stepping on stage
Hours before travelling to Columbus, Ohio, Wesley was looking to be on his way to put in a major challenge to defend his Arnold Classic title.
On Thursday, just a day before stepping on the plane to travel to the Arnold Classic, Wesley said that he was feeling fine.
While Wesley was prepping all his food and packing his suitcases, he revealed that he started to not feel well as time went by.
He had one meal, and strangely, after all that prep, Wesley stated that he was not hungry.
Wesley started to feel sick, and was starting to become dehydrated. At that time, Wesley did not panic, and started to send messages to his coach, Stefan Kienzl.
While Wesley was trying not to panic, his coach, Stefan, knew something was wrong.
The sickness and panic to refuel Wesley continued up to the day of the show, with Wesley having a severe case of diarrhea and could not keep any food down.
While all this is was happening, Wesley decided to continue and travel to the event.
While on the plane, Wesley continued to feel horrible, and in fact, he could not walk, and had to use a wheelchair at the airport.
When Wesley arrived to the hotel, and started to prepare for pre-judging, thankfully, he his health started to improve, and he managed to compete, and still managed to finish in fifth place.
The next goal for Wesley
Wesley now has a goal to compete at the Detroit Pro, hoping to win the event, and finish his contest season in a high, before taking a very long break.
According to his coach, Stefan Kienzi, Wesley needs a lot of rest, before he can start to build back his physique and make the improvements to challenge for the Men’s Classic Physique Olympia title.
Wesley is one of the most active athletes in the industry, but after his success in 2024 at the Arnold Classic, his eighth place finish at the 2024 Mr. Olympia, and fifth place finish at the 2025 Arnold Classic, was a sign that he needs a rest and rebuild his body.
A long rest means no 2025 Olympia Weekend for Wesley
As it looks, unless he makes a u-turn, Wesley will not be competing again in 2025, after the Detroit Pro.
Regardless of whether Wesley qualifies for the 2025 Olympia Weekend, he will still skip the event, to continue his long off-season, and prepare for 2026.
