Jay Cutler reached the top of the sport thanks to his insane leg size and definition. On April 5, 2026, he broke down the exact leg day routine he used to achieve Mr. Olympia dominance.
During Jay Cutler‘s era, he had the misfortune of dealing with the ‘GOAT’ Mr. Olympia champion Ronnie Coleman. At one point, no one thought “The King” would be dethroned, but Cutler never lost sight of his goal. In 2006, he did the unthinkable. Cutler unseated Coleman as champion and proved that hard work and perseverance were cornerstones of his success.
Cutler went on to lose the Sandow trophy in 2008 against Dexter Jackson. This setback laid the groundwork for Jay’s ’09 comeback. He quad stomped the competition and won back his crown before ultimately leaving the sport with four victories under his belt. Although he retired, Cutler still remembers exactly which exercises helped him achieve some of the strongest legs the sport has ever witnessed.
Jay Cutler’s Leg Day Routine That Helped Him Achieve 4 Mr. Olympia Titles
In the video, Cutler summarized the staple exercises he performed in his prime to win the Olympia four times.
“My leg day routine that built 4 Olympia titles. Light extensions to warm up → leg press → hack squats → front or back squats (alternate weeks) → walking lunges → heavy extensions → hamstrings. Volume over ego. Stay with it. 💪 ” Jay Cutler shared.
- Leg Extensions (Light Weight)
- Leg Press
- Front or Back Squats
- Walking Lunges
- Leg Extensions (Heavy Weight)
- Hamstring Work
Leg Extensions
He began the workout with leg extensions, keeping the weight light.
“To start up to warm up. Not crazy heavy. Some light weights.”
Leg Press
After warming up his quads, Cutler moved into the leg press, an exercise he credited with helping him achieve his iconic lower-body detail.
“Since I’m warmed up, do three sets of leg press.
Hack Squat
To stimulate the frontal quads and build his outer sweep, Cutler stuck with the hack squat machine.
“It really stimulates the frontal quads, that sweep.”
Front Squat or Back Squat
He switches between front squats and back squats week to week to keep his body guessing.
Lunges + Leg Extensions (Heavy) + Hamstring Work
As long as the gym has available space, walking lunges always find their way into Cutler’s routine. He prefers finishing leg days with dedicated hamstring work.
“Walking lunges, if I’m in a gym that I can walk up and down,” he said. “Then, finishing off with more leg extensions, really a little heavier, stimulate. I throw some hamstrings in there.”
Beyond the stage, Cutler has offered his fans insider tips for maximizing workout results. Since massive quad sweeps were one of his physique’s greatest strengths, he broke down how to dramatically improve them with the hack squat machine.
At 52 years old, Cutler still trains seven days a week. Even though he doesn’t train to compete anymore, this leg day routine remains a staple in his arsenal.
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