Jay Cutler was the first bodybuilder to win back the Sandow Trophy after losing it.
Besides building a stellar physique, bodybuilding poses are integral to bodybuilding. They can highlight an impressive physique or even serve to intimidate opponents. Mastering them requires significant time and rigorous training (1).
There have been many iconic poses that have captivated bodybuilders and fans throughout the years. The vacuum pose was a pivotal element in Frank Zane’s success. Flex Wheeler was impressed with his splits, Bob Paris was known for his elegant kneeling pose, and Sergio Oliva made the victory pose famous. Arnold Schwarzenegger perfected the challenging three-quarter turn, highlighting the impressive size of his back and arms.
Among these remarkable poses, none was as emotionally charged and statement-making as the quad stomp by four-time Mr. Olympia Jay Cutler in 2009. Before this, Jay Cutler had already secured two Olympia titles. However, in 2008, he faced a crushing defeat to Dexter Jackson. In 2009, determined to reclaim his lost title, Jay Cutler made a bold statement with his signature pose.
One must understand Jay Cutler’s journey and the circumstances leading to this iconic moment to appreciate the quad stomp truly. Discover more about him and the events leading to the unforgettable Jay Cutler quad stomp below.
| Full Name: Jay Cutler | ||
| Weight | Height | Date of Birth |
| 265 – 275 lbs | 5’9” | 08/03/1973 |
| Division | Era | Nationality |
| Men’s Open | 1990s- 2010s | American |
Who Is Jay Cutler?
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Before his amazing journey in bodybuilding, Jay Cutler worked in his brother’s construction company, Cutler Bros. He started dedicating his life to the gym after a brief stint with football and training to be a bodybuilder at 18 years old. While studying criminal justice in college, he met Marcos Rodriguez, a personal trainer, who encouraged him to try bodybuilding. He competed in his contest organized by a local Gold’s Gym, the Worcester Bodybuilding Championship, and came second. Cutler also competed in his second show, the NPC Iron Bodies Invitational, and won the teens’ and men’s heavyweight divisions.
Ranking Up
Jay Cutler earned his IFBB pro card by winning the National Physique Committee (NPC) heavyweight division in 1996 at 23. In 1997, he competed in his debut pro show, Night of Champions, and placed 12th. Ronnie Coleman, who would later become Cutler’s archrival, took home the gold that night.
In 1999, Cutler qualified for his first Mr. Olympia, placing 14th out of 16 contestants, while Ronnie Coleman came in first, defending his Olympia title and claiming the gold. However, this didn’t discourage Jay Cutler, as he focused on the following year, winning his pro show Night of Champions 2000. He then competed in the Olympia and jumped straight to the 8th position.
Jay Cutler’s physique improved massively in the 2000s. In 2001, he went up against reigning Olympia champ Coleman and came in second. However, many believed he should have won that year, especially after beating bodybuilding veterans like Shawn Ray and Kevin Levrone. Later that night, officials disqualified Cutler after he tested positive for banned diuretics. Cutler threatened to sue and had his second place reinstated.
When 2002 rolled around, Jay Cutler passed on the Olympia to focus on the Arnold Classic, where he came first. Ironically, that was one of the worst years for Ronnie Coleman on the Olympia stage. Many thought if Cutler competed, he would have outrightly won the title.
In the 2003 Olympia, Jay Cutler came prepared with added size and a massive physique, ready to challenge the reigning champ, Coleman. Unfortunately, Coleman came prepared well and went home with his sixth Olympia title, leaving Culter again in second. Cutler competed 33 times in the IFBB from 1998 until 2013, taking first place in 15 of those shows.
Jay Cutler’s First Olympia Win & Subsequent Loss
Jay Cutler still came in second for two more years in 2004 and 2005, while “The King” went home with the title on both occasions. However, in preparation for the 2006 Olympia, Jay Cutler boldly declared he would beat Ronnie Coleman and claimed he would shave his head if he didn’t.
Both Cutler and Coleman went head-to-head, and Cutler won his first Olympia title with a 16-point margin on the scorecards. In 2007, people thought Victor Martinez had better shape and conditioning than Cutler, but Culter again took home the title in a controversial win.
With Ronnie Coleman retired and Victor Martinez injured, people expected Cutler to win the title easily in 2008. However, Dexter Jackson, “The Blade,” had plans, as he took home the title with his superb conditioning, even though he was much smaller. This raised questions about Jay Cutler’s position in bodybuilding, with people even suggesting that he hang his boots.
The History Defining Quad Stomp
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At that point, no bodybuilder in the competition’s history had won back the Mr. Olympia trophy after losing it, so people suggested Cutler retire. However, Cutler had unique plans. At the 2009 Olypmia, he shocked everyone with his improved conditioning and narrow midline while maintaining size and definition. Dexter Jackson had no chance against him.
The judges placed Cutler and Jackson side by side for the last calls. Cutler was confident as he owned his physique, with the crowd cheering him on. At the second-to-last mandatory pose session, which was the abdominal and thigh pose, where Jackson often excelled, Cutler knew he had to change the tide in his favor.
He first pointed everyone to Jackson’s quads, then shook his quads to show his impressive quad striations. However, he didn’t stop there! He lifted his leg emphatically and stomped it on the floor while tensing his muscles. He then concluded this pose by pointing to his quad while contracting his torso and upper body. Thus, the iconic “Jay Cutler Quad Stomp” was born.
“Funny thing about the quad stomp. Everybody looks at it as a pose, but I’ll be honest. The quad stomp definitely was one of those rare things that happened when I walked out and I was standing out on stage. I went to hit like the most muscular… I remember thinking, ‘I’m not sure how cut my legs and thighs are.”’
The Jay Cutler quad stomp was a defining moment for him. It declared to his competitors that he was back and here to stay. After losing the Olympia title to Dexter Jackson in 2008, he returned despite the backlash to win back his title and defended it again before finally retiring in 2013.
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Reference
- Peixoto, D. L., Nacimento, D. C., Moura, R. F., de Moraes, W. M. A. M., Magalhães, B., de Sousa, L. L., Rolnick, N., & Prestes, J. (2024). A quasi-experimental study on the energy expenditure, exercise intensity, and rating of perceived exertion of a male bodybuilding posing training. Applied physiology, nutrition, and metabolism = Physiologie appliquee, nutrition et metabolisme, 49(11), 1529–1538. https://doi.org/10.1139/apnm-2024-0151
