In an Instagram post made this morning by NPC News online, Dexter Jackson has announced that the 2020 Mr. Olympia contest will be his final appearance as a professional bodybuilder on stage. He shared his own comments within the announcement.
“I’ve thought long and hard about how I want my career to end.”
Explains Jackson,“I want to go out on my own terms. I’m still capable of winning any show I enter and in September I’m taking one final shot at taking home a second Sandow. The Olympia is the greatest show in bodybuilding and I want my final posedown to be on that stage in Vegas against the best in the world.”
“The 2020 Olympia will be my final contest, so I hope everyone who has supported me will be there to make it special.”
If Jackson is to retire after the Olympia, it would be the cap of a 21 year professional career that started when Bill Clinton was still President of the United States. Aside from winning the 2008 Mr. Olympia, the Jacksonville, Florida native has won five Arnold Classic Ohio titles, four other Arnold International titles, and a grand total of 29 professional shows as an IFBB Pro League bodybuilder. That is the most by any professional in the history of the sport.
Even at the age of 49, Jackson placed fourth in the 2019 Olympia which earned him an automatic qualification for the 2020 contest. He has celebrated his 50th birthday since then. As well as the Olympia, he is also scheduled to compete in all three early-season Arnold contests. That includes the Arnold Classic, Arnold Australia, and Arnold South America. If he were to win any one of those contest it would be his 30th professional Victory which he has said has been a goal for him ever since he first broke the record previously held by Ronnie Coleman.
Jackson’s amateur career began as a bantamweight but he would eventually turn pro as a light-heavyweight in 1998. His pro debut was the 1999 Arnold Classic where he placed 7th. For perspective on how long Jackson has been competing as a pro, the winner of his first contest was the late Nasser El Sonbaty. Other competitors in that lineup included Kevin Levrone, Vince Taylor, and a young Jay Cutler. Jackson is the only one who was in that contest that is still competing. When he competes at the 2020 Arnold Classic, he will be facing current stars like William Bonac, Cedric McMillan, and Mamdouh “Big Ramy” Elssbiay.
Other titles Jackson has won include the New York Pro, Ironman Pro, Masters Olympia, and the Olympia Europe. He also has some distinct honors to go with those wins.
- One of three men to win Arnold Classic and Mr. Olympia in the same calendar year.
- Only man to win Arnold Classic, Mr. Olympia, and Masters Olympia in his career.
- Competed onstage with 5 different Olympia winners (Coleman, Cutler, Phil Heath, Shawn Rhoden, Brandon Curry).
Featured Image: Instagram/mrolympia08
