A 13-year-old boy carries the hopes of the Illawarra as the annual Arnold Classic Australia kicks off this weekend. Zayn Timev will be competing in the multi-sport festival, which will host international competitors and the man with his name in the title, Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Timev is the first of his age to represent the region in three-minute, full-contact, knock-out rounds.
The tournament held in Melbourne will showcase fitness and sporting competitions, with everything from boxing and arm wrestling to pole fitness and Brazilian Jui Jitsu.
Heavily focused on an active lifestyle, the Arnold Classic has expanded its target audience to children under 14. By adopting a ‘come and try’ approach, organisers hope to encourage children to join their local sporting facilities.
The three-day tournament will double in size this year, with over 4,000 competitors across their respective fields and divisions, and crowd numbers expected to be in the thousands.
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Feature image and video by Viktor Timev