Years After Retirement, GOAT Ronnie Coleman Reveals His Biggest Rival, and It’s Not Jay Cutler or Flex Wheeler

8X Mr. Olympia Ronnie Coleman has seen it all when it comes to bodybuilding. With a total of 15 Olympia appearances, Coleman has been a part of various rivalries throughout the years. One of his biggest rivals was Flex Wheeler, who competed against him multiple times. Their most memorable showdown was at the 1998 Mr. Olympia, where Coleman placed first and Wheeler placed second. Except for Wheeler, ‘The King’s other biggest rival was Jay Cutler. Coleman won eight Mr. Olympia titles while Cutler won four. Despite the fact that these rivalries emerged out of competitive spirits, according to Coleman’s recent YouTube video, his biggest rival was neither Cutler nor Wheeler.

So if not Culter or Wheeler, who was Ronnie Coleman’s biggest and toughest rival? Let’s find out.

Ronnie Coleman reveals his arch-rival

In a recent video posted on Ronnie Coleman’s YouTube series called ‘Ask Me Anything,’ he addressed a few questions asked by his fans. One of the users asked the legend about who he believed his biggest rival to be. Coleman’s answer might surprise many as he answered, “Me.” He continued to explain that the only person he could control, is himself, so he made sure to work on himself enough so he could beat his earlier performances and stand on the stage even better than the last time.

“I was responsible for getting me in condition, and I know for a fact that I can control me and…as far as everybody else, I have no control whatsoever. So my biggest rival for me was me,” said Coleman. Seeing yourself as your biggest rival can be a powerful motivator to continuously improve and move towards your goals. 

Read More: “Almost Killed Me”: Battled Through Multiple Surgeries, 57-Year-Old Bodybuilding Legend Confessed Going Into a Dark Place Due to Bodybuilding in 2011

Ronnie Coleman’s perspective and ideology are what made him a champion. It’s not the weights that a bodybuilder needs to control, it’s the mind that first needs to be tamed to excel as a bodybuilder.

How the Iconic Cutler-Coleman rivalry came to an end

For almost ten years, Coleman dominated the stage of the biggest bodybuilding competition. He was given the moniker, “The King” because of his 8 Olympia victories. But in 2006, it was Cutler who put an end to his tyranny. Despite their heated battles, the duo was frequently spotted having fun on the stage.

Quite recently, Jesse James West posted a YouTube video featuring the two bodybuilding legends Jay Cutler and Ronnie Coleman. At one point in the video, Cutler revealed that he was frightened of Coleman on the stage. “Everyone has their style, though. I couldn’t train how Ronnie trained,” said the 4x Mr. Olympia. “I’m sure he looked at some of my training was teaching that thinking now if that doesn’t work…,” he added before getting interrupted by a laughing Coleman.

Watch this story: “It’s a Remake of Twins”: Viral Image of Former President George Bush and Arnold Schwarzenegger in the Most Unexpected Place Leaves Fans in Frenzy

Cutler’s words about Coleman are a testament to Coleman’s talent and hard work, and it reflects the respect and camaraderie that exists in the bodybuilding sphere.