The dust has settled following the 2026 Arnold Classic, won by Chinedu Andrew “Jacked” Obiekea. On March 8, bodybuilding legend Arnold Schwarzenegger recapped the outcome and stressed that shaky posing is inexcusable on the Arnold Classic stage.
Jacked reigned supreme in Columbus, Ohio, but not without a close fight. Though fans thought it’d be Hadi Choopan pushing him onstage, it turned out to be Nick Walker. “The Mutant” brought an all-time best package, boasting the biggest legs of the entire lineup.
Ultimately, Jacked narrowly secured the Arnold Classic crown by five points. In the show’s aftermath, questions about who truly won have surfaced, though Schwarzenegger has a clear-cut view on why Jacked emerged victorious.
Arnold Schwarzenegger Says Shaky Posing Has No Place on Arnold Classic Stage
In the athletes’ seminar, Schwarzenegger emphasized that shaky posing is inexcusable on prestigious stages like the Arnold Classic.
“I’ve been saying this for years to guys. There was still yesterday a bodybuilder onstage competing with you guys that was shaking during the posing. That’s inexcusable. There is no shaking. When you get to this stage, there is no shaking.”
He noted that calmness is present when athletes have done the necessary work:
“Because this is the top stage, imagine you go to the Olympics, and you watch those figure skaters and all of a sudden they are shaking before they are skating… no. You are calm because you have done your work. This is what we saw yesterday. The work that you put in, an hour and a half of posing? That shows,” he said.
He added that Jacked was never out of breath during the contest and kept his midsection in control.
“You were never ever out of breath. I never saw your stomach going in and out. Oh my God, I cannot catch my breath. Why? Because you were ready.”
According to Schwarzenegger, ‘everything is about presentation,’ which is why Jacked won the latest Arnold Classic title.
“It’s all about presentation. Everything is about presentation. This is why we have now a new winner at the Arnold Classic and because of his great, great posing. That’s what was common that everyone said, his posing. He outposed all the rest of them and this is what it’s all about.”
Fans are awaiting Jacked’s next move in the IFBB Pro League. He has confirmed he will head to Birmingham, United Kingdom, and compete at the 2026 Arnold Classic UK. While Choopan reserved a spot on the roster, it’s uncertain if he will be competing at the event.
Schwarzenegger is adamant that shaky posing doesn’t belong on the Arnold Classic stage, or at any world-class bodybuilding contest. Do you think posing was the deciding factor at the 2026 Arnold Classic in the Men’s Open? Let us know in the comments.
Watch the full video from the Antic Fitness India YouTube channel below:
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