Arnold Schwarzenegger and Ronnie Coleman have a dedicated following of fans in the bodybuilding industry. After all, their names have become synonymous with the sport. Both the Sandow trophy winners evoke passionate reactions from fans whenever they are compared against each other. And recently, the 8x Mr. Olympia, Ronnie Coleman, posted a side-by-side picture of himself from the 2000s and Schwarzenegger’s from the 1970s, comparing their physiques.

This led to an onslaught of reactions from their followers with some very insightful comments about the GOATs of bodybuilding.

Mass Monster versus Aesthetics God: Arnold Schwarzenegger and Ronnie Coleman compared

The Austrian Oak to date remains one of the most influential names in bodybuilding. He helped to make the sport a household name, winning Mr. Olympia seven times. Ronnie Coleman was also a force to reckon with. He became the first man in history to win the Arnold Classic and Mr. Olympia title in the same year (2001). He remained the title holder of the Sandow trophy for 8 consecutive years (1998-2005). The only person to achieve this feat was Lee Haney from 1984 to 1991.

The Instagram post was a photoshopped picture that saw both the bodybuilding icons posing together. Ronnie and Arnold were seen flexing their physiques. Ronnie felt that if he and Arnie competed, it would have been something else which he also wrote in the caption, “It would have been off the chain to take the stage with my boy @schwarzenegger!! Comment below your thoughts…Yeah Buddy!!!”

Both these legends belong to two different bodybuilding generations. The Austrian Oak belonged to the golden era of bodybuilding around the 1960s and 1970s, in which tiny waists and sculpted bodies, along with aesthetically pleasing muscle mass, were in trend. Whereas, Coleman, a.k.a., the King, was the poster boy of the Mass Monster era in modern bodybuilding history. A trend that was probably first started by Dorian Yates, but embodied by the King. This period saw some hulk-like bodies on stage, inspiring awe at the sheer size of these bodybuilders achieved. The comments on the Instagram post of the ‘King’ pointed to these differences of generation.

Fans remain divided over whose body is best- Coleman or Schwarzenegger

Fans were quick to notice the size difference between the two gentlemen posing. One fan claimed, “The size difference in the legs is monumental” pointing to the striated legs of 8x consecutive title winner, Coleman. While a fan rushing to Arnold’s side chimed, “Arnold is better for Arms, Chest, lats, symmetry, and beauty of a God. No one is symmetrically perfect. Ronnie has legs and back but also much more technology: tren. Arnold only had regular stéroïds and didn’t take as much as Ronnie. That’s why Arnold Schwarzenegger is the goat.” 

READ MORE: “Clearly Better Than Arnold”: 8x Mr. Olympia Ronnie Coleman’s Comparison With Arnold Schwarzenegger Leaves Bodybuilding World in Splits

Other fans were not that sparing in their comments and said, “Definitely Arnold over Ronnie. Arnold is Arnold. No bodybuilder will be like Arnold ever again. Too much mass with the hormone gut looks ugly,” referring to the extreme steroid popping trend of the mass monster years. 

Some insightful followers commented, “They will forever remain legends and the True GOAT of bodybuilding in their eras…”  It seems like there is no clear winner, and it is difficult to choose the best between the two. They were legendary in their respective generations, catapulting bodybuilding onto the world map. Whose side are you on? Tell us in the comments.

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