Bodybuilding legend Ronnie Coleman‘s career and feats of strength still turn heads despite retiring over a decade ago. In his latest venture, he joined Shannon Sharpe’s Club Shay Shay Podcast on September 18, 2024, to discuss a range of topics including his all-time personal records, having the best back in the history of the sport, 2024 Mr. Olympia contenders, and why he was never afraid of injuries.
Coleman is easily one of –if not the strongest bodybuilder to ever grace the IFBB Pro League. Made famous for his gargantuan lifts inside the MetroFlex Gym in Texas, he built an imposing physique that resulted in eight consecutive Mr. Olympia titles, tied for the most of all-time with bodybuilding legend Lee Haney.
From 800-pound deadlifts and squats to his jaw-dropping 2,300-pound leg press for nine reps, there was no stopping Coleman in the prime of his bodybuilding career. With time to reflect on his accomplishments, he joined NFL legend Shannon Sharpe for a chest workout before discussing bodybuilding at length.
Ronnie Coleman, Shannon Sharpe Crush Chest Workout, Discuss All-Time PRs, Best Back in Sport, 2024 Mr. Olympia, and Being Unafraid of Injuries
Ronnie Coleman and Shannon Sharpe’s Chest Workout
Find the exercises they used in the video below:
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- Bench press
- Incline dumbbell press
- Decline Bench Press
During the workout, Coleman mentioned his personal records: a bench press of 500 pounds for six reps, a deadlift of 800 pounds for a double, an 800-pound squat for two reps, a leg press of 2,300 pounds for nine reps, and a 225-pound curl.
“Bench, I did 500 for five or six reps, it’s on tape. Deadlift is on tape, 800 for two. Squat it’s on tape also, 800 for two. I could’ve got six but that’s you know, neither here nor there. Leg press 2,300 for nine. Curling, I’ve curled 225 before for maybe 7-8 reps but I don’t really count all that kind of stuff.”
When asked who had the best back in bodybuilding, regardless of era, Coleman gave his unfiltered opinion.
“If I were to say everybody at their absolute best, and I put y’all up on the stage, who winning back? Who winning back double bi, rear lat spread?” asks Shannon Sharpe.
“All of those belong to me,” said Coleman. “Lights out rear lat spread. Yup and double bi every single time, I’m going to win every single time. Those are my shots.”
Coleman and Sharpe also discussed some of the frontrunners headed to the 2024 Mr. Olympia, such as Hadi Choopan, Samson Dauda, Nick Walker, and Andrew Jacked. Unlike during his reign, Coleman believes they are all on the ‘same level’ so he doesn’t envision a long-standing dynasty coming about anytime soon.
“I think it’s going to change hands every other year. Mhm, ain’t nobody dominant like that no more. You look at it now,” said Coleman. “Hadi could win another Olympia. You got Nick Walker. You got Samson. Don’t forget about Andrew, he could win Olympia. You ain’t got no dominant physiques out there right now. They are all pretty much on the same level.”
Another reason why he doesn’t believe there’s a dominant champion in the Open is because they are afraid or unwilling to perform certain lifts, like squats or deadlifts.
“The guys today, they won’t do squats or deadlifts,” said Coleman. “That’s why they looking like they are. They won’t do these heavy movements these free weights like that. It’s the only way you can get it.”
Coleman wasn’t afraid of injuries and credited that mindset for why he was so successful.
“I wasn’t afraid of no injuries. A lot of guys were afraid of doing certain exercises because of injuries,” said Coleman. “That gave me a huge advantage that’s why I look different from most of the guys out there. I was doing different exercises, doing different movements doing stuff that they wouldn’t do.”
“A lot of guys wouldn’t do deadlifts. I did deadlifts like every other week. I ain’t do them every week but I did deadlifts every other week. I did squats twice a week. Front squats and rear squats,” says Coleman. “I would probably go up to 600 or 700 yeah on deadlifts.”
He also opened up on his typical rest periods, which he said were usually 60-90 seconds. However, on leg day, the demands were higher so he would rest for two minutes.
“Yeah, 60, 90 seconds somewhere in there [were my typical rest periods] depending on what movement I was doing. If I was doing legs, probably two minutes at least because I’m squatting heavy. I’m doing 600 every workout, every workout.”
“No [long rest periods] I don’t got that kind of time,” shares Coleman. “I got different fibers in my body. I don’t think I had those real fast-twitch fibers like a lot of guys have where they get a pump real quick. My pump it takes a little bit longer for me to get it.”
Coleman certainly paid the price for a legendary bodybuilding career. He has endured over 13 back surgeries and struggles to walk without assistance in retirement. Nevertheless, he’s taken considerable actions to correct the ailment, having partaken in consistent stem cell therapy procedures to repair his body.
Although he’s long stepped away from the stage, fans and bodybuilders can still learn from Coleman’s accomplishments and career. After pumping iron alongside Shannon Sharpe, he continues to prioritize his fitness and well-being at 60 years old.
RELATED: Orthopedic Surgeon on Ronnie Coleman’s 13 Back Surgeries: ‘Squatting Can Cause a Lot of Injuries’
Watch the full video from the Club Shay Shay Podcast on YouTube below:
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