Andrew Jacked wins Arnold
Andrew Jacked (Chinedu Andrew Obiekea) won the 2026 Arnold Classic Men’s Open — taking the title over Hadi Choopan and Nick Walker and pocketing a record $750,000 grand prize, one of the largest single‑event payouts in bodybuilding history [](https://ladunliadinews.com/andrew-jacked-wins-2026-arnold-classic/).
The 38th annual Arnold Classic ran March 7–8, 2026 in Columbus, Ohio, with finals staged during the weekend at the Greater Columbus Convention Center. muscleandfitness.com The weekend drew a sell‑out crowd, according to event coverage. muscleinsider.com Organizers announced an expanded total prize purse of $1.5 million for the 2026 festival, an increase that was unveiled on March 15, 2025. fitnessvolt.com A viral finals moment came when Andrew Jacked dropped into a full split onstage, a clip that circulated widely across social platforms. msn.com Arnold Schwarzenegger publicly weighed in afterward, criticizing shaky posing and defending the judging criteria used at the event. fitnessvolt.com The weekend also featured a sportsmanship controversy after Martin Fitzwater’s interaction with Nick Walker, an episode that prompted sponsor withdrawals and widespread online backlash. parade.com Prominent figures including Jay Cutler and Kai Greene discussed the incident and the contest’s judging on major fitness outlets in the days that followed. fitnessvolt.com
