“I Was So Hyped Up in the Gym All The Time”: Despite Sharing On-Stage Rivalry For Years, Ronnie Coleman Confesses His Arch-Nemesis Brought Out the Best in Him

Rivalry is a crucial element in any sport. It makes one churn their fate and situation and work harder than ever to defeat their formidable enemy. Bodybuilding is no exception. When up on stage, several entities show off and exhibit their sculpted bodies, and it becomes a matter of tiny differences in their approach which decides their making or breaking point.

It was the year 1998 when Coleman won his very first Mr. Olympia contest. However, it was only the dawn of his peak career, for he ruled the Mr. Olympia throne for 8 consecutive years, a record shared only with Lee Haney. Ronnie Coleman shares his insights about his rival, who gave him more motivation to strive to win.

Ronnie Coleman shares his rival’s significance in his career

The Iced Coffee Hour recently added an interview with the greatest bodybuilder of all time, Ronnie Coleman. At the very beginning of the interview, one of the interviewers reveals his motivation drawn from the insane rivals, Coleman and Jay Cutler of the bodybuilding industry. He says, “Watching you guys lift the dedication was insane. It just it got me hyped up to go to the gym. It was inspiration for me to want to work out.”

In turn Ronnie Coleman replied with his perspective, speculating about his old days when he was still in the race. He remarks, “Well, me and Jay Cutler had some pretty good battles over the years. So Jay’s one of the reasons why I was so hyped up in the gym a lot of times. I could imagine where you probably could have done for some other people.”

READ MORE: IFBB Bodybuilder Turned Coach Pays the Ultimate Tribute to Former Rivals Jay Cutler and Ronnie Coleman for Dominating the Olympia Stage During the Mid-2000s: “A Two-Man Show”

Instead of disregarding his rival, Coleman brought a beautiful side of bodybuilding, where he depicts how enemies can actually be so beneficial for one’s career and lifestyle as a whole. Ronnie also shares a nostalgic story from his past, which has introduced him into this field of constructing magnificent bodies.

Ronnie Coleman shares his introductory moments in bodybuilding

When asked, Ronnie pointed out that his official bodybuilding profession started at the age of 26. However, if he were to date back when he started taking an interest in fitness and exercising, it was more than a decade before that. He declares, “I started working out when I was 12. Though you know, as a kid growing up in a small town, everywhere I went people always ask me if I worked out when I was about 10 years old. And this went on for a very long time.”

Ronnie’s acquaintance with his other rival, Kevin Levrone, seemed extremely helpful. He had revealed that using Kevin’s tips, Coleman defeated Levrone. These little elements of the fitness world really make the whole journey more thrilling for both the audience and the bodybuilding entities. Who do you think had better rivalry intents, Cutler-Coleman or Levrone-Coleman? Let us know in the comments.

Watch This Story: Strongest Bodybuilder Ronnie Coleman’s Reason for Lifting Weights in College Was Beyond Any Desire To Win 8 Mr. Olympia Titles