Flex UK - June 2017

THE 2016 ARNOLD

CLASSIC IN

COLUMBUS WAS THE

MOST SUCCESSFUL

EVER FOR BRITISH

COMPETITORS.

LAST SET

132 FLEX| JUNE 2017

Luke Sandoe
BODYBUILDING 8TH
Luke received the best early
Christmas present possible for a
bodybuilder—an invitation to the
Arnold Classic in America. It was a
huge honour, and one he could not
turn down, but coming so soon
after his emotional victory at
October’s British Championships,
it was always going to be diicult.
He had no ofseason to add size,
hardly any break from dieting, and
was up against a whole new
standard of opponent in the
second biggest pro show in the
world. He also had to contend
with a day of travelling while
depleted. In the circumstances he
did a pretty good job, inishing 8th
of 10 and putting his great shape
in the global shop window. But he
wasn’t lean in the rear poses and
afterwards gave a typically
honest assessment. “My condition
wasn’t even close to what I
wanted,” he says. “Honestly, I
don’t know what happened. It
could have been travel, it could
have been nerves, but I was
pretty much ‘on the money’ a
few days before leaving. Live
and learn!”

Q British success stories in

America are about as rare as

sightings of Dexter Jackson

looking fat. But this year’s

Arnold Classic in Columbus,

Ohio, proved to be an

exception. The musclefest

yielded two British

champions—one in the pros

and one in the amateurs—and

some other impressive

performances. Here’s how

our six-strong team fared.

DOUBLE

GOLD