Ronnie Coleman was a knockout champion during his reign in bodybuilding from the late 90s to the early 2000s. Even in his retirement, he remains a prominent figure in the fitness community, continuing to hold significance and influence. In a recent YouTube video, Strongman legend Brian Shaw sits down with Coleman for a Q&A discussing his favorite wins, injuries, and the challenges of dieting as a top-tier athlete.
Ronnie Coleman cemented himself as one of the best in bodybuilding after dominating from 1998 to 2005. His incredible definition and muscle mass allowed the eight-time Mr. Olympia champion to overwhelm top names like Flex Wheeler and Jay Cutler. Now the legend remains an advocate for the sport who is constantly giving insight to the new generation of bodybuilding.
Coleman suffered injuries that led to over 10 back surgeries and have impeded his ability to walk. Regardless, ‘The King’ continues to push himself in the gym often joining big names in fitness such as Arnold Schwarzenegger or just recently the new 2023 Mr. Olympia Derek Lunsford.
Ronnie Coleman Talks About His ‘Winning Formula’ With Strongman Brian Shaw
After just recently killing it during an arm workout together, Strongman Brian Shaw sits down with Ronnie Coleman for a Q&A to discuss some of his greatest accomplishments in bodybuilding. Getting started, Coleman talks about officially stepping away from the sport and what his favorite physique was from his time on stage.
“98-2007 was probably my most successful years. I won my first Olympia in 98’ and my last one in 2005. Eight in a row. Can’t beat that.”
“98’ that’s the one where I had that thickness that was real compact the lines were on point and the conditioning was spot on. I still look at that first one and it brings tears to my eyes.”
During his discussion, Coleman dives into his injuries and reveals football caused most of them not bodybuilding or heavy training.
“I ended up getting injured. It was a back injury. I had to go to the chiropractor for a while it was every day and then they’d send me every other day or something like that. I did a lot of chiropractor and people don’t know, they think I hurt my back bodybuilding, but I actually hurt it playing football and it just got worse over time” Ronnie Coleman discloses.
Regarding his diet, ‘The King’ talks about how difficult it was in the beginning to eat such bland foods but ultimately he was willing to do anything to win.
“It was extremely hard at first I’m not going to lie then after a while I kinda got used to it because I don’t like getting second.”
“If I gotta eat that to win I’m going to do it. It doesn’t matter. Gotta do what you gotta do to not get second.”
Looking back on his career, Coleman says that he didn’t truly feel like a bodybuilder till after nabbing his first Mr. Olympia title. Ronnie Coleman also talks about his ‘winning formula’ after claiming the Sandow trophy for the first time:
“Probably after I won. That’s when I was like, it was real.”
“This is big money here”
“I didn’t feel I was gonna get there but what I was thinking was ‘Man, I’m Mr. Olympia. I want to be Mr. Olympia again next year, and then next year.’ Every time you win you think ‘I wanna win this again’ Like you said you push yourself harder and harder.”
“No, I didn’t feel no pressure I just wanted to win. I know what the formula is all I gotta do is keep doing it. I felt like as long as I could do what I need to do I was gonna be alright.”
Ronnie Coleman found a lot of success not only on the Mr. Olympia stage but off it as well. He pulled in close to a million dollars from endorsements and cameos. After investing money into his retirement plus the pension he earned as a police officer, Coleman revealed he is pretty much set for life.
What Coleman has accomplished during his career and even into retirement will continue to serve as an inspiration for the fitness community. His dedication to the sport is unprecedented and sets the bar sky-high for all athletes on the horizon.
To watch the full Q&A, click the link below:
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Published: 16 November, 2023 | 9:11 AM EDT
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