By Ghazali Ibrahim
Nigerian bodybuilding star Andrew Jacked, whose real name is Chinedu Andrew Obiekea, has won the prestigious Arnold Classic Men’s Open title at the 2026 edition of the competition, taking home a record-breaking prize of $750,000.
The victory was secured during the 38th Arnold Sports Festival held in Columbus, Ohio, United States, where thousands of athletes competed in multiple fitness and strength sports events.
Andrew Jacked emerged champion after defeating a strong lineup of elite bodybuilders, including former Mr. Olympia champion Hadi Choopan and 2021 Arnold Classic winner Nick Walker, who finished second and third respectively.
Judges praised the Nigerian athlete for his impressive conditioning, symmetry and stage presence, which helped him dominate the competition and claim the biggest win of his professional career.
The Arnold Classic, founded by bodybuilding legend Arnold Schwarzenegger in 1989, is widely regarded as one of the most prestigious bodybuilding competitions in the world, second only to the Mr. Olympia contest.
Andrew Jacked’s triumph marks a historic milestone for Nigeria and further cements his status among the top bodybuilders globally. The $750,000 reward is considered the largest prize payout in professional bodybuilding history.
His performance earned him the top spot ahead of Iranian powerhouse Hadi Choopan and American contender Nick Walker, who finished second and third respectively.
Other top finishers included Martin Fitzwater in fourth place and former champion Brandon Curry in fifth.
Andrew Jacked has steadily risen through the bodybuilding ranks in recent years, previously finishing among the top competitors at the Mr. Olympia competition before his breakthrough victory at the 2026 Arnold Classic.
