Something big is happening behind the gym doors — and fans have been watching every rep.
Joseph Baena, 28, son of Arnold Schwarzenegger, has officially stepped into the spotlight as a bodybuilding champion, winning his first-ever competition at the NPC Natural Colorado State.
Training alongside his dad
Being a celebrity’s kid isn’t always easy — and being Arnold Schwarzenegger’s son comes with some pretty high expectations when it comes to physique. Following in his father’s iconic footsteps, Jospeh Baena has now achieved a remarkable feat that has left fans and peers in awe.
During the NPC Natural Colorado State, Baena didn’t just place — he dominated.
He took home first place in multiple categories, including Men’s Open Body Heavyweight, Men’s Classic Physique True Novice, and Men’s Class Physique Novice. Sharing the news on Instagram, he celebrated:
“Mission Accomplished! 🥇
The victory comes just days after Joseph spent time training alongside his dad, the legendary Terminator himself, at Gold’s Gym in Venice Beach, California.
Arnold, who won Mr. Olympia seven times and Mr. Universe five times, offered hands-on guidance, helping fine-tune Joseph’s poses and technique.
The post quickly drew reactions, with one fan writing, “Like father, like son — both in incredible shape. 🔥🔥” Another chimed in, “Twins indeed ❤️🙌🔥.”
Comparisons to his dad are inevitable — and honestly, impossible to ignore. But the truth is, Joseph had a tough upbringing and didn’t always look like the picture of fitness.
“People sometimes forget that I used to be chubby in high school,” Joseph wrote in a previous Instagram post.
“I got cut from my basketball and soccer team because I couldn’t keep up with the other kids… Swim didn’t have tryouts thankfully and completely changed my life forever. That was my introduction to fitness and training.”
Baena has openly shared that his weight as a teenager made him a target of bullying — even from friends — which motivated him to push harder and transform his body:
“I was bullied when I was a kid… It was really a big struggle for me in finding myself and figuring out and creating that ambition to change my weight and my physique.”
Joseph Baena is the son of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Mildred Patricia “Patty” Baena, who once worked as the Terminator star’s household manager. His parentage was kept a secret for years, with both Baena and Schwarzenegger claiming they didn’t realize he was Arnold’s son until much later.
Once determined to avoid living in his father’s shadow — even keeping his mother’s last name — Joseph now seems ready to step into the very world his father once ruled.
The day after his victory at the NPC Natural Colorado State, photographers got another glimpse of Baena and his incredible physique as he was spotted strolling the streets of Los Angeles. Impressive, to say the least.
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