By: Michael Bennett, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Ridgetown Independent News
Sam Knowler added two more medals to his growing collection.
The Ridgetown arm wrestler won the gold medal in the left arm competition and a silver in the right arm in the 154-pound weight class in the Arnold Classic in Columbus, Ohio, earlier this month.
The Arnold Classic is a major international strength sports event, as Knowler faced elite athletes from across the United States and overseas in the March 6-8 tournament.
And the 18-year-old proved he could not only compete but also succeed against older, more experienced international competitors.
Knowler went a perfect 7-0 in matches in the left arm division, capped off with a victory over elite American competitor Michael Hitt for the gold medal. Yuya Takamatsu, of Japan, finished third.
Knowler was 6-0 in the right-arm division but had to settle for a silver medal after losing to Matthias’ Hellboy Schlitte, a legendary German arm wrestler who is a multi-European and world champion. Hitt finished third.
Knowler expressed his gratitude to Team London Armwrestling and Pinheads Armwrestling Club, both of which helped him train for the competition.
He qualified for the Arnold Classic with his performance at the Ottawa Open in November, where he competed in the Men’s Open 165-pound division, despite being a youth competitor, winning the left arm division and placing fourth in the right arm.
Knowler will be back on the competition trail this weekend as he heads to Tweed for the Arm Melter 35 Tweed tournament.
He heads to Tweed in first place for the Arm Melter Armswrestler of the Year in both left and right arm divisions in his 154-pound weight class.
Knowler won both divisions at the Arm Melter 34 tournament in Tweed in January.
He also moved up to compete in the 180-pound class in the Open Division, where he placed second in left arm and third in right.
Knowler is the two-time reigning Canadian champion and defending Ontario champion heading into this season’s national and provincial competitions.
The Ontario Provincial championships will be in Hamilton on the May 16-17 weekend, and the Canadian National championships are in Moncton, N.S. June 26-29.
Knowler has already qualified for this year’s IFA Worlds in Japan, Sept. 21-27.
