Arnold Schwarzenegger’s look-alike son, Joseph Baena, is continuing his bodybuilding competition dominance.
The 28-year-old fitness guru came in first place at the International Natural Bodybuilding Association’s (INBA) Iron Gladiator competition in Corona, California, over the weekend.
“Your new INBA Iron Gladiator Classic Physique Champion!” Baena captioned his Instagram post after winning the competition.
In the photos, Baena could be seen posing on stage as he held up a sword and helmet, with his shiny new medal draped around his neck.
Before the Iron Gladiator competition, Baena explained in an interview why he decided to enter the INBA.
“[It’s] my second competition ever. Excited to be here. We’re ready for the debut and excited to get things going,” he exclaimed.
“They [the INBA] just seem like the most reputable natural federation, and so I wanted to be a part of something like that. I wanted to test them out.”
In another interview, Baena explained that he was an avid swimmer before he got into weightlifting during his junior year of college.
“I started lifting weights and fell in love with bodybuilding, seeing the improvement, the muscle gain, the strength gain and I fell in love with the sport, even watching,” he shared.
“This year was the year that I said, ‘Enough being afraid. Enough overthinking. It’s time to commit.’”
Baena also recently won first place in multiple categories at the NPC Natural Colorado State competition on March 28.
He dominated in the Men’s Open Bodybuilding Heavy Weight Class, Men’s Classic Physique True Novice and Men’s Classic Physique Novice categories.
Beforehand, Baena shared photos of his 78-year-old father helping him work out at Gold’s Gym in Venice Beach, California.
Schwarzenegger, one of the most famous bodybuilders in history, won seven Mr. Olympia titles and five Mr. Universe titles.
The “Terminator” actor secretly welcomed Baena with his housekeeper, Mildred Baena, during his 25-year marriage to Maria Shriver.
The journalist filed for divorce from Schwarzenegger after learning of his affair. The exes share four children: sons Patrick, 32, and Christopher, 28, and daughters Katherine, 36, and Christina, 34.
In 2023, Schwarzenegger told People that his infidelity is his “f–k-up.”
“We always made it very clear that the kids should not suffer because of [my affair],” he added.
Despite Baena spending most of his childhood being raised by his mom, he has developed a closer relationship with his dad over time, even following in his footsteps as a bodybuilder.
“He’s an amazing father. He’s a great person to look up to and he’s the smartest man I know,” Baena told “Entertainment Tonight” in 2023. “It’s been a great journey and he’s always been so supportive of whatever I do. So, I’m just really grateful to have a dad like him.”
Baena also paid tribute to his father while competing on “Dancing With the Stars.” Back in October 2022, he performed a “Hercules”-themed Charleston in the ballroom, stepping into the character his father famously portrayed decades ago in the 1970 film “Hercules in New York.”
The fact that he played that movie, it was just so fun to get that connection. We talked about it, we laughed about it,” Baena exclusively told Page Six. “It was one of his first movies and probably not one of his favorites. But this was one of my favorite dances, so I was really excited about it.”
