Once the supreme ruler of the Men’s Open, Ronnie Coleman‘s bodybuilding legacy remains one of the most awe-inspiring. In a recent Rx Muscle YouTube video, Big Ron shared insight into the mentality he adopted to become an eight-time Mr. Olympia titleholder.
Displaying unparalleled mass and conditioning, Coleman sent shockwaves through the IFBB Pro League during the 1990s and 2000s. He won his first Mr. Olympia title in 1998 after upsetting Flex Wheeler in a close contest. After their encounter, Coleman made it his life’s mission to maintain his status as the number one bodybuilder in the world.
In 2006, Coleman’s time on top would come to an end after a determined Jay Cutler walked away with gold. Since ‘The King’s’ retirement in 2007, he continues to represent the sport with pride. Having tied the all-time Mr. Olympia wins record with Lee Haney, there’s no denying Coleman’s winning recipe.
Ronnie Coleman Talks Championship Mentality w/ Phil Heath: “You Do Whatever It Takes”
Similar to reigning five-time Classic Physique Olympia Chris Bumstead’s mindset, Coleman said he only competed against himself, adding, ‘I can’t control what any other competitor is going to do.” He also looked back on a battle with Gunter Schlierkamp.
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“The only thing about that is… the only competitor that I was competing against was myself. I can control what I do.
I can’t control what any other competitor is going to do. So they kind of let Gunter get in front of me and I’m like okay, I see what’s going on here. They want to go to war and I’m the right guy to take them to war.”
Coleman describes how he felt when he saw competitors trying to take the Mr. Olympia crown from him.
“After every Mr. Olympia I would always take like three months to let my body you know heal, rest, when they tried to really take it away from me. Oh no! Ain’t no resting this year. Ain’t no healing this year. We are going to war. And every day I was in the gym that was my motto. If they want to go to war, I’ll take them to war and that’s exactly what I did,” said Ronnie Coleman.
According to Coleman, to become the best in the world, a “whatever it takes” mentality is mandatory.
“That’s how you win and show you are the champion and you’re going to be the champion because you have that much passion for it.
No matter what, you are going to win that show. You do whatever it takes and that’s exactly what I did. Whatever it took. No resting.”
An ambassador of bodybuilding, Coleman has been an open book since stepping away from the big stage. In a recent Q and A with strongman legend Brian Shaw, the former eight-time Mr. Olympia reflected on his career, his max stage weight, and life in retirement. He also opened up about many of the injuries that still haunt him today.
Following years of heavy lifting and participation in multiple sports, Coleman struggles to walk without assistance and has endured 13 back surgeries. Using stem cell procedures as a resource, Coleman credits the new medicinal practice for reducing his overall pain levels and said it changed his life.
Having once dominated under the bright Mr. Olympia lights, Coleman’s legacy and tenure stand the test of time. He remains one of the most decorated and strongest bodybuilders to ever grace the league.
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