Brandon Curry and Ryall Graber-Vasani emerged as the inaugural winners of the first-ever Arnold Classic Brasil in Rio De Janeiro on Saturday night in front of a sellout crowd.
Curry earned his IFBB Pro card by winning the Heavyweight and Overall titles at the 2008 NPC USAs which, until tonight, was the last time Curry stood atop the winner’s podium. He was billed as a potential future star when he entered the IFBB at just 25 years old, but failed to live up to those lofty expectations early in his career.
That all changed tonight, as Curry handily defeated two decorated veterans in Toney Freeman and Johnnie Jackson en route to the first professional win of his career with conditioning that was on par – if not slightly better – than the form he displayed when placing 8th at the 2011 Olympia.
It helped that both Freeman and Jackson both missed the mark from previous outings this year. Both missed the mark here, but both were good enough to stand in a tie for second after the evening’s prejudging. Only an hour separated the prejudging and finals – not much time for any major adjustments – but Freeman sharpened up just enough in the eyes of the judges to edge past Johnson for his third runner-up finish in his last four contests.
Ed Nunn (4th) and Fred Smalls (5th) rounded out the top five.
Go here to see the Arnold Classic Brasil Men’s Bodybuilding photos!
In Fitness, Ryall Graber-Vasani won the first contest of her career in a lineup that featured three of the top six finishers from this year’s Fitness International. Vasani came in second in the physique round, one point behind eventual runner-up Regaine Da Silva, then won the routine round by six points over Da Silva to earn the come-from-behind win.
Nicole Duncan finished third while Trish Warren (4th) and Fiona Harris (5th) rounded out the top five.
Go here to see the Arnold Classic Brasil Fitness photos!
SCORESHEETS
MEN’S BODYBUILDING
FITNESS
