Andrew Jacked wins Arnold
Nigerian bodybuilder Andrew Jacked just won the 2026 Arnold Classic Men’s Open, beating former Mr. Olympia Hadi Choopan and 2021 champion Nick Walker — the victory comes with one of the event’s largest prize payouts to date Afrocritik.
The winner’s purse was $750,000 — a record payday for the Arnold Classic — and Jacked also took home the Ed Corney Best Poser Award ($10,000). muscleandfitness.com The Men’s Open finals were held March 7, 2026, at the Battelle Grand inside the Greater Columbus Convention Center in Columbus, Ohio. fitnessvolt.com Onstage moments from the night went viral: Jacked dropped into a full split that circulated widely online, and footage shows Arnold Schwarzenegger presenting awards and exchanging a congratulatory handshake with the new champion. msn.com Veteran figures reacted publicly — Schwarzenegger praised Jacked’s stage composure while calling shaky posing “inexcusable,” and former Mr. Olympia Jay Cutler aired questions about the close decision in post-show commentary. fitnessvolt.com
