“Did He Train Smart?”: Ronnie Coleman, Who Suffered 13 Painful Surgeries, Was Once Called Out by Biggest Rival

Ronnie Coleman, the bodybuilding legend, has devoted all his life to one grand vision–to be the number one bodybuilder of all time. Brimming with passion and driven by ambition, he won eight Mr. Olympia titles. In 2006, while he was eyeing the ninth title to create history, there was Jay Cutler, the four-time runner-up, longing to take a leap and clinch his first title.

Their ambitions had different motives but the same outcome. Unfortunately, only one could win, and Cutler did it. He confessed that he would like to be recognized as the one who dethroned Ronnie. Despite their epic rivalry, Cutler greatly admired Ronnie. In the Netflix documentary, ‘Ronnie Coleman- The King,’ Cutler remarked on his practices which have caused him chronic pain and an irreparable body.

Did Ronnie Coleman train hard but not smart?

Coleman was admired for his massive physique, unbelievable powerlifting, supernatural strength, and unwavering dedication. However, he is paying a heavy price as a result of his intense training. 13 surgeries, agonizing pain, and loss of mobility – one might wonder whether he did the right thing.

In the Netflix documentary, reflecting on Coleman’s past and present, he shared that he questioned only one thing “now seeing Ronnie with injuries and everything else”. He asked, “Ronnie trained hard, but did he train smart?”

READ MORE:“It Was a Loud Gunshot” – Bodybuilding Icon Ronnie Coleman Was Left Aghast After Crushing His Bones During Workout but Still Continued, He Revealed to Joe Rogan Once

Furthermore, Cutler also shared his amazement at Coleman’s focus on the goal. He admired the way he trained. Although he felt sorry for his failed surgeries and dependency on support for bare minimal movement, Cutler said “Ronnie’s not going to cry about anything.. make excuses for himself.”

Coleman is a legend

‘The King’ put his goal above everything else. It is undeniable that he made great strides in the sport. When asked about the pain he went through every day on a scale of one to ten, he said, “not nine ten yeah, it’s pretty.. pretty heavy.” And when he did appearances, “my pain level goes up to like a 12 13.” He added that sometimes it was unbearable.

However, he had no regrets. In Cutler’s words, “Everything negative is positive to him[Ronnie].” He trained the pedal to the metal; put his heart and soul into the sport. Undoubtedly, Ronnie Coleman is several notches higher than his achievements. He gave his best without thinking about whether it was smart or not. What do you think? Share in the comments.

WATCH THIS STORY: Here’s Everything You Need to Know About 8 time Mr. Olympia Winner Ronnie Coleman’s Battle With 13 Surgeries