Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
In a historic moment for African bodybuilding, Nigerian athlete Chinedu Andrew Obiekea, widely known in the professional bodybuilding circuit as Andrew Jacked, has won the 2026 Arnold Classic Men’s Open title, securing a record-breaking $750,000 prize and cementing his place among the elite competitors in the global bodybuilding arena.
The competition took place on March 7, 2026, during the annual Arnold Sports Festival in Columbus, Ohio, United States. The Arnold Classic, founded by legendary bodybuilder and actor Arnold Schwarzenegger in 1989, is widely regarded as the second most prestigious bodybuilding contest in the world after the Mr. Olympia championship. Each year, the event attracts some of the most accomplished athletes in the sport, making the Men’s Open division one of the most anticipated competitions on the professional bodybuilding calendar.
Andrew Jacked’s victory came after an intense contest featuring several top-ranked bodybuilders from around the world. The final lineup included American competitors Nick Walker and Martin Fitzwater, Iranian bodybuilder Hadi Choopan, and former Arnold Classic champion Brandon Curry. Other participants in the competitive field included Rafael Brandao, Mohamed Foda, Akim Williams, Hassan Mostafa and Antoine Vaillant, making the 2026 contest one of the strongest lineups in recent years.
During the prejudging rounds and the evening finals, Andrew Jacked impressed the panel of judges with a physique that combined massive muscular development with aesthetic balance and symmetry. Observers noted that his wide back, narrow waist and full muscle bellies created a striking visual presence on stage. His conditioning, which refers to the sharpness and definition of muscle separation achieved through rigorous training and dieting, was also widely praised by analysts and commentators covering the event.
In the final results, Andrew Jacked secured first place, followed by Nick Walker in second position. Hadi Choopan, a former Mr. Olympia champion and one of the most consistent competitors in recent years, finished in third place. Martin Fitzwater claimed fourth position, while Brandon Curry rounded out the top five. The remaining athletes completed the lineup in descending order of placement after the final judging comparisons.
The Nigerian champion’s performance stood out particularly during the rear poses, where his back development and muscular density gave him a clear advantage over many of his rivals. Judges also highlighted improvements in his posing routine, stage confidence and overall conditioning compared to his previous competitions.
Beyond winning the main title and the $750,000 grand prize, Andrew Jacked also received the Ed Corney Best Poser Award, a special recognition given to the competitor who demonstrates exceptional posing skill and stage presentation. The award came with an additional $10,000 prize, bringing his total earnings from the competition to approximately $760,000. Nick Walker, who finished second overall, received the Franco Columbu Most Muscular Award, which also carried a $10,000 cash prize.
The prize money awarded at the 2026 Arnold Classic attracted widespread attention within the bodybuilding community. At $750,000, the winner’s purse represents the largest single payout in the history of the sport. Organizers of the Arnold Sports Festival have steadily increased prize pools in recent years as part of efforts to elevate the prestige of the competition and attract the world’s best athletes.
For Andrew Jacked, the victory represents a major milestone in a career that has progressed rapidly over the past few years. Born in Nigeria, he developed an early interest in strength training and combat sports, including kickboxing, before eventually transitioning fully into bodybuilding. His towering physique and aesthetic structure quickly caught the attention of trainers and promoters within the fitness industry.
His professional breakthrough came in 2022 when he earned his International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness professional card after winning the Arnold Amateur competition. The victory granted him entry into the IFBB Pro League, where he soon began competing against some of the sport’s most established athletes.
Following his transition to professional bodybuilding, Andrew Jacked secured several notable victories in international competitions, including the Texas Pro and the Romania Muscle Fest Pro. These wins helped establish him as one of the fastest-rising talents in the Men’s Open division.
His growing reputation was further strengthened by his performances at the Mr. Olympia competition, widely regarded as the ultimate championship in professional bodybuilding. Over the past few years, he has steadily improved his ranking in the contest, including a strong third-place finish at the 2025 Mr. Olympia event. That performance signaled that he was closing the gap on the sport’s most dominant champions.
The Arnold Classic victory now places Andrew Jacked firmly among the top contenders in modern bodybuilding and has intensified discussions among analysts about his chances of eventually capturing the Mr. Olympia title. Many experts believe his combination of size, symmetry and stage presence represents the type of physique that judges increasingly favor in the evolving standards of the sport.
The achievement has also sparked celebrations among Nigerian fans and the broader African fitness community. Bodybuilding has historically been dominated by athletes from North America and Europe, but recent years have seen the emergence of several high-level competitors from Africa and the Middle East. Andrew Jacked’s victory is widely seen as a powerful symbol of the sport’s growing global diversity.
Across social media platforms, fans and fellow athletes quickly congratulated the Nigerian champion, praising his discipline, dedication and relentless pursuit of improvement. Many observers noted that his rise from relative obscurity to winning one of bodybuilding’s most prestigious titles demonstrates the impact of perseverance and strategic training.
With the Arnold Classic title now secured, attention is gradually shifting toward the next major competition on the professional bodybuilding calendar: the Mr. Olympia contest scheduled later in the year. The event is expected to bring together the world’s top bodybuilders for another high-stakes showdown.
For Andrew Jacked, the victory in Columbus marks a defining moment in his career and a significant milestone for Nigerian representation in global bodybuilding. Standing on the Arnold Classic stage with the championship trophy and a historic prize purse, the Nigerian athlete has not only achieved personal success but also inspired a new generation of bodybuilders across Africa.
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