Dexter Jackson AKA The Blade is an IFBB professional bodybuilder and the winner of the 2008. Mr. Olympia.

Famous for his impressive conditioning which he took to the stage every year, Dexter dominated the sport for over 3 decades, winning 9 Arnold Classic titles, as well as being the bodybuilder who’s won the most titles in professional history.

Competitions

1992 NPC Southern States, Lightweight, 3rd
1995 NPC USA Championships, Light-Heavyweight, 1st
1996 NPC Nationals, Light-Heavyweight, 6th
1998 North American Championships, Light-HeavyWeight, 1st and Overall
1999 Arnold Classic, 7th
1999 Grand Prix England, 4th
1999 Night of Champions, 3rd
1999 Mr. Olympia, 9th
1999 World Pro Championships, 4th
2000 Arnold Classic, 5th
2000 Grand Prix Hungary, 2nd
2000 Ironman Pro Invitational, 3rd
2000 Night of Champions, 8th
2000 Mr. Olympia, 9th
2000 Toronto Pro Invitational, 2nd
2001 Arnold Classic, 5th
2001 Grand Prix Australia, 3rd
2001 Grand Prix England, 4th
2001 Grand Prix Hungary, 3rd
2001 Night of Champions, 2nd
2001 Mr. Olympia, 8th
2001 Toronto Pro Invitational, 2nd
2002 Arnold Classic, 3rd
2002 Grand Prix Australia, 2nd

Early Years

Dexter Jackson was born on November 25th, 1969, in Jacksonville, Florida. His enthusiasm for physical activity showed early on in his life, and would always take part in various sports, as he was the most energetic of 6 children in the family.

By the time Dexter entered high school, he started playing football, where he excelled as a running back. At one point, he managed to run a 4.20 in the forty meter dash, which was one of the fastest times in the country.

Jackson participated in other activities alongside football at the time, some of them being gymnastics and break dancing. Dexter was also a 4th-degree black belt in karate.

When he finished high school, Jackson planned on going to college, but his girlfriend became pregnant and he decided to take care of his family. According to Dexter, he then moved to an apartment with his girlfriend and started working as a cook.

Starting With Bodybuilding

Due to his sporting background and genetics, Dexter developed an impressive physique as he grew up, which some of his friends quickly noticed and suggested he should consider competing in a local show.

Jackson thought it over and agreed. He started dieting and going to the gym to prepare for the competition.

After only 3 weeks of preparations, at the age of 20, Dexter stepped on the stage for the first time in his life, and easily won the show.

It was at that point Dexter realized his potential in the industry, and also realized the amount of success he could achieve with more time spent training and dieting.

Becoming Professional

Dexter came back in 1995, and after 3 years of hard work and discipline, he stepped on the stage once again, taking home 1st place at the 1995 NPC USA Championships in the Light-Heavyweight category.

At that point he already set his sights on winning a Pro card, and becoming a part of the elite IFBB Pro league.

He started off by placing 6th at the 1996 NPC Nationals, Light-Heavyweight, and surprised everyone 2 years later by winning the 1998 North American Championships, both the Light-Heavyweight and overall category, where he eventually earned his Pro card.

Life as a Pro

Dexter said that everything became easier after winning the Pro card. He could finally enter the most prestigious competitions.

Over the course of several months after the 1998 competitions, he worked hard and dieted for his first professional show – the 1999 Arnold Classic, where he took home a respectable 7th place.

Jackson took part in 4 other competitions that same year, the first being the Grand Prix England, where he came in 4th place.

He continued his streak by placing 3rd, 9th, and 4th, at the 1999 Night of Champions, Mr. Olympia, and the World Pro Championships.

Mr. Olympia

For the next several years, Jackson dominated the bodybuilding scene by winning several editions of one of the most prestigious competitions, the Arnold Classic.

He took home 1st place at the 2005, 2006, and 2008 edition of the Arnold Classic, but also won a number of other shows such as the 2004 San Francisco Pro Invitational, 2007 IFBB Australian Pro Grand Prix, 2008 IFBB Australian Pro Grand Prix VIII, and the 2008 IFBB Russian Grand Prix.

It wasn’t long before competition time came around to take part in the Olympia, and after 8 attempts, Dexter defeated the defending champion, Jay Cutler, and won his first ever Mr. Olympia title in 2008.

Needless to say, this was the highlight of Dexter’s career. This gave him additional motivation to push harder and defend the title in the following year.

Daily Workout

Day 1: Quads
Leg Extensions: 4 sets of 20-30 reps

Squats: 4 sets of 8-10 reps

Hack Squats: 4 sets of 8-10 reps

Leg Extensions: 3 sets of 10 reps

Day 2: Chest & Calves
Barbell Bench Press: 4 sets of 8-10 reps

Incline Dumbbell Press: 4 sets of 8-10 reps

Dumbbell Flyes: 4 sets of 8-10 reps

Standing Calf Raises: 4 sets of 8-10 reps

Seated Calf Raises: 4 sets of 10-15 reps

Day 3: Back
Lat Pull-downs: 4 sets of 8-10 reps

T-Bar Rows: 4 sets of 8-10 reps

Barbell Dead-lifts: 4 sets of 8-10 reps

Seated Cable Rows: 3 sets of 8-10 reps

Day 4: Shoulders & Hams
Dumbbell Press: 4 sets of 8-10 reps

Incline Lying Side Laterals: 3 sets of 8-10 reps

Rear Delt Raises: 4 sets of 8-10 reps

Seated Leg Curls: 5 sets of 10 reps

Super-set: Lying Leg Curls: 4 sets of 10 reps

Stiff-Legged Dead lift: 4 sets of 10 reps

Day 5: Biceps & Triceps
EZ-Bar Curls: 4 sets of 8-10 reps

Hammer Curls: 4 sets of 8-10 reps

Preacher Curls: 4 sets of 8-10 reps

Tri-Set: Triceps Push-downs: 3 sets of 8-10 reps

Dips: 3 sets of 8-10 reps

Rope Push-downs: 3 sets of 8-10 reps

Day 6: Ab & Cardio Routine:
Crunches: 3 sets of 50 reps

Knee-ups: 3 sets of 40 reps

Cable Crunches: 3 sets of 30 reps

Day 7: Off (Rest)

Diet

Having a balanced, yet calorie-filled diet is something Dexter has whenever he’s in the off-season, or during competition phases. He also allows himself cheat meals as a way to replenish the body of vital nutrients and lost calories.

However, when he’s preparing for a competition, Jackson rarely cheats, as he believes that there is no substitution to a strict, clean diet.

He usually eats lean meats such as steak and chicken as a source of protein, and white or brown rice, and sweet potatoes as a source of carbohydrates, and nuts for healthy fats.

Daily Meals

During his prime, Dexter’s diet looked like this:

Meal 1 – 7 ounces steak or chicken, 2 whole eggs, 4 one-ounce packets of grits
Meal 2 – 8 ounces chicken or cod, two cups white rice
Post-workout – BCAA powder in Gatorade
Meal 3 – 8 ounces chicken or cod, two cups white rice
Meal 4 – 8 ounces chicken or cod, two cups white rice
Meal 5 – 10 ounces chicken, large green salad
In between meals, Jackson would often consume a whey protein shake.