Joseph Baena finished fifth in his professional bodybuilding debut, reaching the goal he had set before stepping onstage.
The 29-year-old son of Arnold Schwarzenegger competed in Classic Physique Open at the INBA PNBA Pro/Am World Cup in El Segundo, California, on November 7. The event took place at the El Segundo Performing Arts Center.
Baena said he prepared without a dedicated coach. It was only his third bodybuilding competition, following two amateur appearances earlier this year.
He shared footage of his posing routine and a separate November 8 Instagram video reflecting on the experience, according to PEOPLE.
Baena Chose a Western Soundtrack for His Posing Routine
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Wearing black posing trunks, Baena performed to Ennio Morricone’s “The Trio” from the 1966 Western The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. He identified the music in the caption accompanying his stage video. “I’m extremely proud of myself,” he said in his reflection on the competition.
Baena felt he had arrived in better shape than at his previous show and was comfortable standing beside the other professionals. He described the day as emotional and the experience as a useful introduction to competing at that level.
He also recognized a difference in conditioning. As Parade reported, Baena acknowledged that other competitors were better conditioned and said the comparison helped him understand what he needed to improve.
Two Spring Competitions Earned Him Titles and a Pro Card
Baena first competed on March 28 at the NPC Natural Colorado State Championships in Denver. The official results record three division wins: Men’s Bodybuilding Open Heavyweight, Classic Physique True Novice and Classic Physique Novice.
He also placed second in Classic Physique Open Class C. One week later, on April 4, he entered the INBA Iron Gladiator in Corona, California. His Classic Physique victory there earned him a professional card for the INBA/PNBA circuit.
Baena embraced that event’s gladiator theme, celebrating with a sword, shield and helmet. Entertainment Weekly documented the win, which followed years of interest in the sport before he committed to entering a contest.
Schwarzenegger’s Advice Helped Shape His Son’s Training
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Baena’s preparation drew on help from people around him, including a father who won seven Mr. Olympia titles. In his post-competition video, he thanked his family, girlfriend and supporters while repeating one of Schwarzenegger’s familiar lessons.
“There’s no such thing as a self-made man,” Baena said. On March 24, he had shared photographs of Schwarzenegger encouraging him during a workout at Gold’s Gym in Venice Beach. The caption borrowed another of his father’s sayings: “You have to shock the muscles!”
The influence started long before competition preparation. Baena told GQ in April that Schwarzenegger gave him a bodybuilding encyclopedia while he was in college, helping turn his interest in lifting into a fascination with training and nutrition.
He called his father his “best training partner,” describing how Schwarzenegger encouraged him through difficult workouts when reduced calorie intake made preparation harder. Baena also built his own program from advice gathered from experienced bodybuilders and shared it with friends who joined him in training.
Swimming Came Before His Natural Bodybuilding Career
Baena’s early experience with fitness was very different from his life onstage. In the GQ interview, he recalled being overweight in high school and getting cut from the soccer team twice because he could not keep up.
Joining the swim team helped him lose weight. He began lifting during his junior year of college, but the prospect of entering a physique competition remained intimidating, particularly with the scrutiny attached to his family name.
He finally made competing a New Year’s goal for 2026. He also said he had never used steroids and wanted to discover how far he could progress naturally.
Describing his spring preparation, Baena outlined five days of weight training each week, with sessions divided between pushing, pulling, upper-body and lower-body work. He favored 30 to 40 minutes of steady cardio on a treadmill or StairMaster.
His meals regularly included chicken, ground beef, eggs and Greek yogurt. The schedule also included a day away from weights for cardio and a full rest day on Sunday.