Dexter is a class act - started as a Bantamweight at 138 pounds, if I remember correctly. Quite possibly one of the top bodybuilders in longevity ever!
Absolutely, Ron. It depends on the definition of longevity, but as far as Mr. Olympia appearances are concerned, Dexter competed from the 1999 Mr. Olympia to the 2019 Mr. Olympia, only sitting out once in 2005!
What's more is that he was qualified to compete in 2005. That means he could have competed in the Olympia from 1999 through to 2019, inclusively, having been able to compete in a staggering 21 consecutive Mr. Olympia contests, had he not sat out 2005. Even the 14 year streak Dexter did achieve [2006-2019] despite his choice to sit out in 2005, was amazing.
And IIRC, Dexter sat out in 2005 over politics. I can't remember the exact reason, but it may have been because Dexter placed 2nd to Chris Cormier at the San Francisco Pro, earlier that year. Again, IRRC. I just found it interesting that Dexter competed in 20 out of the past 21 Mr. Olympia contests since [and including] 1999 - let alone the fact that the only reason why he didn't have a 21 year streak was because of his own choice to sit out a contest after a six year streak. It's not like he was burnt out and couldn't compete in 2005.
It's really a type of longevity that I have never seen in bodybuilder before - or in any team sport for that matter. Only rarely do we have people pulling that off...Jaromir Jagr comes to mind. I'm sure some of us know carpenters who have worked from age 18 to age 68, and stuff like that really impresses me. Some people seem to live lifetime stamina.
Ron, check out Dexter's Mr. Olympia contest results from Tim Fogarty's website, MuscleMemory.com. MuscleMemory is your friend!
Dexter Jackson Mr Olympia Placings:1st: 2008.
2nd: 2015,
3rd: 2016, 2009, 2007, 2003.
4th: 2019, 2017, 2012, 2010, 2006, 2004, 2002.
5th: 2014, 2013,
6th: 2011,
7th: 2018,
8th: 2001
9th: 2000, 1999.
^^ Incredible record! No one but Dexter has competed for a full 20 year time span.
http://musclememory.com/show.php?s=dexter+jackson&g=MDexter Jackson Bodybuilding Longevity Stats:1999-2019 tenure [20 year time frame].
2006-2019 and 1999-2004 consecutive contests [14 max, 6 min].
Total Mr. Olympia appearances [15].
Mr. Olympia wins: [1]
You could argue that Lou Ferrigno came close, having competed in the Mr. Olympia contest over a 19 year time frame by competing in his first Mr. Olympia contest in 1974, and in his last Mr. Olympia in 1993. But Lou only competed in four Mr. Olympia contests [1974, 1975, 1992, 1993]. Perhaps he could have competed straight through from 1974 to 1994, but he was invited to Hollywood, and took that invitation.
Then there is Ronnie Coleman, who competed from 1992 to 2007, missing only 1993.
Ronnie Coleman Mr Olympia Placings:1st: 1998-2005.
2nd: 2006.
4th: 2007.
6th: 1996.
9th: 1997.
11th: 1995
15th: 1994.
Did Not Place: 1992.
Ronnie Coleman Bodybuilding Longevity Stats:1992-2007 tenure [15 year time frame].
1994-2007 consecutive contests [14].
Total Mr. Olympia appearances [15].
Consecutive Mr. Olympia wins [8].
Then we have Shawn Ray. I think Shawn's record is worth breaking down by placing, in that he both competed for over a decade straight, and he was a consistent top five placing bodybuilder during that time frame:
Shawn Ray Bodybuilding Mr Olympia Placings:2nd: 1994, 1996.
3rd: 1990, 1993, 1997.
4th: 1992, 1995, 2000, 2001.
5th: 1991, 1998, 1999.
13th: 1988.
^ Notice the balanced bell curve pattern that Shawn's competitive history takes? It would seem pretty clear to me that Shawn competed for SHAWN. Not in a selfish way, as one could interpret a statement written like that, but from the perspective of competitive success combined with risk taking, but never taking risks that Shawn felt would throw off the overall balance and symmetry of his physique or cause him to burn energy or take an unnecessary risk to his health. Shawn knew what his genetic potential was, and wanted to achieve it without injuring his body, or doing anything to significantly reduce his lifespan, and I think that Shawn was able to do that while, sadly, other competitive bodybuilders passed away young or developed health issues as a result of being competitive bodybuilders.
It makes me sad to think that even as a person who follows bodybuilding that I may not know the names of some of the competitive bodybuilders who got sick or died young, who were not IFBB pros.
Shawn Ray Bodybuilding Longevity Stats:1988-2001 [13 year time frame].
1990-2001 consecutive contests [12].
Total Mr. Olympia appearances: 13
Then there is Albert Beckles who competed from 1975 through to 1991 [missing 1976, 1980, 1981, and 1990].
Albert Beckles Bodybuilding Longevity Stats:1975-1991 tenure [16 year time frame].
1982-1989 consecutive contests [8] [max]
Total Mr. Olympia appearances [13].
Then I will throw in Jay Cutler, since his Mr. Olympia tenure ran from 1999 through to 2013, having only taken 2002 and 2012 off:
Jay Cutler Mr Olympia Placings:1st: 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010.
2nd: 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2008, 2011.
6th: 2013.
8th: 2000.
15th: 1999.
^ Had Ronnie Coleman not been in the picture, Jay Cutler could have presumably won the Mr. Olympia contest a staggering
11 times, from 2001 through to 2011. No guarantees it would have worked out that way in an alternate universe or anything, but to think that Jay Cutler was no lower than 2nd over a 10 year window in the 10 out of 11 Mr. Olympia contests held during those years, sitting only one so that he could improve [and possibly send a message to the judges], is pretty impressive.
Jay Cutler Bodybuilding Longevity Stats:1999-2013 tenure [14 year time frame].
2003-2011 consecutive contests [9] [max]
Total Mr. Olympia appearances [13].
