Many bodybuilders find inspiration from seasoned veterans, personal achievements, or external rewards. However, unexpected sources of motivation can also arouse at times. And the 4x Mr. Olympia champion Jay Cutler also had a similar tale to tell.

The legendary bodybuilder recently shared a unique story of finding inspiration through the 1985 movie, “Rocky IV,” starring Sylvester Stallone. In his latest vlog, Cutler provided a glimpse into the movie’s impact on his life and how it propelled him into the world of bodybuilding.

Jay Cutler was just 12-yo when he watched the movie

Cutler recently surprised his fans by revealing that it was “Rocky IV” that sparked his initial interest in weightlifting. While recording his daily activities in his vlog, Cutler decided to shift the spotlight onto his cameraman. And The cameraperson happened to be wearing a “Rocky IV” t-shirt.

This led to a conversation where Cutler disclosed that he first watched the movie at the age of nineteen. “Rocky IV” revolves the story of Sylvester Stallone’s iconic character, Rocky Balboa, who faces off, Ivan Drago, portrayed by Dolph Lundgren. Cutler revealed that he was just a 12-year-old when he saw the movie and it amazed him. 

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“Okay guys so this shirt is the reason I started lifting weights”, he said in the video. For Jay Cutler, witnessing Stallone’s intense training montages and relentless determination struck a chord within him. It ignited a deep passion for weightlifting and physically demanding sports. However, this is not the first time when Cutler has opened up about how Stallone motivated him. 

When Cutler chose Stallone over Schwarzenegger

Jay Cutler once revealed that his childhood idol was not Schwarzenegger, but rather Sylvester Stallone. Cutler admitted that he grew up watching Stallone’s movies, particularly the Rocky series, which played a pivotal role in motivating him to pursue a career in bodybuilding. In an interview, he said, “The strange thing about me is like as a teenager and at around 12 you know, I saw like the rocky films and I saw Stallone and I saw Bloodsport and Van Damme and Stallone were like my heroes.”

Surprisingly, Cutler confessed that he hadn’t even seen Schwarzenegger’s iconic documentary, “Pumping Iron,” until after he had already become a professional bodybuilder. “I actually didn’t even watch Pumping Iron for the first time until I was actually a professional bodybuilder”, he added. However, with time, he came to acknowledge that both superstars had their own reputations in the industry.

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