Yeah, buddy. Light weight, baby! As you might have guessed, today we’re going to be looking at the iconic Ronnie Coleman, whom many bodybuilding fans still, to this day, consider to the G.O.A.T of the bodybuilding world. Bodybuilding is a sport steeped in history and tradition. Tracing way back to the days of Eugene Sandow, it’s safe to say that the sport has evolved enormously over the last several decades. Not only has the sport evolved, but so too, have the physiques. Today, we’re looking at a bodybuilder who arguably had the greatest bodybuilding physique in the history of the sport. The great Ronnie Coleman.
Who is Ronnie Coleman?
Ronnie Coleman is a name that bodybuilding fans will instantly recognize. For those of you not in the know, Ronnie Coleman is a now-retired IFBB pro bodybuilder, who holds the joint number of Olympia title wins in the history of the sport, with 8 consecutive wins. He is renowned for his friendly nature, his insane strength, and of course, for having one of the biggest, most defined physiques in the history of the sport. Having graced the cover of Muscle and Fitness, and Flex Magazine countless times, as well as being sponsored by some of the biggest supplement companies in the world, including BSN, he really has done it all in the world of bodybuilding.
Early life
Ronnie Dean Coleman was born on the 13th of May, 1964 in Louisiana. Whilst in University, he was an athletic kid and played American Football, playing as a middle backer. In order to bulk up for the sport, Ronnie found himself enjoying training in the gym more than the sport of football itself. He moved to Arlington Texas later in life, and from 1989 to 2000, he served as a police officer. From 2000 – 2003, whilst a pro bodybuilder, he continued to serve as a reserve.
Bodybuilding
Ronnie’s true calling in life was as a bodybuilder. He was big and jacked as a police officer, but one of his colleagues suggested that he attend Metroflex gym, which was owned by an amateur bodybuilder named Bryan Dobson. Dobson saw how jacked Coleman was and offered him a free lifetime membership to the gym, if Ronnie would allow him to train him for an upcoming bodybuilding show. Dobson trained Ronnie and earned him a 1st place finish at the Mr Texas contest. In 1995 he turned pro, and again won his first contest as a pro in Canada. He won numerous shows, and competed in powerlifting contests between competitions. He would go on to win numerous large shows, including the 1998 Mr Olympia, which was the biggest contest, and still is, in all of bodybuilding. Coleman won a further 7 consecutive times, until he was finally defeated by Jay Cutler in 2006. In 2007 he placed 4th, and finally retired, leaving behind him a legacy that is still unmatched to this day.
Life after bodybuilding
Decades of incredibly heavy lifting took its toll on Ronnie, and he recently underwent numerous spinal surgeries to correct damage caused to him by overtraining and heavy lifting. The good news is that he is finally on the mend, and he still has a physique that most men can only dream of.
