Joseph Baena, the 28-year-old son of Arnold Schwarzenegger, won multiple titles at the NPC Natural Colorado State competition in Denver on Saturday. 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, as well as a second-place finish in the Men’s Classic Physique Open Class C. The event, which is a national qualifier, is part of the NPC natural athlete pathway to the Olympia.
Baena shared his excitement on social media, posting a carousel of behind-the-scenes images before the competition and thanking his supporters afterward. He also hinted at future competitions, writing, 'Time to do it again on Saturday!' after his wins. The competition required all participants to undergo drug testing and a 30-minute polygraph test to ensure they were 100-percent natural.
Baena, who is a real estate agent and Pepperdine University graduate, revealed he gained 18 pounds of muscle in eight weeks to prepare for the competition. His father, Arnold Schwarzenegger, a seven-time Mr. Olympia champion, was not present at the event but was in Birmingham, England, hosting the 2026 Arnold Classic UK, where he awarded the $1 million prize to Nigerian champion Chinedu Obiekea Andrew 'Jacked.'