“Had to Sacrifice Being With My Family”: Bodybuilding Demanded a Lot in Return From Ronnie Coleman and He Gave It All, Interview 2020

Eight-time Mr. Olympia champion Ronnie Coleman once stood at par with Lee Haney and unequivocally stunned the bodybuilding community. Being a thorough professional, Big Ron made sure to make his wins look easy. Even though his body crumbled with pain, he made it a point never to get it reflected on his face.

Apart from fighting his health issues, there were a lot many struggles that Ronnie survived. In a 2020 interview, the bodybuilding champion reflects on how he overcame adversaries to reach the spot he is now in.

The path to Ronnie Coleman’s success

For Big Ron, success did not come easy. Success involved him engaging in jam-packed sessions of workouts and a lot of sacrifices to endure. The King confirmed, “a lot of things, I had to sacrifice. Being with my family, going out to nightclubs, not eating what I wanted to eat…”.  

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Hinting at the regimented life, Ronnie added that he did not go to nightclubs and refrained from eating the foods he liked. He also missed out on having a social life due to his professional commitments. Working out hard for his next title, Ronnie chose a strict lifestyle.

Even though his decision made it difficult for him to go to weddings or any other social event, Ronnie chose the road less traveled. He acknowledged, “I had to cut everything out to focus on what I was doing.” Nonetheless, his sacrifice paid off when he won his eighth title. 

Looking back at Coleman’s struggling post-retirement career

Even for Coleman, life after winning eight Mr. Olympia titles was not easy. The bodybuilding legend did not just have to compete with his competitors but also had to brave his own health. There was a point in his life when doctors told him getting back to his feet would no longer be a possibility. He proved otherwise. Ronnie may have long retired, but his dominance on stage remains.

Apart from having dominated the Mr. Olympia stage for eight straight years, he also registered wins at other coveted bodybuilding events. A policeman by profession, Ronnie’s journey in professional bodybuilding started when he was offered a ‘free gym membership.’ During his prime, he was renowned for his unique combination of size and conditioning. Too determined to even back down after 13 major surgeries, Ronnie is a living legend. The undisputed KING of the sport!

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Life has thrown so many hardships, but The King is still here, taller and stronger than ever!