Andrew Jacked wins Arnold
Andrew Jacked took the 2026 Arnold Classic Men’s Open title and pocketed the $750,000 first prize — a major win that cements his place among the sport’s elite. Wesley Vissers won Classic Physique and Mitchell Hooper again topped the Arnold Strongman Classic, with Arnold Schwarzenegger and UFC star Jon Jones front-and-center at the Columbus festival this week (nationaltoday.com) (healthclubmanagement.co.uk).
During the finals he pulled an onstage full split that generated viral clips across social platforms and became one of the weekend’s most-shared moments. (msn.com) He competes as Chinedu Andrew Obiekea, was born in Kaduna, Nigeria, and is listed at about 6'2" and in his early 40s. (en.wikipedia.org) The men’s open lineup in Columbus featured established names including Nick Walker, Hadi Choopan, Martin Fitzwater, Brandon Curry and Rafael Brandao among the top contenders. (generationiron.com) Former Mr. Olympia Jay Cutler publicly weighed in on the close outcome from the finals, sparking discussion among commentators about judges’ emphasis on conditioning versus size. (fitnessvolt.com) Event founder Arnold Schwarzenegger appeared on the floor and at exhibitor booths while UFC star Jon Jones took part in meet-and-greets and brand activations during the three-day festival. (sportingnews.com) Under the IFBB Pro League’s 2026 qualification rules, a first-place finish at a top-tier pro show like the Arnold Classic carries automatic Mr. Olympia qualification, and the winner said he plans to follow up in the Arnold Classic UK later this year. (muscleandfitness.com)
