Joseph Baena, the son of Arnold Schwarzenegger, placed fifth in the Classic Physique Open division at the 2026 INBA/PNBA Pro/Am World Cup in El Segundo, California — his first competition since turning pro earlier this year.

It was Baena's first show as a professional after he earned his pro card in April by winning the INBA Iron Gladiator Classic Physique title. Baena said in an Instagram video after the show that his goal going in was simple: crack the top five. He did exactly that.

From Hollywood Stunt Work to the Stage

Baena, who has worked as a stuntman and bit-part actor, has leaned increasingly into bodybuilding over the past two years, posting training videos that regularly draw comparisons to his father's own bodybuilding career in the 1960s and '70s. Arnold Schwarzenegger won Mr. Olympia seven times before becoming an action star and, later, Governor of California.

"THE GOAL WAS ACTUALLY TO PLACE TOP FIVE, SO I ACHIEVED THE GOAL THAT I SOUGHT OUT FOR."

Coverage of the debut, including from TMZ and Generation Iron, noted Baena's physique and stage presence drew praise from natural-bodybuilding judges, even against more experienced pro competitors. Natural bodybuilding federations like INBA/PNBA test competitors for banned substances, distinguishing the circuit from larger mainstream bodybuilding organizations.

Fans and fellow competitors flooded Baena's social media with congratulations, with many noting the physical resemblance to a young Schwarzenegger. Baena has said he plans to keep competing and improving his conditioning ahead of future pro shows, though he has not announced his next event.

For now, the fifth-place finish stands as a new chapter in a famous family's athletic lineage — one built on the same stages his father once dominated, decades apart.