Over the years, Mr. Olympia has seen some real muscle monsters, but Ronnie Coleman was in a league of his own. This guy ruled for eight straight years with a huge and super cut body. Even after his streak ended in 2006, fans still call him the GOAT.
So, Ronnie wasn’t always all about bodybuilding. He didn’t start as a fitness freak. His journey from powerlifting to being a bodybuilding legend is something today’s gym rats are thankful for. In a chat with Bradley Martin, Ronnie spilled the beans on how he got into the sport.
Back in the day, Ronnie was a cop who loved powerlifting. He was already pretty strong. But bodybuilding? That wasn’t on his radar until he bumped into another bodybuilder, Brian Dobson. Meeting Dobson was the game changer for Coleman.
“Bodybuilding was never in my plans… never did it, never wanted to.”
But things took a turn when Dobson got him to try bodybuilding, baiting him with a free gym membership. Ronnie gave in and started training hard. What made Ronnie stand out was his insane genetics, something every top bodybuilder envies.
Even after winning his first three Olympia titles from 1998-2000, Ronnie didn’t quit his day job as a cop, sticking around as a reserve officer. He told Martin that, despite his bodybuilding success, his heart was still in policing.
“I just never saw myself as a full-time pro bodybuilder. For me, bodybuilding was on the side, being a cop was my main gig.”
But as success kept coming, Ronnie became unbeatable in everything he did. His size and fitness level were just unreal. But every story has its ups and downs. For Ronnie, stepping away from bodybuilding brought him face-to-face with reality.
What went down with Ronnie after he stepped off the stage? In 2006, Ronnie started a new chapter, but years of pushing his body to the limit caught up with him. His hips, spine, and neck started giving him major issues.
After going through 13 surgeries, Ronnie’s still recovering from some messed-up procedures and looking for more medical help. But with some new stem cell treatments, it looks like he’s getting better.
