Four-time Mr. Olympia Jay Cutler is the only bodybuilder in history to avenge a loss on the Olympia stage. While bodybuilders like Arnold have returned to win the title again, they never lost their title to someone else. However, Cutler learned from his loss. The former champ shared inspiring insights with all bodybuilders ahead of the sport’s biggest contest.
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For most of his career, Jay was the underdog to Ronnie Coleman. Although he tried, Cutler repeatedly lost to Ronnie at Mr. Olympia. However, after losing four times, Cutler finally defeated Coleman in 2006. However, in 2008, Cutler lost the title to Dexter Jackson.
Jay Cutler shared an inspiring lesson
The four-time Mr. Olympia winner posted a video on his official Instagram handle. “Real champions and real winners will pick themselves up and overcome all odds. Leave the past behind, turn failure into opportunity,” Jay captioned the post. In the video, Jay explains how losing his title to Dexter Jackson in 2008 became a blessing to him in the long run.
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Jay said everyone experiences defeat in whatever they do. However, instead of feeling sorry, one should take time to introspect. After Cutler’s loss, he worked harder than ever. While everyone doubted Jay, he worked on improving every aspect of his physique in silence. “I never looked back,” Cutler says in the video.
In 2009, Dexter Jackson, Branch Warren, and Phil Heath were among the favorites. However, when Cutler stepped on the stage, everyone fell silent. Phil Heath commented on an image Jay posted on Instagram. He recalled seeing Jay in 2009 and thinking, “wt* is that!” The four-time champion also shared why he lost in 2008. It’s a mistake no bodybuilder should make.
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Jay revealed he became complacent and accustomed to winning. The former champ didn’t work hard, and Jackson defeated him. However, when he returned to win the title again, he gained new fans while keeping the old ones.
The underdog who won it all
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While Cutler’s comeback is inspiring, Jay’s rivalry with Ronnie Coleman is also an inspiring tale of perseverance. From 1998 to 2005, Ronnie Coleman won eight Mr. Olympia titles. “The King” pushed the sport beyond its limit. While Cutler gave Ronnie stiff competition from 2000 to 2005, Ronnie came out on top.
However, the four-time champion persevered. After working on his strengths, Cutler put on muscle mass. Cutler realized he had to put on size to beat Ronnie while preserving his conditioning. It worked, and Cutler won his first Mr. Olympia title in 2006.
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Did you find Jay Cutler’s story inspirational? Who do you think will win Mr. Olympia 2022?