The Men Who Beat Phil Heath

Of the 13 men who have held the Mr. Olympia title since the contest’s inception in 1965, only 5 were never beaten again in competition once they had earned that title. They are Larry Scott, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Franco Columbu, Lee Haney, and Dorian Yates. It’s very likely that Phil Heath could eventually claim that same distinction. For all the noise we heard about Kai Greene and more recently Big Ramy threatening to knock The Gift off his throne, these eyes don’t see it happening unless Phil competes horribly ill or injured. The sport of bodybuilding is all about finding the physique that displays the best total package of mass, structure, muscle shape, balance, proportion, symmetry, condition, and presentation. Right now, I don’t see anyone that approaches the sum of parts quite the way Heath does. With that in mind, assuming Phil retires when he is still at the top of his game rather than linger on past his prime, Phil may never be beaten again. Here are the contests Phil was beaten at since turning pro at the 2005 USA, and the men who can always say they beat Phil Heath.

2007 Arnold Classic – Fifth place

Phil’s rookie season in 2006 had consisted of two carefully calculated entries at the Colorado Pro and the New York Pro, both of which he won with ease. The following year he stepped up to the next level and vied for the Arnold Classic title. Still giving up size and shoulder width, he took fifth in a solid lineup. Winner Victor Martinez was at his best that year, and went on to nearly beat Jay Cutler at the Mr. Olympia a few months later in a controversial decision. Runner-up Dexter Jackon would go on to place behind Jay and Victor at the Olympia, and the following year would claim his own Mr. Olympia title. Third place Toney Freeman had just won the Pro Ironman and was approaching his peak. He would have his first and only top five finish at the Mr. Olympia in 2008. Fourth place finalist Gustavo Badell, The Freakin’ Rican was just beginning a downward slide from a meteoric mid-90’s rise that saw him place top 3 at the Olympia two years in a row and even beat champ Ronnie Coleman in the short-lived experiment known as ‘The Challenge Round.’ Of that group, only Dexter would ever beat Phil again.

2008 Arnold Classic – Second place

There was no shame in Phil losing here to Dexter Jackson, who won his third out of an eventual five Arnold Classic titles and would go on to win all four other contests he entered that year, culminating in the big daddy, the Mr. Olympia .

2009 Mr. Olympia – Fifth place

After eating some fish that had apparently gone bad while transporting it around Las Vegas, Phil was knocked on his ass by food poisoning. Vomiting and diarrhea flattened out his normally full to bursting muscles, and he wound up taking his lowest placing ever at the O. Winner Jay Cutler made a historic comeback in razor-sharp condition, becoming the first champ to ever win his title back after losing it. Runner-up Branch Warren was in what I and many others who were there feel was the best shape of his life, appearing to be carved out of granite. Defending Olympia champ Dexter was third, and reigning Arnold Classic champ Kai Greene rode that wave all the way to fourth place at his Mr. O debut.

2010 Arnold Classic – Second place

This one was a real head-scratcher. Kai won this second consecutive Arnold Classic title, but many were unsure how. After the judging, Phil was in first with a perfect score of 5, while Kai had 10 points. At the finals, Kai was given a score of 5, while Phil was tied with third-place Branch Warren at 13 points. Honestly, from my point of view, neither man looked very different from the afternoon to the evening, certainly not enough for Kai to suddenly pull so far ahead from behind. Phil wound up with 20 points to Kai’s 15 in a decision many didn’t agree with. Kai looked really good, but I and many others thought Phil had that show,

2010 Mr. Olympia – Second place

This contest was basically between Jay Cutler and his friend and protégé Phil all weekend. Jay was much bigger and fuller than he’d been the year before, but that insane condition was noticeably absent. The battle was a lot closer than what Jay’s eventual 8-pount lead on the score cards would indicate, and a huge portion of the audience felt Phil deserved the win. In fact, about half the audience immediately booed and began walking out the second the decision was announced. It was Cutler’s fourth and final title win, and the next year Phil’s own reign would begin at last. As for anyone who attempts to beat The Gift and end that reign, good luck! You’re gonna need it.

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