

How should a beginner go about finding the right people to learn from? The more knowledge you have, the better off you’ll be. I think it’s all about knowledge and being willing to learn for the most part. Seriously, I didn’t know that much until I started working with him. Later on, Flex Wheeler introduced me to Chad Nicholls, and he taught me everything I needed to know about competing as a pro. When I started, Brian showed me a lot since I didn’t know anything about the sport. I tell people all the time that the reason I was so successful at bodybuilding was because I was surrounded by great trainers and nutritionists. What advice would you share to someone that may be thinking of competing in his or her own first bodybuilding show?
#RONNIE COLEMAN STEM CELL TREATMENT FREE#
I was still just doing it for the free gym membership (laughs). I wasn’t ready to make it a career at that point, though. I was pretty excited after I won the contest. Texas, and I won first place in my class, and I won the overall as well. The story about how Metroflex Gym owner Brian Dobson convinced you to compete in bodybuilding for a free gym membership is well known, but how did you feel after that first contest was over? It didn’t matter what the lift was, I trained it very heavily. I would occasionally focus on getting stronger, and it obviously paid off for me. Competitors that have more thickness will appear to be much larger than they really are. That thickness is one of the greatest illusions you can present onstage. Stronger bodybuilders have more thickness to their muscles. Do you feel there is a direct connection between being stronger and being a better bodybuilder? Olympia victories, some of your lifts in the gym have become legendary in their own right, such as the 800 pound squat and deadlifts. On the heavy days, we would do sets of 6, 4, 2, and 1 rep on the main lifts. We would do some bench work, but the main focus was working on the technique so we wouldn’t get a lift turned down. We actually didn’t do too much for the deadlift. We really worked on the squat and trained accessories for that. We trained four days a week, and it wasn’t a lot like a bodybuilder would do. Keep in mind that it was a long time since I trained for powerlifting, but I remember the main focus was working on the squat. What wisdom could you share for someone who wants to take that next step from the gym to a meet? Powerlifting has become a very popular strength sport in recent years. I don’t remember what my best number was for that lift, but I remember I wanted it to be better. I got 500 (pounds) in the deadlift, and I got that in the squat as well. What were your best numbers in competition? I didn’t get back into powerlifting until after that.

I didn’t lift at all in college when I played football at Grambling State. We did pretty good because we had quite a few strong guys on the team. When I joined the powerlifting team in high school. He took some time to talk with Men's Health about his early years in powerlifting, his bodybuilding journey that is second to none, and offers advice for those that want to blaze their own trails to glory. “I think it’s all about knowledge and being willing to learn for the most part,” Coleman says about his success. Even 14 years after his last contest, he’s as involved with the sport as he has ever been.

He is also very active with his supplement line, podcast, and work as a contest promoter. Thankfully, stem cell treatments have helped him move forward with his recovery. He has undergone over a dozen surgeries on his back and neck, which have taken their toll on the 57-year-old legend. His life post-retirement has had its fair share of ups and downs. In the eyes of many bodybuilding fans, Coleman is the G.O.A.T. Olympia titles, one more than Schwarzenegger's seven. Ronnie Coleman is one of them–and his accomplishments have made him a bodybuilding icon and earned a royal moniker: The King.Ĭoleman won a record-tying eight Mr. Very few men in strength sports can say that they've one-upped Arnold Schwarzenegger.
