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Fresh off one of the biggest victories<\/a> of his career, Quinton Eriya<\/a> has officially confirmed that he will compete at the 2026 Mr. Olympia<\/a>. But not everyone in bodybuilding agrees that\u2019s the right move. Following Eriya\u2019s victory at the Toronto Pro, bodybuilding legend Shawn Ray<\/a> argued that the rising Men\u2019s Open star should skip the Olympia<\/a> this year and spend more time improving before stepping onto the sport\u2019s biggest stage.<\/strong><\/p>\n Ray\u2019s comments sparked immediate debate throughout the bodybuilding community, especially after Eriya publicly confirmed<\/a> that he has no intention of passing up the opportunity.<\/p>\n While Ray believes waiting another year would be the smarter move, Quint \u201cBeastwood\u201d made it clear that his mind is already made up.<\/p>\n \u201cFirst of all I\u2019m a fan of Shawn Ray. He said I shouldn\u2019t do the Olympia because he thinks I won\u2019t be able to place top ten. Alright\u2026 tomorrow\u2019s never promised guys. So when you work your tail off and you get the opportunity to accomplish one of your dreams, it\u2019s a no-brainer. I\u2019m doing the Olympia.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n For Eriya, the argument has little to do with where he ultimately places. After years of chasing an Olympia qualification, simply earning the opportunity<\/a> to stand on bodybuilding\u2019s biggest stage is something he isn\u2019t willing to postpone.<\/p>\n His response has resonated with many fans who believe qualified athletes should seize every chance they earn because there is no guarantee another opportunity will come.<\/p>\n Ray\u2019s position isn\u2019t necessarily that Eriya lacks talent.<\/p>\n Instead, the former bodybuilding star believes competitors should be realistic about their chances when deciding whether to compete at Olympia.<\/p>\n \u201cQuinton shouldn\u2019t do Olympia. He won\u2019t place in the top ten. He\u2019d be better off taking time to improve and come back next year.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n According to comments shared on the Muscle Discord podcast, Ray argued that if an athlete isn\u2019t capable of placing inside the Top 10, it may make more sense to spend that time competing in smaller shows, collecting victories, earning prize money, and continuing to improve.<\/p>\n Ray also reportedly pointed to both Jay Cutler<\/a> and Phil Heath<\/a> as examples of future champions who delayed their Olympia<\/a> debuts in order to further develop their physiques.<\/p>\n Not everyone agrees with Ray\u2019s assessment.<\/p>\n Former bodybuilding star Gary Strydom<\/a> reportedly argued that Eriya<\/a> should absolutely take advantage of the opportunity.<\/p>\n Strydom\u2019s reasoning is straightforward: bodybuilders spend their entire careers trying to qualify for Olympia, and there is no guarantee they will ever get another chance.<\/p>\n That perspective aligns closely with Eriya\u2019s own comments about tomorrow never being promised.<\/p>\n The discussion highlights one of the most interesting questions in professional bodybuilding.<\/p>\nQuinton Eriya: \u201cTomorrow\u2019s Never Promised\u201d<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Shawn Ray Thinks Waiting Would Be the Smarter Career Move<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Gary Strydom Takes the Opposite View on Quinton Eriya<\/strong><\/h2>\n
A Debate With No Easy Answer<\/strong><\/h2>\n