Arnold Schwarzenegger Coaches Son Joseph Baena for Natural Bodybuilding Debut
Arnold Schwarzenegger, the legendary seven-time Mr. Olympia, is personally training his son Joseph Baena for his inaugural bodybuilding competition. The 78-year-old icon was spotted at Gold's Gym in Venice, California, this Tuesday, offering expert guidance to his 28-year-old son as they pumped iron together.
Strict Natural Competition Standards
Baena is scheduled to make his competitive debut at the NPC Natural Colorado State event, taking place this Saturday at the Pinnacle Performing Arts Center in Denver, Colorado. This competition enforces rigorous natural standards: every athlete must undergo drug testing and complete a 30-minute polygraph examination to verify they are entirely drug-free.
On March 18, Baena, who is of half-Guatemalan heritage and commands nearly one million social media followers, disclosed an impressive achievement: he gained 18 pounds of muscle in just eight weeks of intensive training.
A Supportive Father-Son Relationship
In a 2023 interview with ET, Baena expressed deep admiration for his father, stating, 'He's an amazing father. He's a great person to look up to and he's the smartest man I know.' He added, 'It's been a great journey and he's always been so supportive of whatever I do. So, I'm just really grateful to have a dad like him.'
Their bond strengthened through fitness, with Schwarzenegger gifting Baena a copy of The Encyclopedia of Modern Bodybuilding, which he co-authored in 1985. Baena emphasized his father's philosophy in a 2022 Men's Health interview: 'My dad is old-school; he doesn't believe in handouts. He believes hard work pays off, and so do I.' He further noted, 'I love the word honor, and I'm very prideful in the sense that if I use my dad's contacts or ask him for favors, I wonder what honor is that gonna bring me?'
Following in His Father's Footsteps
Among Schwarzenegger's five children, Baena has most closely emulated his father's path, despite primarily being raised by his mother, chef Mildred 'Patty' Baena, in Bakersfield, California. Schwarzenegger has publicly marveled at his son's talents, such as during Baena's 2022 stint on Dancing with the Stars, where he exclaimed, 'Jesus Christ, I can't even believe that you can move like that,' joking that their family is not known for dancing.
The revelation of Baena's paternity came in 2011 when Schwarzenegger admitted to a secret affair with his former housekeeper, a one-night stand that ultimately ended his 25-year marriage to journalist Maria Shriver. Their divorce was finalized in 2021. Shriver later reflected in her poetry book, I Am Maria, that the divorce 'broke my heart, it broke my spirit, it broke what was left of me.'
Personal Milestones and Future Projects
On May 3, Baena and his girlfriend, Dutch model Mel Randel, will celebrate their third anniversary. Meanwhile, Schwarzenegger continues to expand his entertainment career. He recently signed on to reprise his iconic role in a new Conan the Barbarian film, directed by Christopher McQuarrie for 20th Century Studios.
Before that, the Austrian-born American actor will star as Santa Claus in Adam Shankman's upcoming Christmas comedy, The Man with the Bag, for Amazon MGM Studios. The film features a notable cast including Alan Ritchson, Awkwafina, Liza Koshy, Kyle Mooney, Adrian Martinez, Jane Krakowski, and Ken Jeong.
