Arnold Schwarzenegger’s son trained alongside Classic Physique competitors Benjamin Hernandez and Adrián Otero ahead of the 2026 Natural Olympia in Las Vegas.
Joseph Baena is continuing to make a name for himself in bodybuilding, and his latest workout brought him together with two competitors preparing for one of natural bodybuilding’s biggest events.
The son of seven-time Mr. Olympia champion Arnold Schwarzenegger recently welcomed Benjamin Hernandez and Adrián Otero to the legendary Gold’s Gym in Venice, California, for an arm workout and friendly posedown ahead of the 2026 Natural Olympia.
Baena shared footage of the session on Instagram, showing the three bodybuilders training, and exchanging poses to the soundtrack of Scarface, as they “took it to the limit” at the gym made famous by his father during bodybuilding’s Golden Era.
Joseph Baena Trains With Natural Olympia Competitors
The workout focused on building the arms, with Baena and his fellow bodybuilders putting their biceps and triceps through several exercises.
The footage featured:
- Cable triceps extensions
- Seated incline dumbbell curls
- Machine preacher curls
After finishing their workout, the bodybuilders turned their attention to posing.
The group showed off several classic bodybuilding poses, including the most muscular, front lat spread, and side triceps.
There was also a fitting tribute to Schwarzenegger, as the bodybuilders performed his famous twisting back double biceps pose.
The setting made the moment even more memorable. Gold’s Gym Venice has long been associated with Schwarzenegger and the rise of modern bodybuilding, making it an appropriate location for his son to train with two rising competitors.
Baena appeared to enjoy the experience, sharing his appreciation for the opportunity to train with the athletes before their upcoming competition.
“Brought the champs to Golds Gym for a good ol’ arm pump after the show!” Baena wrote on Instagram.
“Had a blast getting to know these guys and pumping them up before they compete in the Natural Olympia this weekend in vegas. Learned a lot from them and excited to compete against them again next year. Competitors one day and friends the next.”
Joseph Baena Looks Ahead to 2027
Baena’s latest workout comes just days after another milestone in his young bodybuilding career.
On November 7, Baena finished fifth in his category at the INBA PNBA Pro/Am World Cup, marking what he described as his professional natural bodybuilding debut.
It was just his third bodybuilding competition, but the 29-year-old has already shown a serious commitment to following in his father’s footsteps.
While Hernandez and Otero are preparing to compete at this weekend’s Natural Olympia, Baena’s Instagram comments suggest that he is targeting another showdown with the pair in 2027.
What Is the Natural Olympia?
The Natural Olympia is a major annual bodybuilding competition organized by the Professional Natural Bodybuilding Association (PNBA), bringing together athletes who compete under drug-tested natural bodybuilding rules.
The competition features multiple divisions, including Classic Physique, Men’s Bodybuilding, Men’s Physique, and several women’s categories.
Unlike the IFBB Pro League’s Mr. Olympia, the Natural Olympia operates within the INBA/PNBA system, which emphasizes drug-tested competition.
For Baena, the event represents another potential opportunity to establish his own bodybuilding legacy.
And while his famous father built his reputation on the Mr. Olympia stage, Baena appears determined to carve out his own path in natural bodybuilding, one workout and competition at a time.
Header image embed via Instagram @joebaena
