History of the Mr. Olympia
This would be the year that American Media Inc, Weider Publications and the IFBB teamed up to promote the Olympia Weekend, raising the total prize money to $540,000. This would also be the year of the controversial "Challenge Round", which many opined the most entertaining addition to the Mr. Olympia contest in years; albeit, not without some flaws that will need correcting if it resurfaces in 2005.
2005 Las Vegas, Nevada, USA : For the first time since Ronnie Coleman won the Sandow in 1998, a competitor caught him from behind. That man was Jay Cutler, and whenever the two went mano-a-mano in a back pose, it was evident how far Cutler had come in his development. In a feat many thought would never happen, Coleman, he of the freaky mass and stunning detail in his lats, mid-back and traps, was far from a shoo-in on this pose.
However, in the end, even that wasn’t enough to stop the reign of Coleman, who, on October 15, 2005, made it eight in a row, tying him with Lee Haney for the Olympia record. And, in a repeat of last year, second went to Jay Cutler and third went to Gustavo Badell. California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger stepped onstage with Joe and Ben Weider and received a standing ovation from the capacity crowd onhand to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Mr. Olympia.
2006 September 30, 2006 is a day that will live in bodybuilding lore forever. A capacity crowd at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas bore witness to history, but it was not the history many had expected. Ronnie Coleman, going for his record-breaking ninth Sandow trophy, instead lost to four-time runner-up Jay Cutler, and by a convincing margin by bodybuilding standards, 22 to 38 (lowest score wins). In fact, Cutler won all four rounds of the show.
Although Coleman was losing after the prejudging, the champ did not go down without a fight. In arguably the best posing routine ever seen on an Olympia stage, Coleman had world-famous boxing announcer Bruce Buffer step out on stage to announce him - Ronnie then came down through the crowd to a raucous ovation. After ducking backstage, a few moments later he reappeared in a Moses costume, long white beard and all.
But in the end, a slightly better physique beat the better showman on this night, as Cutler’s extra 10 pounds of size and sharp improvements finally put him over the top.
For the first time in nearly a decade, we head into the 2007 Mr. Olympia with a new defending champion. Jay Cutler overcame the odds in defeating the already legendary Ronnie Coleman, who returns for another attempt at record breaking number nine. “Jay didn’t beat me. He’s just holding the Sandow for me until I take it back, which I will come September,” promises Ronnie. But Jay’s not looking to relinquish his crown anytime soon. “I worked too long and too hard for this, it’s mine and I’m keeping it,” says a determined Cutler. This year, he’ll have to fight off not only a rejuvenated Ronnie Coleman, but a very hungry Victor Martinez, finally realizing his true potential as a premier bodybuilder. Ronnie, Victor, Gustavo Badell, and Melvin Anthony, all of whom know that the first title defense will surely be the hardest will bring their best game to overthrow Jay’s hopes of starting his own dynasty.
*This story excerpted from various sources
