Everyone tuned into the 2024 Olympia knows Samson Dauda thwarted defending champion Derek Lunsford‘s attempt to win back-to-back titles. Dauda left with the Sandow Trophy and the $600,000 prize. Chris Bumstead and Cydney Gillon announced their retirements, ending their Olympia dynasties. It was a weekend of surprises and drama.
Another surprising turn of events featured fitness influencer Jesse James West, who made headlines by presenting an award at the 2024 Olympia. How did West end up on stage for the 60th edition of the most significant event in bodybuilding?
After Olympia concluded on Oct. 13, 2024, West shared how he “lied” his way onto the Mr. Olympia stage.
[Related: Why Phil Heath Stopped Winning the Mr. Olympia]
West views the Olympia as the pinnacle for bodybuilders worldwide. While the event showcases dozens of competitors, only the top five of the finest ultimately grace the stage during the award ceremony.
West dreamed of stepping on the Olympia stage. Here’s what he did to make it a reality.
Phone Call with Olympia Director
Five days before the 2024 Olympia, West reached out to the Olympia Director and asked:
Can I award Mr. Olympia on stage this year?
The Olympia Director replied with a firm no, clarifying that such arrangements were exclusive to sponsors. Nevertheless, West remained undeterred in his pursuit. He packed his bags and traveled to Las Vegas.
Gaining Stage Access
West experimented with various disguises suggested by fans from his YouTube channel. These included dressing up as a janitor, a bodybuilding coach, and a security guard. Ultimately, West chose to disguise himself as a reporter to gain access to the VIP areas of the Olympia.
If I learned anything from last year, it is that if you want to access VIP areas of the Olympia, just become a reporter.
Through interviews, West gradually connected with athletes such as Chris Bumstead, Wesley Vissers, and Ramon Rocha Queiroz. During a conversation with Bumstead, West almost revealed too much. He quickly recognized the need to temper his approach to protect his identity and the mission.
Connecting with a Sponsor
For West to take the stage, he needed to identify and connect with a sponsor, a task he had yet to accomplish. After inquiring about the sponsors, he found little helpful information.
West’s next step was to attend the Olympia press conference to gather more insights. Fortunately, before the press conference, a security guard provided West with the necessary information about the sponsors.
West received a text from Frank, whom he had met at last year’s Olympia. The message informed him that a sponsor wanted to discuss the possibility of his presenting an award on stage. This connection led to a meeting with sponsor Tony Saxyby, CEO of Wolf Fitness, who had a slot for the Classic Physique division awards, to set West’s plan in motion.
Having secured his chance to step on stage, West prepared his lines. For assistance, West enlisted the help of exercise scientist Dr. Mike Israetel, IFBB Pro Jared Feather, and eight-time Mr. Olympia Ronnie Coleman. Dr. Israetel advised West as they worked through their lines, “Don’t f*ck it up.”
Show Day
On show day, West made his way to pre-judging. He kept a low profile, as the backstage tension was palpable, with competitors intensely focused.
I did my best to stay low-key and not disturb any of the competitors. They are so locked in that it is hard to feel comfortable. The tension is very high.
West received a call from Tony Saxby saying that he would join him on the Olympia stage to present fourth place instead of sneaking in. West confessed feeling nervous backstage and sought final advice from Ronnie Coleman.
Have fun. That’s all I did when I was out there.
Just before the announcement of the fourth-place winner, West and Saxby took to the stage to present Ramon Rocha Queiroz with the fourth-place medal. West expressed that he never imagined stepping onto an Olympian stage but found a way to make it happen.
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Featured image: @jessejameswest on Instagram
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