Andrew Jacked might be the next big thing in bodybuilding — both literally and figuratively. Chinedu Andrew Obiekea, better known as Andrew Jacked, is days away from his third appearance at the biggest event in bodybuilding.
- “He has the ability to be the next Ronnie Coleman,” four-time Mr. Olympia winner Jay Cutler said recently.
Cutler would know; he famously dethroned Coleman, considered the sport’s modern G.O.A.T., in the mid-2000s. The 2024 Mr. Olympia competition runs from Oct. 11 to 12, 2024, in Las Vegas, NV. Fans won’t have to wait long to find out if Cutler’s prophecy will come to pass.
Can Andrew Jacked Win the 2024 Mr. Olympia?
Speaking to RXMuscle Podcast host Dave Palumbo on Oct. 7, 2024, Cutler remarked on some of Jacked’s exceptional qualities that may position him as Coleman 2.0:
- Palumbo: “Is this guy another Coleman in the making?”
- Cutler: “Yes. [Jacked] is something else. Because of his stature, if he’s in just enough shape, you can go pose by pose … who wins?”
Jacked stands at 6’2”, boasting an incredibly large frame upon which he can pack pound after pound of muscle mass. Of course, even the Mr. Olympia competition isn’t just about muscle — Jacked will need to nail his conditioning.
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But Cutler makes a compelling point; Jacked’s extra-large frame enhances his stage presence and provides an intrinsic advantage that no amount of working out or dieting down can replicate. Mr. Olympia incumbent Derek Lunsford is 5’6”. Hadi Choopan, who won in 2022, is 5’7”. Eight-time Olympia winner Coleman is 5’11”.
Andrew Jacked: The Next Ronnie Coleman?
Jacked may have traces of a young Coleman in him, but we can draw a more informed conclusion by comparing their career trajectories. Jacked was born in 1985 and is nearing his 40th birthday. This year’s event in Vegas will be his third appearance at the Mr. Olympia.
Coleman first stepped onto the Olympia stage in 1992; he was 28 and failed to place, according to MuscleMemory. However, things rapidly improved for the future king of bodybuilding:
- First Olympia: 1992, age 28
- Third Olympia: 1995, age 31; 11th place
- First Win: 1998, age 34
By contrast, Jacked placed eighth during his Mr. Olympia debut in 2022 and then squeezed into the top five one year later. He’ll be almost a decade older than Coleman was at his own third “O” — but Jacked started off with a more impressive ranking and appears to be climbing faster.
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For bodybuilding pros, age is just a number. In August, BarBend spoke with PhD bodybuilder Dr. Eric Helms about the nuances of building muscle after 40. The takeaway is that it’s perfectly possible to keep making progress, even if you started late.
- The oldest man to win the Mr. Olympia was one-time victor Shawn Rhoden, who bagged the title in 2018 at age 43. Coleman himself is second-oldest, having won his last Sandow in ‘05 at age 41.
If Jacked can skewer a third or fourth-place finish at the 2024 Mr. Olympia, he might be an early favorite to win the whole thing in 2025. For Cutler’s part, at least, bodybuilding is overdue for someone larger-than-life: “The world is waiting,” he said.
They may not have to wait much longer.
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Featured Image: @andrewjacked / Instagram
