Andrew Jacked Wins 2026 Arnold Classic, Takes Home $750,000 Prize — Nigeria's Finest Moment in Bodybuilding

Nigerian-born bodybuilder Chinedu Andrew Obiekea, popularly known as Andrew Jacked, has won the 2026 Arnold Classic Men's Open title — claiming the sport's most prestigious stage title outside of the Mr. Olympia and walking away with a staggering $750,000 in prize money in one of the most celebrated moments in Nigerian sporting history.

The victory came at the 38th edition of the Arnold Classic, held in Columbus, Ohio — a competition that has served as the definitive proving ground for the world's elite bodybuilders since Arnold Schwarzenegger launched it in 1989. Andrew Jacked emerged champion after a closely contested final round that tested not just his physical conditioning but his stage presence, posing artistry, and the complete package that separates elite competitors from champions.


The 38-year-old athlete did not merely win — he dominated the conversation inside the arena and across the global bodybuilding community. His combination of muscle density, symmetry, and stage charisma drew visible admiration from judges, fellow competitors, and the packed audience that had gathered to witness the event.

Andrew Jacked took home $750,000 as the Men's Open champion — one of the largest prize purses in competitive bodybuilding — along with an additional $10,000 for the Ed Corney Best Poser Award, a distinction that recognises exceptional artistry and technical excellence in posing routines.

The Ed Corney award is named after the legendary bodybuilder widely considered the greatest poser in the history of the sport. Receiving it alongside the overall title signals that Andrew Jacked did not simply win on muscle mass alone — he delivered a complete performance that honoured the artistry and theatrical tradition at the heart of competitive bodybuilding.

The combined payout of $760,000 makes this one of the most financially rewarding single-event victories of Andrew Jacked's career, and a landmark moment for African bodybuilding on the world stage.

The trophy and prizes were presented by none other than Arnold Schwarzenegger himself — seven-time Mr. Olympia, Hollywood icon, and the man whose name the competition bears. Schwarzenegger publicly commended Andrew Jacked for his physique balance, presentation quality, and the commanding nature of his stage performance.

Being recognised directly by Schwarzenegger carries a weight that transcends the financial reward. For a bodybuilder, receiving that acknowledgement from the man who essentially defined the modern aesthetic ideal of the sport is a validation that few athletes in any discipline ever experience. That Andrew Jacked earned that praise as a Nigerian-born competitor adds a layer of significance that resonates far beyond Columbus, Ohio.

Andrew Jacked's triumph at the 2026 Arnold Classic is more than a personal milestone — it is a statement. Nigerian athletes have long excelled across football, athletics, and boxing on the world stage. Bodybuilding, however, has historically been less visible in Nigeria's sporting narrative despite a passionate domestic culture around fitness and physique sports.

That a Nigerian-born athlete has now stood atop the podium at one of bodybuilding's two most prestigious annual competitions — collecting three quarters of a million dollars in the process and receiving the personal commendation of Arnold Schwarzenegger — changes that narrative permanently.

Chinedu Andrew Obiekea set out from Nigeria and reached the absolute summit of his chosen sport. At 38, an age when many professional athletes are contemplating retirement, he delivered the performance of his career on the biggest stage available to him.