Arnold Schwarzenegger’s lookalike son, Joseph Baena, continues to dominate bodybuilding competitions.
The 28-year-old fitness guru won the International Natural Bodybuilding Association (INBA) Iron Gladiator Competition in Corona, California over the weekend.
“Your new INBA Iron Gladiator Classic Physique Champion!” Baena captioned an Instagram post after winning the contest.
In the photo, Baena could be seen posing on stage, holding up a sword and helmet and wearing a shiny new medal around her neck.
Before the Iron Gladiator tournament, Baena spoke in an interview about why he decided to join the INBA.
“(This is) my second contest. I’m excited to be here. I’m ready for my debut and excited to get things going,” he exclaimed.
“They (INBA) seem like the most reputable natural federation, so I wanted to be a part of something like that. I wanted to try them out.”
In a separate interview, Baena explained that he was an avid swimmer before he started lifting weights during his junior year of college.
“I started weightlifting and fell in love with bodybuilding, and seeing the improvements, the muscle gains, the strength gains, and even watching them, I fell in love with the sport,” he said.
“This was the year I said, ‘I’ve had enough of being afraid. I’ve had enough of overthinking. It’s time to commit.'”
Baena also recently won first place in multiple categories at the NPC Natural Colorado state competition held on March 28th.
He won in the Men’s Open Bodybuilding Heavyweight class, Men’s Classic Physique True Novice, and Men’s Classic Physique Novice categories.
Baena previously shared a photo of her 78-year-old father helping her train at Gold’s Gym in Venice Beach, California.
One of the most famous bodybuilders in history, Schwarzenegger won the Mr. Olympia title seven times and the Mr. Universe title five times.
The “Terminator” actor secretly welcomed Baena with his housekeeper Mildred Baena during his 25-year marriage to Maria Shriver.
After the journalist found out about Schwarzenegger’s affair, she filed for divorce from him. The former couple have four children, sons Patrick (32) and Christopher (28), daughters Katherine (36) and daughter Christina (34).
In 2023, Schwarzenegger told People that his affair was a “failure.”
“We were always clear that our children should not suffer because of[my affair],” he added.
Despite being raised by his mother for most of his childhood, Baena developed a closer relationship with his father over time and even followed in his footsteps as a bodybuilder.
“He’s a great father. He’s a great guy to look up to and the smartest person I know,” Baena told “Entertainment Tonight” in 2023. “It’s been a great journey and he’s always been very supportive of everything I do, so I’m really grateful to have a father like him.”
Baena also paid tribute to her father while competing on “Dancing with the Stars.” Back in October 2022, he performed a “Hercules”-themed Charleston in a ballroom, taking on the character his father famously portrayed decades ago in the 1970 film “Hercules in New York.”
The fact that he acted in that movie was so fun to get that connection. “We talked about it and laughed about it,” Baena exclusively told Page Six. But I was really excited because this was one of my favorite dances. ”
