Pure muscle wasn’t the only strength Ronnie Coleman possessed during his bodybuilding career. Posing also had a major impact on his success. In a recent YouTube video on August 20, 2025, he revealed the top poses that helped him win eight Mr. Olympia titles.
For nearly a decade, Coleman treated the bodybuilding stage like his playground. His sheer size, coupled with bone-dry condition, set him up for a long reign. Between his signature King Pose, a lights-out back double bicep, and his iconic front lat spread, Coleman built a legacy on hard work and perseverance.
To this day, Coleman is tied with Lee Haney for winning the most Mr. Olympia titles. He hasn’t forgotten the shots that helped propel him to the top, and took the time to share which poses he thought were the most powerful of his era.
Ronnie Coleman Ranks His Top Poses During Prime Years of Bodybuilding Career
Find a quick overview of his rankings from the YouTube video below:
- Side Tricep ā A Tier
- Side Chest ā A Tier
- Most Muscular (Crab) ā S Tier
- King Pose ā A Tier
- Front Relax Pose ā B Tier
- Front Lat Spread ā S Tier
- Front Double Bicep ā S Tier
- Back Lat Spread ā S Tier
- Double Back Bicep ā S Tier
- Arnold Twisting Pose ā B Tier
Coleman noted that nothing comes higher than his crab most muscular pose.
“There’s nothing higher than the crab, most muscular. That’s why we are going with superior,” explained Coleman.
While he doesn’t regard his King Pose as the strongest, he labeled it his all-time favorite.
“Favorite shot of all time.”
Looking at his rear lat spread, Coleman called it lights-out, reminiscing about his time competing against Jay Cutler.
“The rear lights out lat spread. Nobody got this bad boy covered like me. When I do that bad boy, the lights go out because this back is so wide it covers up the lights. I’m spreading my wings,” he shared.
He also touched on his twisting double biceps pose inspired by Arnold Schwarzenegger.
“Can’t nobody do it like Arnold. I’m going to give myself a B.”
Coleman isn’t the only iconic bodybuilder who is known for specific poses. Bodybuilding legend Cutler, Coleman’s successor to the Olympia throne, is also revered for his quad stomp shot, following his 2009 comeback, which saw him make history as the first Open competitor to ever win back the Sandow trophy.
From Schwarzenegger’s twisted back double to Sergio Oliva’s victory shot, posing is a massive part of bodybuilding history. Coleman believes his crab most muscular, lat spreads, and front/back double biceps were among his top poses.
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Watch the full video from the Ronnie Coleman YouTube channel below:
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