Arnold Schwarzenegger’s son wins first bodybuilding competition – and the photos are jaw-dropping
Something significant is unfolding behind the gym doors — and fans have been closely observing every repetition.
Joseph Baena, 28, the son of Arnold Schwarzenegger, has officially emerged as a bodybuilding champion, clinching his first-ever title at the NPC Natural Colorado State.
Training alongside his father
Being the child of a celebrity isn’t always straightforward — and being Arnold Schwarzenegger’s son brings along considerable expectations regarding physique. Following in his father’s legendary footsteps, Joseph Baena has now accomplished an impressive milestone that has left both fans and fellow competitors in admiration.
At the NPC Natural Colorado State, Baena didn’t merely participate — he excelled.
He achieved first place in several categories, such as Men’s Open Body Heavyweight, Men’s Classic Physique True Novice, and Men’s Class Physique Novice. He shared the exciting news on Instagram, celebrating:
“Mission Accomplished! 🥇
This win comes just days after Joseph trained with his dad, the iconic Terminator, at Gold’s Gym in Venice Beach, California.
Arnold, a seven-time Mr. Olympia and five-time Mr. Universe, provided hands-on advice, helping to refine Joseph’s poses and technique.
The post quickly garnered attention, with one fan commenting, “Like father, like son — both in amazing shape. 🔥🔥” Another added, “Twins indeed ❤️🙌🔥.
Comparisons to his father are unavoidable — and honestly, hard to overlook. However, the reality is that Joseph faced a challenging childhood and didn’t always embody the ideal of fitness.
“People often forget that I was once chubby in high school,” Joseph mentioned in a past Instagram post.
“I was cut from both my basketball and soccer teams because I couldn’t keep pace with the other kids… Thankfully, swimming didn’t have tryouts and completely changed my life. That was my first step into fitness and training.”
Baena has candidly revealed that his weight as a teenager made him a target for bullying — even from friends — which inspired him to work harder and transform his physique.
“As a child, I faced bullying… It was quite a challenge for me to discover who I was and to develop the drive to transform my weight and appearance.”
Joseph Baena, the son of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Mildred Patricia “Patty” Baena, who previously served as the household manager for the Terminator star, had his parentage kept under wraps for many years. Both Baena and Schwarzenegger have stated that they were unaware of their relationship until much later.
Determined to forge his own path and even opting to keep his mother’s surname, Joseph now appears ready to embrace the very industry his father once dominated.
The day following his triumph at the NPC Natural Colorado State, photographers captured another moment of Baena showcasing his remarkable physique as he was seen walking through the streets of Los Angeles. Truly impressive, to say the least.
