Jay Cutler continues to observe the evolution of the Men’s Open class since dominating it with four Mr. Olympia titles. In a recent Cutler Cast Podcast, Cutler delved into Hadi Choopan’s significant triumph in Columbus, Ohio. Cutler also tackled the athlete backlash arising from the recent 2024 Arnold classic Mens open increase in prize money $500k slated for the 2025 Arnold Classic.
Following the conclusion of the 2024 Arnold Classic, it wasn’t just Hadi Choopan’s impressive win that reverberated throughout the sport. Arnold Schwarzenegger, the iconic figure in bodybuilding, announced a substantial raise in Open prize money for the upcoming Arnold Classic, elevating the total from $300,000 to $500,000. This enhancement means that the Arnold Classic now offers a larger prize for its Open winner than the Mr. Olympia by $100,000.
After some time to digest this sudden monetary surge, athletes such as former 10-time Ms. Olympia Iris Kyle and reigning three-time Women’s Physique Olympia Sarah Villegas have voiced their concerns. They advocate for equal opportunities for female divisions like Women’s Physique, Figure, and Women’s Bodybuilding—all of which have been omitted from recent Arnold Classics.
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Joining the discussion on this controversy are Jay Cutler and Milos Sarcev, both of whom argue that Schwarzenegger has the prerogative to shape the annual event as he sees fit. Cutler also shared insights on Choopan’s recent victory, drawing comparisons to his own remarkable 2009 Mr. Olympia comeback.
Jay Cutler Analyzes Hadi Choopan’s Triumph at 2024 Arnold Classic and Reacts to Backlash Over $500K Open Prize Boost
Cutler was impressed by Choopan’s performance and noted similarities to his own legendary comeback in 2009.
“He came back after he got a lot of criticism at Olympia, I mean, obviously losing the title… he missed it a little bit. It was kind of like me coming back in ’09, it was redemption and now he’s got his visa for UK, right, so.”
Milos Sarcev stressed the importance of athletes’ freedom of speech regarding disagreements over Open prize money. Moreover, he acknowledged that the Arnold Classic belonged to Schwarzenegger and accepted Schwarzenegger’s authority over competitor rewards.
“Freedom of speech, Arnold can do whatever he wants, it’s Arnold. It’s an established show that you won three times. The show is phenomenal,” said Milos Sarcev.
Despite facing criticism from female athletes, Cutler emphasized that Men’s Open Bodybuilding remains the primary attraction.
“Listen man, it’s kind of like, like when I heard this [disagreements from women division athletes], Men’s Bodybuilding, it’s still king. That’s what people come for, the muscle show. People might agree or disagree. A lot of our comments are going to favor us anyway but just goes to show, I mean, that’s what it’s all about just like the Mr. Olympia.”
“It’s a substantial amount more than what the other classes are, right? I know there are a lot of complaints but in the end man, we chose our fields. I’m just happy that now because of the lack of large contracts, these guys can actually compete and potentially win a lot more money. That’s just not for the first place, it’s the seconds and the thirds, I know it’s a little harder to qualify. You know there is a lot of shows, which I don’t think there should be as many shows honestly, but we do have way more international top guys than we ever had.”
He adds that politics have always played a role in the evolving landscape of the sport:
“There was always is there politics with a guy from the UK or an Iranian guy winning, you remember. Dorian Yates was winning Mr. Olympia for quite some time and he was the only top foreigner that was in the top spaces,” explains Cutler.
“The sport has evolved,” said Sarcev.
Cutler earned $100,000 for his Arnold Classic wins; he said he would’ve been thrilled with $500,000.
“I’d love to be winning 500K,” replies Cutler. “I wish I could [come back], I think Phil Heath should though. I would love to see Phil Heath.”
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Sarcev and Cutler see the boosted Open prize money as opening up more opportunities for top-level competitors.
“What I love is a guy to be able to make a million bucks a year between endorsements and prize money and I mean, Derek and these guys are doing that, right?” Cutler shared.
“Listen, 500 thousand dollars for first place, that’s absolutely substantial right? Back in our times, you were winning 100 grand and that was a lot,” Sarcev said.
“When I told my mom he raised the money to 500 and she was like how much did you win, I said 100, she said wow, 500 thousand, you know,” Cutler said.
The increase in Open winner prize money has stirred controversy. Bob Cicherillo, athlete representative, addressed inequality concerns, justifying the prize money.
Moreover, former Arnold Classic winner Flex Wheeler suggests Mr. Olympia could suffer. The 2024 Arnold Classic, with Hadi Choopan’s victory, raised prize money.
Arnold Schwarzenegger’s decision to raise Open prize money to $500,000 generated buzz. Jay Cutler and Milos Sarcev contribute to the evolving debate.
View the full video from the Cutler Cast YouTube channel here:
For comprehensive coverage of the 2024 Arnold Classic, including pre-judging and event recaps, visit our Arnold Classic coverage hub. Find complete results at Colosseumstrength.com.
Overview
In a recent podcast, Jay Cutler discussed Hadi Choopan’s Arnold Classic win and backlash over increased prize money. Furthermore, Schwarzenegger announced a $500K prize boost, sparking controversy. Also, despite criticism, Cutler and Sarcev see the boost as beneficial for competitors. Moreover, the debate involves Cicherillo, Wheeler, Cutler, and Sarcev. For comprehensive coverage, visit Colosseumstrength.com.
Featured Image @Jay Cutler Talks 2024 Arnold Classic Hadi Choopan, @gilcoproductions (Instagram), @Cultercast (Youtube)