Dexter Jackson made history at the 2015 Arnold Classic when the Jacksonville, Fla., resident won the professional bodybuilding championships that bears the name of the legendary Arnold Schwarzenegger for a record fifth time, breaking a tie with the great great Kenneth “Flex” Wheeler.
Jackson, who outlasted two-time Arnold Classic champ Branch Warren to earn $130,000 and a Tony Nowak Official Champions Jacket, also won the Arnold Classic in 2005, 2006 and 2008 before tying Wheeler with four Arnold Classic titles in 2013. Jackson added a win in the inaugural Arnold Classic Australia a week after winning in Columbus.
Warren finished second and earned $75,000, followed by third-place Justin Compton ($50,000), fourth-place Cedric McMillan ($30,000), fifth-place Evan Centopani ($15,000) and sixth-place Roelly Winklaar ($10,000).
Dennis Wolf, a German native now living in Las Vegas, Nev. who won the Arnold Classic in 2014, did not compete in Columbus in 2015.
Lifetime Achievement Award
Every year, Arnold Sports Festival promoters Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and James J. Lorimer present a Lifetime Achievement Award to an individual who has made notable contributions to the fitness industry and offered a lifetime of service to the enhancement of sports performance and promotion.
The 2015 Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Jim Manion, president of the National Physique Committee and chairman of the IFBB Pro League.
Arnold Classic Winners
1989: Rich Gaspari
1990: Mike Ashley
1991: Shawn Ray
1992: Vince Taylor
1993: Flex Wheeler
1994: Kevin Levrone
1995: Michael Francois
1996: Kevin Levrone
1997: Flex Wheeler
1998: Flex Wheeler
1999: Nasser El Sonbaty
2000: Flex Wheeler
2001: Ronnie Coleman
2002: Jay Cutler
2003: Jay Cutler
2004: Jay Cutler
2005: Dexter Jackson
2006: Dexter Jackson
2007: Victor Martinez
2008: Dexter Jackson
2009: Kai Greene
2010: Kai Greene
2011: Branch Warren
2012: Branch Warren
2013: Dexter Jackson
2014: Dennis Wolf
2015: Dexter Jackson