“Didn’t Hurt Myself Lifting or Squatting 800 Pounds”: Ronnie Coleman Who Spent Over $2 Million on His Surgery Did Not Blame His Mr. Olympia Rough Training for Crippling

Ronnie Coleman won 8 Mr. Olympia titles consecutively, and tied with Lee Haney for winning the most number of titles. Throughout his illustrious career, Ronnie faced many injuries, but he did not give in. He maintained his winning streak for 8 years continuously, which was not at all easy as he would always face some stiff competition.

Even though Ronnie had a slow start to his bodybuilding career, he never left his grip loose after he caught on to his competition. His first participation in Mr. Olympia was back in 1992. From 1992 to 1997, Ronnie failed to achieve top five positions in the Mr. Olympia contest. However, the 1998 edition of Mr. Olympia changed his life completely.

Ronnie Coleman Opens up on his surgeries

Ronnie Coleman is considered ‘The King’ of bodybuilding. He became the flag bearer of modern-day bodybuilding. Throughout his career, Ronnie had been injured many times. He underwent multiple surgeries to get his body back into training conditions. Ronnie has revealed in interviews how he has had hip and shoulder surgeries. His recent surgeries in 2020, which cost him $2 million, had left him restricted to a wheelchair.

In an interview with muscle and strength, Ronnie opened up on his surgeries and his road to recovery. There were many speculations in the media about what might have led to his injuries. Many believed that Ronnie’s training style is the primary reason for those injuries which needed long procedural surgeries. Ronnie voiced his opinion of people’s speculations. He said, “I mean, I didn’t hurt myself lifting or squatting 800 pounds. I didn’t hurt myself while I was training. It might be a combination of everything over the years, but I don’t know for sure. I don’t think so.”

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Furthermore, he reflected whether he could have won 8 Mr. Olympia titles with a different training routine. “I think the way I did it was the only way I could do it. I don’t have any evidence to convince me otherwise,” Ronnie stated.

Ronnie’s induction into the Hall of Fame

After establishing unmatched dominance in the field of bodybuilding, Ronnie Coleman was inducted into the International Sports Hall of Fame during the Arnold Sports Festival in 2016.

“I felt that this was a very prestigious honor not just to be inducted but to be inducted with the other great people that are going in this year,” he said explaining his feeling towards the induction. 

Many believe that Ronnie Coleman was a once-in-a-generation bodybuilder. His incredible routine at major competitions a still viewed by fans. The excitement among fans when Ronnie would compete against his fierce rival, Jay Cutler, holds no bounds. Ronnie defeated Jay in the 2004 edition of Mr. Olympia. However, Jay Cutler ended Ronnie’s 8-year title winning streak in 2006, by winning his first Mr. Olympia title. Such fierce rivalries were indeed a treat for bodybuilding fans as they would have them excited until the final moments of the contest.

WATCH THIS STORY: Six bodybuilders who can defeat 8-time Mr. Olympia Ronnie Coleman in a beast-like structure.

In 2018, Netflix released a documentary ‘Ronnie Coleman: The King’ based on Ronnie’s life and career.