In 2003, Jay Cutler entered the Mr. Olympia stage with the hope of winning the title, boasting impressive size and determined to beat the reigning champ. However, Ronnie Coleman had other plans.

The moment Ronnie Coleman walked onto the stage, everyone knew no one was beating his combination of size, detail, and conditioning. That's when Cutler understood he had overestimated himself.

During the December 15 episode of the Cutler Cast, Jay Cutler discussed Colman's 2003 physique with fellow former IFBB Pro, Milos Sarcev.

“The '03 version at the Olympia, I realized, 'Okay, I need to step up.' So in '04, I came in at almost 280,” Cutler told Milos Sarcev. While Cutler said he did have a size advantage, he couldn't match Coleman's whole package.

So, for 2004, Mr. Olympia Jay Culter prepared hard and came in at almost 280 lbs, but failed once again. "Then 05 we stripped it down both of us, but it really wasn't the best look," yet once again Coleman did enough to earn his 8th title.  

Jay Culter finally nailed the formula at the 2006 Mr. Olympia. He dethroned Ronnie Coleman, specifically for his quads development, massive size, and posing. "Then '06, I just was way bigger," said Cutler.

While most champions are lucky to be part of one epic rivalry, Cutler went on to have two short-lived but intense rivals.

The other icons Jay Cutler defeated

Following his win against Ronnie Coleman in 2006 and then Victor Martinez in 2007, Cutler was riding high on his wave of success.

However, 2008 came as a rude awakening when Dexter Jackson derailed his plans for a prolonged reign. Yet, just when most fans and even experts counted him out, Cutler leveled up again.

In 2009, Mr. Olympia Jay Cutler became the first Olympia winner to regain his title by avenging his loss. By that time, Phil Heath was already making waves. Yet it took Heath, who ultimately won seven consecutive titles, two more years to beat Cutler.

However, at the end of the day, Cutler's fircest rival was Ronnie Coleman. "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," Culter said in an Instagram reel.

So, in which year did Jay Cutler have the best physique and conditioning?

Written by

Supradeep Dutta

Edited by

Sagnik Bagchi