posted a photo<\/a> from the event on his account, in which he is seen on stage raising a sword to the sky.<\/p>\nBesides this weekend\u2019s win, Baena triumphed at the NPC Natural Colorado State competition, winning first in the Men\u2019s Open Bodybuilding Heavy Weight Class, Men\u2019s Classic Physique True Novice, and Men\u2019s Classic Physique Novice.<\/p>\n
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As one might expect, Schwarzenegger, who also dabbled in politics and acting during his career, inspired him to start bodybuilding.<\/p>\n
The two met when Baena \u2014 the child of an affair between Schwarzenegger and housekeeper Mildred \u201cPatty\u201d Baena \u2014\u00a0was 13 years old in 2011. He grew up with his mother in Bakersfield, Calif.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\nArnold Schwarzenegger and Joseph Baena pose for a picture. FilmMagic<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Eventually, Schwarzenegger gave Baena a copy of a book he co-authored \u2014 \u201cThe Encyclopedia of Modern Bodybuilding\u201d \u2014 piquing his interest in joining the sport.<\/p>\n
Baena participated in swimming at Pepperdine College initially but took up bodybuilding as a junior and hasn\u2019t looked back since. He also revealed that he was \u201cchubby\u201d in high school and was cut from his basketball and soccer teams due to his physique.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\nJoseph Baena reached professional status in bodybuilding with his win in the INBA Iron Gladiator Classic.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
However, this year has been his breakout in bodybuilding, aided by workouts with his father<\/a>.<\/p>\nAdvertisement<\/p>\n
\u201cI 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,\u201d he said. \u201cThis year was the year that I said, \u2018Enough being afraid. Enough overthinking. It\u2019s time to commit.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
Still, Baena knows the journey to the top won\u2019t be handed to him because of his father\u2019s name.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\nJosepha Baena is following in his father\u2019s footsteps joebaena\/Instagram<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\u201cMy dad is old-school; he doesn\u2019t believe in handouts,\u201d Baena said. \u201cHe believes hard work pays off, and so do I.<\/p>\n
\u201cI love the word honor, and I\u2019m very prideful in the sense that if I use my dad\u2019s contacts or ask him for favors, I wonder what honor is that gonna bring me?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n