Despite Never Winning an Olympia, Bodybuilding Legend Who Battled Multiple Surgeries Has No Regrets Helping Ronnie Coleman Be the GOAT (2018)

The bodybuilding sport has evolved over the years, with elite athletes competing on the Mr. Olympia stage. While the 1970s were dominated by aesthetically pleasing bodybuilders, the 1990s have seen an uprising of the mass monsters. Two of the iconic bodybuilders of this age who are cherished to date are Ronnie Coleman and Flex Wheeler.

While The King went on to become the 8x Mr. Olympia champion. The Sultan of Symmetry hasn’t earned a single Mr. Olympia title, which left fans sad. However, both of them command an enormous fandom in the bodybuilding community. Earlier, Wheeler opened up about an instance of how he helped Coleman win against him in a bodybuilding event.

Wheeler’s Master Plan made Ronnie Coleman win

The Sultan of Symmetry reigned the bodybuilding stage in the early 1990s. He was placed second in the 1993 Mr. Olympia next to Dorian Yates, while Coleman had to find his footing in the competition. But by the late 1990s, Coleman’s dominance was felt, and he became the G.O.A.T. of the sport. 

Revealing their bond, the 4x Arnold Classic champion confessed, “I laid the whole game work down, and next year he started doing well.” The 58-year-old further added, “I remember he actually beat me in a first competition ever, and we’re over in Canada, and he beat me.” But Wheeler was happy for Coleman when the latter was surprised by his victory against the icon. However, Wheeler went on to win the next event they competed in, The Florida Pro Cup.

But fate had different plans for the buddies as one went on to win the highest number of Mr. Olympia titles, while the other won none. Both Wheeler and Coleman’s contributions are unparalleled, and their efforts earned them the Arnold Classic Lifetime Achievement Award. But what made Wheeler stop his journey? 

The hardships of the Sultan of Symmetry

Flex Wheeler’s life is not devoid of struggles. The bodybuilding icon has often been transparent about his struggles and how he overcame them. He was a victim of child abuse and had suicidal thoughts in his childhood. But he took to lifting weights. Soon, he found his passion as a bodybuilder and built a physique that is revered by fans to date.

Wheeler overcame several obstacles, even competing in the bodybuilding shows. The bodybuilder faced kidney issues and amputated his leg for other health reasons in 2019. Despite the troubles, he still trains youngsters in bodybuilding.

Read More | “She Said Boy Shut Up”: Ronnie Coleman Shared the Reaction of His Girlfriend After He Proposed to Quit Bodybuilding in 1997

Ronnie Coleman and Flex Wheeler are remarkable bodybuilders who have overcome several obstacles in their careers to earn a place in the hearts of the fans. Despite being wheelchair-bound, both bodybuilders have left their legacy imprinted in the bodybuilding books. Do you agree? Let us know in the comments below!

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