The road to the Olympia has been anything but easy for Quinton Eriya.
After years of promise, countless near misses, and moments where his bodybuilding future appeared uncertain, the Canadian star has finally punched his ticket to the biggest stage in the sport. And despite recent comments from bodybuilding legend Shawn Ray suggesting he should reconsider competing if he doesn’t believe he can place in the Top 10, Quinton has made his position crystal clear.
He’s doing the Olympia.
End of discussion.
The debate began after Shawn Ray questioned whether athletes who don’t see themselves as legitimate Top 10 contenders should even step on the Olympia stage. While Ray’s comments sparked plenty of discussion throughout the bodybuilding community, Quinton wasted little time responding.
The Toronto Pro champion made it clear that skipping the Olympia was never an option.
After finally securing his qualification with a breakthrough victory at the Toronto Pro, Quinton stated that he has worked far too hard to walk away from the opportunity. The Canadian bodybuilder endured a frustrating 2025 season before earning his qualification, finishing runner-up an incredible four times and repeatedly coming agonizingly close to victory before finally getting the job done.
For many athletes, that kind of season would have been enough to break their confidence.
Instead, it strengthened Quinton's resolve.
Speaking on the matter, Quinton’s response was direct and unmistakable.
“I’m doing the Olympia. End of discussion.”
Those few words perfectly summed up the mindset of an athlete who has spent years chasing this goal.
What makes Quinton’s story even more compelling is what fans recently learned from his YouTube channel. The Canadian revealed that there was a point where he nearly walked away from bodybuilding entirely. After years of setbacks, disappointments, and struggling to reach the sport’s elite level, quitting became a real consideration.
Fortunately for bodybuilding fans, he didn’t.
Quinton credited his close circle of supporters for helping him through those difficult periods, explaining that the people around him continued believing in him when he was struggling to believe in himself. That support system ultimately helped him stay committed to the process and continue pursuing his Olympia dream.
Now that dream has become reality.
At just 6’2” with one of the most aesthetic structures in the Open division, Quinton has long been viewed as one of bodybuilding’s most genetically gifted athletes. His tiny waist, flowing lines, and impressive shape have made him a fan favorite for years, but consistency and qualification success had previously eluded him.
Not anymore.
The Toronto Pro victory erased years of frustration and secured his first Olympia appearance since earning his qualification. More importantly, it validated the perseverance that kept him moving forward despite repeated setbacks.
Will Quinton crack the Top 10 in Las Vegas?
That remains to be seen.
The 2026 Mr. Olympia lineup is expected to be one of the deepest in recent memory, filled with established stars, former champions, and dangerous newcomers. But for Quinton, simply being part of that conversation is something he has earned through years of persistence.
This isn’t about predictions.
It’s about finally getting the opportunity he fought for.
After finishing second four times, after nearly quitting the sport, and after years of chasing the biggest stage in bodybuilding, Quinton Eriya isn’t about to sit on the sidelines because someone thinks he may not place high enough.
He’s stepping on the Olympia stage.
And after everything it took to get there, nobody should be surprised by that decision.
