Having grown up in the magazine era of bodybuilding, Jay Cutler still tracks the sport closely since laying down his posing trunks. Taking to his Cutler Cast Podcast on August 29, 2024, Cutler discussed why people believe Chris Bumstead is Mr. Olympia, and argues that Open class competitors have gotten ‘too damn big.’
In the 1990s, Dorian Yates ushered in a new era of mass and conditioning. Using these weapons, he amassed six Mr. Olympia titles, echoing that size was now king in the growing IFBB Pro League division. As the years went by, we saw bodybuilders take things to a new level. By the time the 2000s arrived, Ronnie Coleman seized control, redefining the physique standards set before him. Then, it was Cutler’s turn, which he embraced by winning four Mr. Olympia titles.
Muscle size has remained a critical component in winning a Mr. Olympia. However, Jay Cutler believes that the division’s popularity might have taken a hit as many deem Open physiques as unattainable. Below, he breaks down why many look at Chris Bumstead’s physique as Mr. Olympia instead of champion Derek Lunsford, or former titleholder Hadi Choopan.
Jay Cutler Says Open Bodybuilders Are ‘Too Damn Big’: “People Think Chris Bumstead is Mr. Olympia”
According to Jay Cutler, people think Chris Bumstead is the Mr. Olympia and ‘the only one.’ He believes, for the most part, Open Mr. Olympia winners are unknown to the general public.
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“Yeah, but people think Chris Bumstead is Mr. Olympia. And the only one. They don’t know who the – if I asked any person that followed social media and I say, ‘Do you know who Cbum is?’ They say ‘Yeah.’ I say, ‘Do you know who Hadi Choopan or Derek Lunsford or Big Ramy or… they don’t know,” shares Cutler.
He adds that the sport has changed and no longer builds stars from an amateur level onward.
“Back in our era, like you talked about, the magazines built up the amateurs to a point where when you turned Pro, you were cranking. You had these Weider deals, these contracts,” he shared.
Cutler believes even during the height of his career, Open Bodybuilding had become ‘too damn big.’
“I could talk about Open Bodybuilding even when I was winning, it’s just too damn big!”
Jay Cutler is not the first bodybuilding legend to bring up how size has affected the Open division. Arnold Schwarzenegger previously called Open Bodybuilding dangerous, stressing that it got to a point where people were dying. He also underlined that Classic Physique was ‘the future’ of bodybuilding. Perhaps he’s right given that most people think ‘Cbum’ is the reigning Mr. Olympia.
While the Open class is home to some of the freakiest athletes in the world, Cutler wonders if the division has gotten out of hand. Do you think Open class competitors are too big today?
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