The legend of Ronnie Coleman has only grown since his retirement in 2007 after placing fourth at his final Mr. Olympia. In a recent The Menace Podcast, Milos Sarcev and Chris Cormier looked back on Ronnie Coleman competing drug-free at the 1992 and 1994 Mr. Olympia competitions.
Matching the accolades of Lee Haney, Coleman laid claim to eight Mr. Olympia titles in his heyday. His legacy was defined by a cutthroat rivalry with his successor Jay Cutler. In 2006, Cutler finally knocked Coleman off the throne but admits it took late nights, sacrifices, and training methods resembling ‘The King’s’ routine to come out on top.
Since stepping away from the stage, Coleman hasn’t stopped following the sport or working out. Glorified in the bodybuilding community for his unparalleled mass and density, even Cutler believes there hasn’t been a competitor close to Coleman’s physique. Adding to his illustrious résumé coaches Milos Sarcev and Chris Cormier discussed Coleman testing his talents at Mr. Olympia twice without performance-enhancing drugs.
Milos Sarcev, Chris Cormier Discuss Ronnie Coleman Competing ‘Drug-Free’ at 1992 & 1994 Mr. Olympia
Sarcev revealed that Coleman was natural from 1991-1994.
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“Hey listen, yesterday I got a phone call from Andrea Presti from Italy right, he was asking me to go on podcast with him and talk about Ronnie being natural back in 91, 92, 93, 94 then because nobody believed it,” said Milos Sarcev.
Bodybuilding veteran Chris Cormier opted not to compete at the 1991 Mr. Universe because Coleman had already placed ahead of him at a different show naturally.
“Listen, he did the Universe in ’91 and he passed the tests, I didn’t even go to test, I said I’m not going to go. Ronnie placed ahead of me I know he’s natural. Why would I waste my time going to get tested?” shared Chris Cormier.
According to Milos Sarcev, Ronnie Coleman competed at the 1992 and 1994 Mr. Olympia shows without the help of PEDs.
“That year if you remember, he was like 14th at the USA, 14th. And then he goes to the Nationals and wins. So, he actually made the Olympia twice drug-free, ’92 and ’94,” shared Milos Sarcev.
Coleman hasn’t been the only bodybuilding icon to prove himself on a stage without steroids. Former seven-time Mr. Olympia Phil Heath opened up on competing naturally early on during his respective career. He made it clear that he never ‘pushed PEDs’ throughout his tenure and managed to defeat many of his adversaries with a natural physique.
Celebrated for his rugged appearance, muscle hardness, and insane quad definition, Branch Warren competed naturally early in his bodybuilding journey. He joined Dennis James for a candid talk about his past, where he stressed that he competed drug-free at 19 years old before delving further into enhancements as a Pro.
Considering the difficulty of qualifying for Mr. Olympia, Coleman’s two appearances on the stage underscore his exceptional status as an Open Bodybuilding star in the 1990s and 2000s.
RELATED: Jay Cutler, Milos Sarcev Talk Fantasy Battles: Jay vs Dorian Yates, Phil Heath vs. Ronnie Coleman
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