Ronnie Coleman is a rare gem in the field of bodybuilding. He embraced the sport as if smitten by it. The eight-time Mr. Olympia title winner never hesitated to go to any length to cement his legacy. Unfortunately, his insatiable pursuit to widen his horizon blinded him to the nature of human anatomy. Including his arch-rival, Jay Culter, who claims his legacy as the one that beat Ronnie from claiming his ninth title, one can hardly find people who don’t regret his irreparable condition. Does Ronnie regret it? Never has and never will.

The 4x Mr. Olympia, Jay Culter, pushed himself year after year to battle against Ronnie till 2006. Fair to say, he greatly admired Ronnie and sometimes wondered about his untiring effort for the sport. In the Netflix documentary released in 2018, ‘Ronnie Coleman, The King,’ he opened up on Ronnie’s extraordinary spirit despite his challenging physical state.

Ronnie Coleman always looks back with pride

The documentary features major events in Coleman‘s bodybuilding journey. Culter shared he felt sorry for Ronnie’s two failed surgeries and their effects on his body. Recalling the days he stood next to Coleman and battled him, he said that it was very sad and “It hits hard for me.” He also expressed admiration for the way Coleman was and sometimes wished he had no other plans. “I wish I could do that,” Cutler stated, mesmerized by Coleman’s devotion to the sport.

Regarding the damage powerlifting and deadlifting of heavyweights caused, he said, “Ronnie’s not gonna cry about anything.” Also, he added, he was not going to make excuses or give explanations for himself.

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If anyone asked him what he thought about his condition, Cutler said, “He goes well ‘I’m really disappointed only squandered twice.’” He reiterated the level of positivity Ronnie exudes and said that’s why he was great.

Coleman Vs Culter

It is said that one’s strength is not determined by acquaintances but by rivals. The competitiveness the champions showed is a testimony of how much they valued the sport. Their strong, muscular physiques were a result of sincere workout regimes.

While Coleman hit each major body part twice per week, Cutler followed a once-per-week routine for body parts. Talking of pace, Coleman has always preferred a leisurely pace taking rest for a minute or so between sets, sitting, or leaning on something. Conversely, Cutler likes it relatively fast, resting for less than a minute between sets. Also, he increased his pace during pre-contest time.

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The two champions followed a typical standard, as there weren’t many choices for variety. One can’t deny that there are no substitutes for exercises like walking lunges or deadlifts. Also, they followed the idea of doing what fits best for them. Undoubtedly, Coleman and Cutler’s epic encounters have made them one of the greatest rivalries of all time.