Dexter Jackson topples Jay Cutler to win the Mr. Olympia

by Allan Donnelly

September 27, 2008

FLEXONLINE.COM

(Figure Olympia Finals Report Below - Gates Wins!

The 2008 Mr. Olympia will be remembered as much for its competitiveness as it will for its unpredictably. Late Saturday night, with the placings of the contest's 17 other competitors already decided, two men walked to center stage of The Orleans Arena: one who had been there many times before, and one who until this year never imagined he would. And in the end, after 10 years and 47 contests, Dexter Jackson finally rose to the top of the sport by toppling two-time and reigning champion Jay Cutler on the way to the biggest win of his career.

"I was praying," Jackson said. "I was undecided on if I would actually win tonight. I knew I deserved to win but I didn't think I would. This sport is full of surprises. I'm just in shock right now. I've been dreaming about this moment since I started bodybuilding," Jackson said. "I never thought it would happen."

The win was the fourth of the year for the 39-year-old Jackson who, unbelievably, continues to get better with age. Jackson began the year by winning the third Arnold Classic of his career in his best-ever form, and the improvement he displayed after years of consistently good (and sometimes great) performances elevated him to a new level and marked him as a legitimate threat to challenge Cutler in Las Vegas.

And although the 235-pound Jackson gave up roughly 30 pounds to Cutler at the Friday prejudging, Jackson's superior conditioning and aesthetics were rewarded over Cutler's sheer size. On the final scorecards, the two were separated by seven points.

Cutler entered the Olympia threatening to match the level he reached at the Olympia in 2001, when he lost a controversial decision to Ronnie Coleman. By all accounts leading up to the show, he was on track to match that performance. But he took the stage at the Friday prejudging inexplicably flat, and carrying enough water to leave the door open for someone to step in and steal his crown. Feeling the heat, Cutler took his preparation to a new level, dropping 10 pounds before taking the stage on Saturday night. And while he looked vastly improved from Friday, Jackson's lead was too much to overcome.

"I feel a little sad but I have to be happy for Dexter because I know what it's like to win," Cutler said. "He didn't believe he could win when we were standing there. You win some you lose some. He looked better than me last night and I obviously had too much ground to cover tonight. It makes the Olympia a little more interesting, we've had those years where its the same guys winning all the time, it just sucks that I have to be the guy who gets defeated so quickly. But that's what makes me who I am." Although the Jackson-Cutler matchup grabbed the headlines, it was not the only story line that developed over the two-day contest. Nearly each of the top eight hit the mark, making it one of the most competitive Olympias in recent memory. And, standing at the forefront of that pack was Olympia rookie Phil Heath. Heath, who pushed Jackson at the Arnold in March, took his physique to the next level in Las Vegas and established himself - for now - as the best of the new breed. The 28-year-old Heath finished third - the highest finish for an Olympia rookie since 29-year-old Dorian Yates placed second to Lee Haney in 1991. Heath also came out on top in the much anticipated first matchup versus 29-year-old Dennis Wolf and gained the upper hand in a rivalry that will define the sport for years to come.

Wolf, who entered the contest being mentioned by some as the main threat to Cutler's three-peat, did not make the impact he was expected to. Despite finishing fourth, the German lacked both the conditioning and - incredibly - the overwhelming size he displayed when bursting onto the scene with his fifth-place finish a year ago.

Toney Freeman's fifth-place finish was greeted with the loudest boos from the audience. Freeman managed to at least match his conditioning and size from the 2007 Ironman, widely regarded as his best-ever showing.

Melvin Anthony made the final posedown for the third consecutive year, placing sixth for the second straight Olympia.

Mr. Olympia Final Results
1. Dexter Jackson
2. Jay Cutler
3. Phil Heath
4. Dennis Wolf
5. Toney Freeman
6. Melvin Anthony
7. Silvio Samuel
8. Dennis James
9. Mo Elmoussawi
10. Gustavo Badell
11. Darrem Charles
12. Johnnie Jackson
13. Craig Richardson
14. Ronny Rockel
15. David Henry
16. Kevin English
17T. Fouad Abiad
17T. Sergey Shelestov
17T. Leo Ingram

Click to expand...

The 28-year-old Heath finished third - the highest finish for an Olympia rookie since 29-year-old Dorian Yates placed second to Lee Haney in 1991

Click to expand...

tkD said:

Kevin Levrone at 24 years old took 2nd place in 1992 Mr O and Flex Wheeler in 1993 Olympia was 28 and took 2nd place as well, behind Dorian Yates.

also Rich Gaspari took 3rd place in 1985 at only 22 years old.

Click to expand...

ruel said:

the mass era has ended.. congrats dex.. even i want mamoth size bodybuilders...

Click to expand...

Deathmaggot said:

but did they placed so high in their 1st try?

Click to expand...

Big_Guns_Lance said:

^^How many pro shows did Kevin, Flex and Rich do before they competed in the O? Because it's on about rookie's. Meaning like there 3rd pro show or summat. The 1991 Mr O was Dorians 3rd pro show.

Click to expand...

# 1984 World IFBB Amateur Championships Light-HeavyWeight, 1st
# 1985 IFBB Night of Champions 2nd
# 1985 IFBB Mr. Olympia 3rd

Click to expand...

# 1992 San Jose Pro Invintaitonal, 3rd
# 1992 Night Of Champions, 1st
# 1992 Mr. Olympia, 2nd

Click to expand...

# 1993 IFBB Ironman Pro Invitational 1st
# 1993 IFBB Arnold Classic 1st
# 1993 IFBB Mr. Olympia 2nd

Click to expand...