“I’ll Take Them to War”: 8-Time Mr. Olympia Winner Ronnie Coleman Roared Back After a Major Setback in 2002 During Bodybuilding Career

The 2003 Mr. Olympia contest propelled Ronnie Coleman to the top of the charts. He was a legendary bodybuilder and considered by many as the greatest of all time, along with Arnold Schwarzenegger. However, after winning the 2002 Mr. Olympia contest, Coleman suffered a shocking loss at the GNC Show of Strength. 

It was the first time a shocking upset transpired after Samir Bannout lost his title to Lee Haney in 1984. Hence, motivated to prove the naysayers wrong, Coleman prepared hard. And oh boy, he went all in!

Ronnie Coleman decimates his opponents!

The loss hit him hard as Coleman wanted to prove why he was the greatest. With an elite mindset heading to the next competition, he prepared himself for “war.” He said, “From the time after that contest until the Olympia, I thought to myself ‘oh, they want to go to war? Okay, I’ll take them to war.’ That was my motto every single day I went into the gym.”

Motivated to win the 2003 Mr. Olympia, Coleman hit the gym regularly. Bench pressing and squatting his way to perfection, Coleman stepped foot onto the stage to deliver a sparkling experience for the fans in attendance. The eight-time Mr. Olympia winner knew he had the event under his belt because of the intense conditioning before that. 

READ MORE- “Not Going to Die for This Sport”: Bodybuilding Legend Ronnie Coleman Almost Ditched His Mr. Olympia Competition to Save His Life Back in 2001

“I never was as locked in to a contest like I was at that one. That may be the takeaway from that. Focus on what you want with everything you have in you,” said Coleman, claiming his sixth consecutive Mr. Olympia title. The bodybuilding community considers this contest the greatest of all time, in terms of pure dominance. 

Coleman wins two more

Jay Cutler finished second; meanwhile, Gunter Schlierkamp ranked fifth. With a successful title defense, Coleman’s thirst for eight titles stayed with him. He equaled Arnold Schwarzenegger’s seven Mr. Olympia titles the following year while winning his iconic eighth the year after. 

After that, he competed in two more events but finished second and fourth, respectively. Now retired in peace, Coleman’s bodybuilding dominance has remained unmatched. He stands on top of the list of world-class bodybuilders and ultimately ruled the event for several years. All in all, he is indeed the KING!

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