“I Started Feeling a Pump”: Ronnie Coleman Once Revealed the Moment He Saw a Ray of Hope Amidst His Surgery Ridden Life

Every sport has one entity that has outshined every other person involved. Boxing had Muhammad Ali, swimming had Phelps. Wayne Gretzky graced ice hockey while Tom Brady conquered football. Tony Hawk would roll along his skateboard in a class of his own while Kelly Slater surfed alongside. Much like all of them, bodybuilding had Ronnie Coleman.

Fittingly called ‘The King,’ Ronnie won everything there was to win. He has 26 IFBB titles, 8 Mr. Olympia titles, and a few Grand Prix wins to his name. But none of the titles gave him the happiness some other incident did.

Ronnie Coleman recalls the moment that gave him hope

Ronnie Coleman is arguably one of the most feared yet equally loved bodybuilders to have ever graced the stage. Feared because of his inhuman physique. And loved for his adorable smile and complementing personality. He has indeed been the perfect mix of aesthetics and character. Ronnie’s rise to the top of the bodybuilding mound was as rapid as the deterioration of his health. The man, reduced to walking with crutches, had lost all hope before the dark clouds cleared and from the midst appeared a ray of hope.

Having undergone multiple surgeries, including two stem cell surgeries, Coleman had endured a lot. But during an interview, Coleman once said he has started to feel like his old self. In the same interview, he revealed the moment when he felt the start of something new. Coleman said, “That’s the thing I’m most proud of. My legs had atrophied a whole lot since 2016 when I went in and had my first surgery — 2017, same thing 2018, 2019, 2020, same thing. I was just about to give up on it, you know.”

READ MORE: “I Have a Chance to Survive”: 58-Year-Old Ronnie Coleman, Who Has Gone Through 13 Surgeries, Fights Through His Medical Obstacles

Ronnie added, “Then, suddenly, about four months ago, I started feeling a pump in my legs. And then I noticed the size had come back, and the atrophy was gone. I was geeked!” The best part about the recovery has been the fact that Ronnie hasn’t just recovered in the lower part of his body. His upper body has also indicated signs of improvement, and Ronnie claims his strength has increased by approximately 40%.

Coleman’s hardships after retirement

After securing 2nd in the 2006 Mr. Olympia competition, Ronnie made one last appearance in the following year’s competition. In the 2007 edition, Ronnie placed 4th and gracefully exited the sport as its GOAT. While he may have thought about what his life would be like post-retirement, he never would have thought most of it would be spent frequenting hospitals.

It all started with a herniated disc to which Coleman paid little attention. He would consistently lift heavy weights and even won all his Mr. Olympia titles while suffering from a herniated disc. Ronnie got his first surgery done in 2007 after retiring from bodybuilding. He has since had 13 surgeries on his spine and was almost paralyzed because of all the screws, cages, and bolts keeping his spine intact.

WATCH THIS STORY: Mr. Olympia Legends Arnold Schwarzenegger Vs. Ronnie Coleman Body Comparison

Despite all the pain, all hardships, and against the wishes of his doctors, Coleman continues to train to the best of his abilities. There is hardly a day when Coleman would skip going to the gym. Even after all the pain and suffering, Ronnie has only fallen more in love with his training.