Joseph Baena is officially stepping into his father’s legendary territory.
The 28-year-old son of Arnold Schwarzenegger made a major impression at his first-ever bodybuilding competition, taking home multiple top finishes at the NPC Natural Colorado State event.
“Mission accomplished,” Baena captioned a Saturday, March 28 Instagram post celebrating the big moment.
Baena secured first place in the Men’s Open Bodybuilding Heavy Weight Class, Men’s Classic Physique True Novice, and Men’s Classic Physique Novice, while also earning second place in the Men’s Classic Physique Open Class C.
Fans quickly flooded the comments with their congratulatory messages.
“So awesome!!! Congratulations,” Mr. Olympia winner Phil Heath wrote.
Another fan wrote, “Huge congrats, brother! Stay strong in body, mind, and spirit! God bless! 💪🏼🙏🏼”
A third shared, “Fantastic start big Joe congratulations.”
While comparisons to his father are inevitable, Baena’s journey hasn’t been without its challenges. Despite now showcasing an elite-level physique, he previously revealed that fitness didn’t always come naturally. “People sometimes forget that I used to be chubby in high school. I got cut from my basketball and soccer team because I couldn’t keep up with the other kids,” he shared in a past post. “Swim didn’t have tryouts thankfully and completely changed my life forever.”
Now, he’s training alongside one of the most iconic figures in bodybuilding history. Schwarzenegger, a seven-time Mr. Olympia winner, has been spotted working out with his son in recent weeks, with Baena even sharing a classic piece of advice from his dad: “You have to shock the muscles!”
Schwarzenegger shares Baena with Mildred Patricia “Patty” Baena, while also having four children with ex-wife Maria Shriver.
This story was originally published by Parade on Mar 29, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
