Ronnie Coleman’s 1998 Mr. Olympia Victory Left Fellow Competitor ‘Ashamed’ for He Was the One Expected to Win It

Throughout the sport’s history, there have been a number of rivalries on the bodybuilding scene. None, though, were as powerful and compelling as the one between Ronnie Coleman and Flex Wheeler.

Even though Flex is widely regarded as one of the best there ever was, he can’t feel anything but shame when thinking about his loss at the 1998 Mr. Olympia,

The athlete recently spoke to Fitness Volt in an interview in September 2022 regarding his feelings as he watched his rival climb the leaderboard. Further, he also shared an anecdote about his interaction with Coleman at the end of the contest. 

Flex Wheeler revisits past trauma

The Sultan of symmetry recalled his haunting memory of The King grabbing the championship title, in his interview. “Ronnie won Mr. Olympia 1998, and I wasn’t really caring because I was so green. But I knew I didn’t put everything into it, and I was ashamed of myself. In 98, I was second in the Olympia, and I remember the pressure of being the next in line to win,” said wheeler. 

Evidently, Wheeler might have known that he had lost much before the final results were declared. Although, that did not stop him from giving his best effort. “Ronnie is posing and his back has more muscular than mine, and I’m looking at his lower erectors and I’m like wow, his back is more muscular than mine,” he added.

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The 5’9″ Californian has been called the very best to ever grace the sport on numerous occasions. The retired bodybuilder came close to winning Mr. Olympia for the first time in 1993. Then again in 1998 and finally for the last time the year after. Having never won the first prize, his regrets are immense. 

Ronnie Coleman was surely a very deserving winner

The 4x Arnold Classic winner was proud of himself in the end though.

As Wheeler would later agree, Ronnie was a worthy opponent. One who was worthy of wearing the crown of Mr. Olympia 1998. “We end up taking a taxi back together,” added Flex.

In the midst of the competition, the realization had set in his mind that Ronnie would defeat him using the Posing and Pose Down rounds.

After a brief exchange of glances, Wheeler walked up to Coleman to congratulate him. He described the incident to Jay Cutler, who was taking his interview.

“I went over to Ronnie and whispered in his ear, “Congratulations, I love you,” exclaimed Wheeler, and Coleman jokingly came back at him with “I’m not gonna be at your party tonight.”

Wheeler was diagnosed with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, a kind of kidney disease, in 1999. He noted that the illness was inherited, but agreed that drug usage likely sped up its onset.

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He declared his retirement from a professional bodybuilding competition in 2000.