“Can’t Get Much Bigger Than That”: Ailing Bodybuilding Legend Ronnie Coleman’s Long-Time Training Partner Opens Up on the King’s Crucial Health Status

Ronnie Coleman took to bodybuilding in 1990 to get a free lifetime membership of the Metroflex gym. But he shed sweat and blood at the gym to sculpt the best ever physique possible. Eventually, he was left with 8x Mr.Olympia titles, the GOAT status, and severe health issues. 

Due to ill luck, his surgeries were a disaster, leaving him wheelchair-bound. But the GOAT never regrets his spectacular bodybuilding career and maintains a positive attitude in life. Now, his training partner for years, Big J, opens up about The King in his latest interview with Flex Lewis, the 7x 212 Mr. Olympia champion. 

Big J reveals his thoughts about Ronnie Coleman

Flex Lewis had a special guest on his show, Straight Outta The Lair, this time. The 39-year-old welcomed Big J, the training partner of Ronnie Coleman, to his show. Big J and Ronnie Coleman met in 1991. Revealing his partnership with The King, the bodybuilder said, “We trained on and off multiple years and then the last four or five years have been trading pretty regularly.” 

Big J went on to praise the legend for his character and work ethic. “Greatest training partner in the world, biggest heart, clearest mind, incredible soul, just there’s not another person in this world like him,” the guest speaker confessed in the show. He further added about Coleman’s positive outlook toward life.

He shared a snippet from his meeting with The King a couple of days back. “I just talked to him two days ago at the gym and he’s got a bigger smile that says something because you can’t get much bigger than that eight-time Mr. Olympia smile,” he said. This isn’t the first time bodybuilding fans witnessed Coleman’s positivity. However, the ever-smiling Ronnie Coleman once became emotional on stage.

The King’s emotional experience on stage

Coleman surpassed his bodybuilding idol Arnold Schwarzenegger in the number of Sandow trophies lifted. This contribution to the sport fetched him a magnificent lifetime achievement award. Adding to that, Schwarzenegger personally presented the award to Coleman, who is his favorite.

Being on the stage that day was, however, a struggle for the 59-year-old, as he was missing his mom terribly. “The fact that my mom wasn’t there to see it and she always made the big events that I was involved in… that made it even more gut-wrenching,” he said in a podcast 

Read More: “Ronnie’s Not Gonna Cry”: Sad Jay Cutler Once Described Why Ronnie Coleman Did What He Did and Holds Zero Regrets

Ronnie Coleman is truly an inspiration and no doubt gyms across the world sport his physique on the wall. His physique and legacy motivate gymgoers to push for that extra rep while keeping their smile intact.

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