The Mr. Olympia competition debuted in 1965, and Larry Scott burnt his name in the history books when he became the first man to earn the title, the most prestigious in all professional bodybuilding. Created by Joe “The Master Blaster” Weider, one of modern bodybuilding’s founding fathers, the Mr. O was a chance for Mr. Universe winners to continue flexing their muscles for glory and make a buck in the process. Today, the contest has become the physique world’s version of the NFL Super Bowl extravaganza. Quite simply, if you take home a “Sandow” (the first-place statue trophy of pioneering muscleman Eugen Sandow), you’re considered king of the hill.

As of this time only 11 men have the honor to call themselves Mr. Olympia. And while Arnold Schwarzenegger is undoubtedly the most famous on the elite list, two spectacular champions, Lee Haney and Ronnie Coleman, are tied for most wins, with 16 between them.

Jay Cutler, who challenged Coleman for years before unseating the gigantic Texan in 2006, won last year in an extremely controversial decision. He plans to silence his detractors in 2008 and show up in Las Vegas in his best-ever condition. If the Massachusetts native can display his considerable beef with spot-on conditioning (if being the key word), most experts agree the Sandow will once again be his, and Jay will join Sergio Oliva and Frank Zane as a three-peat champion.

But there are some very hungry lions on his tail. Is Cutler a nervous man? Only he knows for sure … and he ain’t saying.

Mr. Olympia Facts and Trivia

• The first Mr. Olympia was held on September 18, 1965 at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, New York City, USA.

• Lee Haney (1984–1991) and Ronnie Coleman (1998–2005) are tied at eight with the most number of wins.

• The famous 1977 bodybuilding film Pumping Iron largely documented the lead-up to the 1975 Mr. Olympia in Pretoria, South Africa. It helped establish the celebrity of its two biggest stars, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Lou Ferrigno.

• Dorian Yates’ 1993 appearance on the Mr. Olympia stage, his first as defending champion, shocked fans worldwide – since his 1992 showing he had packed on almost 20 extra pounds of granite-hard mass! Gym pictures of Yates from months previous had his peers questioning their decision to even enter. Dorian declared his newfound size a result of learning how not to overtrain.

• Chris Dickerson and Samir Bannout are the two Olympia title-holders to own only one trophy each.

• The Mr. Olympia has been held in Las Vegas, Nevada, since 1999. The contest has been featured in New York City 10 times, but in non-consecutive years.

• Franco Columbu’s second win in 1981 (his first was in 1976) is perhaps the Mr. Olympia’s most controversial moment. To this day most fans consider this to be one of bodybuilding’s greatest embarrassments.