To claim his place among the best bodybuilders ever, Jay Cutler had to take on a titan of his time, Ronnie Coleman. Decades later, in an Instagram reel, Jay Cutler explained why Coleman remains his biggest and fiercest competitor during his Mr. Olympia reign.
During the 1990s and 2000s, Ronnie Coleman solidified his status as an all-time great with eight Mr. Olympia titles, matching the record set by former champion Lee Haney. Cutler emerged as a promising talent but consistently placed second to Coleman, leaving many unsure of his future. In the pursuit of gold, Cutler’s rivalry with Coleman on stage intensified each year.
View this post on Instagram
In 2006, Cutler shocked the world by defeating ‘The King’ and winning his first Mr. Olympia title. This moment marked the end of an era as Coleman later retired. Meanwhile, Cutler lost and regained gold against Dexter Jackson at the 2009 Mr. Olympia, further solidifying his legacy. Reflecting on his illustrious career, Cutler looked back on some of his greatest opponents.
Jay Cutler Pays Tribute to His ‘Fiercest and Biggest’ Bodybuilding Rivals
In the 2000s, Jay Cutler encountered challenges from elite bodybuilders. Notably, these included seven-time Mr. Olympia Phil Heath, 2008 Mr. Olympia Dexter Jackson, Victor Martinez, the late Gustavo Badell, Chris Cormier, and Gunter Schlierkamp. These formidable competitors played a crucial role in shaping Cutler’s illustrious bodybuilding journey.
“Who was my fiercest competitor besides Ronnie Coleman? I have to give credit to a lot of people. I mean I have to give credit to Phil Heath, I have to give credit to Dexter Jackson because both those guys beat me.
Victor Martinez was a great challenger, Gustavo Badell, Gunter Schlierkamp was a great challenger.”
Furthermore, when it comes to Jay Cutler’s “biggest and fiercest” competitor, he asserts that this distinction will forever belong to Ronnie Coleman.
“A lot of my competition, but I’m talking about those guys that were close to me in the competition Mr. Olympia.
I have to give my hat to every single one of them. Chris Cormier, to not forget, Chris Cormier, he was one of the best and still to this day Ronnie Coleman was my biggest and fiercest competitor,” explains Jay Cutler.
Jay Cutler path to Mr. Olympia greatness featured a formidable rival: Ronnie Coleman. Their 1990s and 2000s rivalry defined an era in the sport. In 2006, Cutler’s victory over Coleman marked a pivotal moment, signaling a shift as Coleman retired. Cutler’s journey included other significant competitors like Phil Heath, Dexter Jackson, Victor Martinez, Gustavo Badell, Chris Cormier, and Gunter Schlierkamp. Despite challenges, Cutler pays tribute to these competitors and acknowledges Coleman’s unique impact. Looking back, Cutler sees no current Open division competitors matching Coleman’s size, density, and conditioning. Throughout, Cutler recognizes his competitors’ collective influence, especially on the prestigious Mr. Olympia stage.
Featured Image @jaycutler Instagram
