Mr. O for seven hours: in this FLEX exclusive, Jay Cutler tells the real story behind his tortuous Olympia odyssey, explains why he feels he's the "People's Champ" and reveals the qualities that drive his ambition and mold his character

Jay Cutler will be the first to tell you that sometimes you win by losing. The blond, lantern-jawed 28-year-old stunned the bodybuilding world at last year's Mr. Olympia contest (October 27) by nearly beating incumbent champion Ronnie Coleman. Although Coleman eventually edged out Cutler for his fourth straight Sandow, the controversial nature of the decision has transformed the quiet, hard-working, Boston-born bodybuilder into the People's Champion by acclamation. Evidence of Iron Jay's Olympia stock is found in the numerous e-mails and letters sent to this magazine by readers who, at a ratio of about eight to one, cited Cutler over Coleman as the winner of the Mr. O.

For a brief shining moment, those fans got their wish. You could say that Jay Cutler was Mr. Olympia for seven hours. He won both of the prejudging rounds, which concluded at 2:25 PM. However, in the evening segment, Coleman came back from the brink of defeat by taking the posing and posedown rounds to be announced 2001 Mr. Olympia at 9:50 PM. That was a first: Someone losing the first two rounds. of the Mr. Olympia contest had never gone on to win the title.

Given that scenario alone, the 2001 Mr. Olympia was the most controversial in years, but more was to come. Ten days after the contest, Cutler was informed by the IFBB that his urine test for diuretics was positive. Iron Jay was faced with the prospect of forfeiting his runner-up placing and $60,000 check. Then, in the midst of its due diligence, the IFBB discovered technical conflicts that forced the federation to throw out the results.

On Friday, November 30, Iron Jay, who lives with his wife, Kerry, in sedate Orange County, California, offered FLEX an exclusive interview about the fateful 2001 Mr. Olympia contest, his drug-test controversy and his plans for the future, which include competing in the 2002 Arnold Schwarzenegger Classic (seepage 49). Cutler began by issuing his first public quotes on the contentious issue of the drug test.

FLEX: What was your reaction when you heard about the drug-test result?

JAY CUTLER: When I was told the sample I had given had tested positive, I was devastated. I really hadn't had time to celebrate yet. Achieving second place in the Mr. Olympia at this point in my career was a major, major step for me. When I was told about the drug test, I tried to keep it out of my mind. I knew my sample couldn't be positive and that eventually things would work in my favor, which they did. In the end, it kind of made me smile a little bit, because it just seems that every time something good happens, there's always a downside.

As far as I'm concerned, it's behind me now. The greatest thing is that all along I had the support of the fans. But like I said, I'm done, it's behind me, it's time to move on and prove that my second place in the Olympia was no fluke.

Last year, a lot of guys made Olympia predictions, but you kept quiet. Privately, what was your Olympia goal?

Everyone counted me out because I kept my mouth shut and I did my. thing. Everyone was saying how Jay left Weider and signed with ISS, and he's just lying around doing nothing. But I don't talk. That's just not me. I do my job.

My goal for the Olympia was to come in at my biggest of all time, 265 pounds, and in my best all-time condition. This was achieved by drastic changes to my diet scheme. Chris Aceto does all my diet and nutrition, and he really pushed me. After the [2000] English Grand Prix, when I got second to Ronnie, Chris told me backstage, "In 2001, you're going to beat Ronnie at the Olympia." Chris felt right from that day that I was going to beat Ronnie.

Did you really feel that you could beat Ronnie?

Yes, I did. I felt like I could be very competitive with Ronnie. My goal was to equal my condition in England in 2000 with an extra 20 pounds of muscle, which is pretty much what I did.

What did it feel like when you were finally about to begin prejudging?

I knew I was pretty dry, but I was worried about being a little flat. I was sharing a dressing room with Mike Matarazzo, and I showed him what I looked like. He said, "Wow, man, you're Coming from him, that gave me confidence. I knew right then that I could be in contention.

What was your reaction when you first saw Ronnie backstage?

I was kind of blown away. Ronnie backstage is very, very impressive. His back is mounds of muscle--he's just big all over. But I wasn't intimidated. Obviously, Ronnie's very strong from the back, but my abs and thighs--in my eyes--are some of the best in bodybuilding. I was pretty confident that I'd look competitive standing next to him. I knew I belonged.

When you got the first callout with Ronnie and Kevin Levrone, how did you feel?

I started to get a little teary eyed. It was a dream come true--I'd been waiting 10 years to get the first callout at the Olympia. I remember the first Olympia I attended, in 1995 when [Dorian] Yates won, and I remember the excitement of watching that first callout. Years later, here I am, with all the main guys who were at that contest except Dorian. And here's Kevin who was at his best at that show, and I'm beating him. And I'm getting called out before Shawn Ray. I have a lot of respect for Shawn, and I'd never thought I'd beat him. To be able to compete with these guys and to get called out before them, that was a thrill. It was the highlight of the day for me. I told myself, "It's going to be my show."