Table of Contents
Ronnie Coleman is a bodybuilding icon. He is the most decorated winner of the Mr. Olympia title, with eight wins in total. His massive build and impressive physique have wowed fans for decades. In this Ronnie Coleman biography, we will take a closer look at his life and career. We will explore how he became one of the most successful bodybuilders in history, and we will also discuss his post-bodybuilding career pursuits. So, keep reading to learn all about this fitness legend.
Ronnie Coleman Biography: The Early Years
Birthdate: May 13, 1964
Birthplace: Monroe, Louisiana
Height: 5’11”Weight: 260 lbs. (peak)
Ronnie Coleman was born in Monroe, Louisiana, on May 13th, 1964. His mother was a schoolteacher, and his father was a welder and later became a bail bondsman. Coleman was the youngest of three brothers, and he grew up in poverty.
Ronnie Coleman started as an athlete as early as high school where he played football, basketball, and ran track. He also trained with weights during this time but never competed in any bodybuilding contests. He did, however, stay very active and was heavily involved in sports. While he did not initially pursue a career in bodybuilding, it was something that would eventually become a big part of his life.
In 1987 Coleman enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. During his time with the Marines, he served two tours in Panama and also took part in Operation Desert Storm. The military was a huge part of his life, and it made him the determined person he is today. Ronnie Coleman would later say “The discipline you learn in the military is just unbelievable”.
After his time with the Marines, Coleman worked as an insurance salesman for about two years. His love for fitness began to grow during this time, and he became more serious about pursuing a career in bodybuilding.
Read also about 12 week fitness plan
Early Bodybuilding Career
Ronnie Coleman began competing in bodybuilding shows almost immediately after leaving the military. His first contest was an NPC (National Physique Committee) competition in 1992, which he won. He continued to compete at the national level over the next few years and won the heavyweight and overall titles at the 1994 USA Championships.
After these impressive wins, Ronnie Coleman decided to enter professional bodybuilding competitions. His first pro show was in 1995 at the USA Championships where he placed an impressive 3rd. The following year at his second Pro show (Night of Champions), he managed to win his first Pro title. Ronnie beat Derek Anthony to win his first professional bodybuilding title.
After these early victories, Ronnie Coleman became more motivated than ever before. He began hitting the gym even harder and was devoted to getting bigger and stronger than ever before. By this time, he was training with Charles Glass who had him on a 5-day workout split focusing on different body parts each day. His routine involved both free weights and machines, to build a complete physique.
Read also about Kai Greene Diet Plan
This new training style paid off for Ronnie Coleman who ended up winning his first IFBB (International Federation of Bodybuilding) Mr. Olympia title during the 1998 season! He beat the likes of Flex Wheeler, Shawn Ray, Nasser El Sonbaty, and Paul Dillet to win his first Mr. Olympia title. Coleman’s great genetics and impressive workout routine allowed him to become one of the largest competitors in the sport at this time. These huge wins established Ronnie as a serious contender for future bodybuilding titles, and he continued to dominate competition after competition from here on out.
Ron Coleman continued to win contests after this first victory, but his true break out year came in 2001 when he won the Arnold Classic, Mr. Olympia, and The New York Pro all in one season! Ronnie dominated these contests so much that many people considered them to be almost “easy” wins.
The next few years were filled with great success for Ronnie Coleman as well. He continued to dominate the major contests he competed in and managed to pick up a few more wins at the Mr. Olympia title (2005–2008).
Ronnie was later inducted into the IFBB Hall of Fame for his incredible bodybuilding career. His impressive list of victories will go down as one of the most impressive in the sport’s history. He also won several WNBF (World Natural Bodybuilding Federation) titles before his retirement and is widely considered to be one of the most successful bodybuilders of all time.
Bodybuilding Titles
- 1992 NPC USA Championships – Heavyweight, Overall
- 1994 NPC USA Championships – Heavyweight, Overall
- 1995 Night of Champions Pro – 1st
- 1995-1997 Grand Prix England – 1st
- 1996 English Grand Prix – 1st
- 1996 Canadian Grand Prix – 3rd
- 1996 Night of Champions Pro – 2nd
- 1997 Arnold Classic Pro – 1st
- 1997 Grand Prix France – 1st
- 1997 Masters Pro Invitational – 2nd
- 1997 Night of Champions Pro – 2nd
- 1998 Arnold Classic Pro- Grand Prix Ukraine – 1st
- 1998 IFBB Mr. Olympia, Grand Prix Russia- 1st
- 1998 Shawn Ray Colorado Pro Invitational – 2nd
- 1998 Grand Prix England – 1st
- 1998 Grand Prix Germany – 2nd
- 1998 Grand Prix Spain – 1st
- 1999 Arnold Classic- Grand Prix Ukraine- 1st
- 1999 New Zealand Grand Prix Pro – 3rd
- 1999 Ironman Pro Invitational- 1st
- 1999 IFBB Mr. Olympia – 3rd
- 2000 Ironman Pro Invitational- 2nd
- 2000 New Zealand Grand Prix Pro – 1st
- 2000 Arnold Classic- Grand Prix Russia- 1st
- 2001 Arnold Classic – Grand Prix Spain- 1st
- 2001 Arnold Classic – Grand Prix England-1st
- 2001 Mr. Olympia Men’s Open – 1st
- 2001 IFBB Grand Prix Finland- 1st
- 2002 Arnold Classic – Mr. Olympia – 3rd
- 2003 Mr. Olympia – 4th
- 2004 Grand Prix Holland – 2nd
- 2004 Mr. Olympia – 5th
- 2005 Mr. Olympia – 1st
- 2006 Mr. Olympia – 2nd
- 2007 Mr. Olympia – 4th
- 2008 Mr. Olympia – 6th
Professional Career Highlights
- 1998 IFBB Grand Prix Russia – 1st
- 2000 Ironman Pro Invitational – 1st
- 2000 New Zealand Grand Prix Pro – 1st
- 2001 Arnold Classic Pro – Grand Prix Spain – 3rd
- 2004 Mr. Olympia – 2nd
- 2006 Mr. Olympia – 4th
Ronnie Coleman Classic Workout Routine
- Monday- Chest and Triceps (Chest first, then tris) 1 set of warm up followed by 3 working sets supersetted with body weight dips for 3 sets.
- Wednesday- Back & Calves (Calves first, then back) 1 set of warm up followed by 3 working sets.
- Thursday- Shoulders & Traps (Traps first, then shoulders) 1 set of warm up followed by 3 working sets supersetted with cable lateral raises for 3 sets.
- Saturday- Biceps & Forearms (Forearms first, then biceps) 1 set of warm up followed by 3 working sets supersetted with wrist curls for 3 sets.
- Sunday- Off
Rest between all exercises is 90 seconds, and rest between all supersets is 150 seconds. The routine goes like this:
- Cable Crossovers (warm up)- X-Over machine- 1 x 20 reps
- Incline Dumbbell press (working set 1)- X-Over machine (warm up)
- Standing Cable Crossovers (warm up)
- Incline Dumbbell Flyes (working set 2)- X-Over Machine
- Upright Rows (working set 3)-X-Over Machine
- Cable Crossovers (warm up)
- Flat Dumbbell Presses (working set 1)-X-Over Machine
- Machine Lateral Raises (working set 2)- X-Over machine
- Reverse Cable Curl (working set 3)- X-Over machine
- Seated Reverse Curl (1 x 20 reps followed by two drop sets)
One of the most impressive bodybuilders, Ronnie Coleman is known for his relentless workout routine. Here’s a sample one that helped him win eight Mr Olympia titles. He trained six days a week for three hours a day.
- Chest and Triceps (Chest first, then tris) 1 set of warm up followed by 3 working sets supersetted with body weight dips for 3 sets.
- Back & Calves (Calves first, then back) 1 set of warm up followed by 3 working sets.
- Shoulders & Traps (Traps first, then shoulders) 1 set of warm up followed by 3 working sets supersetted with cable lateral raises for 3 sets.
- Biceps & Forearms (Forearms first, then biceps) 1 set of warm up followed by 3 working sets supersetted with wrist curls for 3 sets.
Rest between all exercises is 90 seconds, and rest between all supersets is 150 seconds. The routine goes like this:
- Cable Crossovers (warm up)- X-Over machine- 1 x 20 reps
- Incline Dumbbell press (working set 1)- X-Over machine (warm up)
- Standing Cable Crossovers (warm up)
- Incline Dumbbell Flyes (working set 2)- X-Over Machine
- Upright Rows (working set 3)-X-Over Machine
- Cable Crossovers (warm up)
- Flat Dumbbell Presses (working set 1)-X-Over Machine
- Machine Lateral Raises (working set 2)- X-Over machine
- Reverse Cable Curl (working set 3)- X-Over machine
- Seated Reverse Curl (1 x 20 reps followed by two drop sets)
What Does Ronnie Coleman Think of His Legacy?
Ronnie Coleman is the only bodybuilder in history to win 8 straight Mr Olympia titles. He has a fanatical following, many deeming him “The King”. After winning his last pro show he decided to retire from competitions. Here’s what he had to say about his love of bodybuilding and what it takes for this much dedication.
“Bodybuilding is a tough sport. It’s not for everybody and it doesn’t suit every personality. But if you enjoy what you do and if you love your job, you can take it as far as you want to go”
Ronnie has stated that he does not think that drug testing should be enforced in professional bodybuilding because it takes away from the excitement.
“I think it’s good that professional bodybuilding has evolved to that level, but I don’t think drug testing should be mandatory because you take away the excitement, one of the reasons why people watch us. They love watching us because they never know what we’re going to look like next”
What makes Ronnie Coleman a True Fearsome Beast?
Ronnie Coleman is one of the most gifted and driven bodybuilders of all time. He has a heart of gold and he’s also a genuinely nice guy (he even donates money and equipment to the local high school in his hometown). He’s got a great sense of humor and is a very intelligent man.
I have one last question that I must ask Ronnie Coleman, and that is “Why do you think it’s taken so long for a bodybuilder of your caliber to come along?”
“Well, I was just blessed with some God-given talent, pure genetics. And you know, my will was so strong and so determined that it just carried me to a whole other level. You know, all the guys before me set the stage for where I was able to go because they blazed the trail”
You could say that Ronnie Coleman is a true beast of bodybuilding and when you look at all his accomplishments in this sport, you can’t help but agree.
What’s the Secret to Ronnie Coleman’s Unstoppable Fitness Success?
Since winning his first Mr. Olympia title in 1998, Ronnie Coleman has amassed an incredible record of winning the show 8 consecutive times. He is well-known for his relentless workouts, and he attributes all his success to hard work and sacrifice.
“Discipline – this is my secret; nobody can tell me what to do; I do it because I want to do it; I work out when I feel like it and stop when I feel like it. That’s the secret of my success”
Ronnie Coleman has become a huge star in the bodybuilding world. He has appeared on countless magazine covers and television shows including “Miami Ink”, “Fox News” and “CBS Evening news”. Outside of the bodybuilding world he has appeared on “The Apprentice” with Donald Trump, where he had to sell a product that was unreliable. Here’s what Ronnie Coleman had to say about the experience.
“The first thing I learned is you have to go in there with your game face on all day long. It’s non-stop, everybody’s looking at you and watching what you’re doing all day long. That was exhausting.”
Since retiring from professional bodybuilding Ronnie has opened his own supplement business – Ronnie Coleman Signature Series. He decided to branch out into this market after training with other brands that he did not feel gave him the results that he was looking for.
“I asked a couple of other companies for samples, but I was only provided with the basic products that anybody else would have been given. As a professional athlete and businessman, I don’t think it’s right for me to represent a company unless they’re giving me their best.”
Ronnie Coleman is widely considered one of the greatest bodybuilders in history. In his prime, he was unbeatable and the only man to win 8 straight Mr Olympia titles.
Personal Life and Ronnie Coleman Today
Ronnie Coleman is still in good shape and continues to be a huge inspiration for people from all over the world. He lives with his wife and children in Texas, USA where he manages a small supplement store day to day.
In recent years, Ronnie’s weight has been trending downwards which is something that many fans admire him for. He is currently around 235–240 lbs. (depending on his current bulking/cutting phase). Between 2008 and 2009, Ronnie managed to lose about 30 lbs. which surprised many fans because he was already in such good shape beforehand. He hasn’t weighed this low since competing as an amateur bodybuilder many years ago.
Now that he doesn’t compete as a bodybuilder, Ronnie Coleman has gained about 20 lbs. and is now around 260–270 lbs. (depending on his current bulking/cutting phase). He credits gaining weight to eating “clean” and feeling much healthier these days. Ronnie still trains hard and is now focusing on getting stronger so he can continue to help teach others how to be successful in the gym.
It must be said that Ronnie Coleman is one of the hardest working bodybuilders we’ve ever seen. He has a great training style, knows exactly what he needs to do to succeed, and never backs away from a challenge. His incredible work ethic is part of what made him so successful in the sport, and he continues to be a great inspiration for people all over the world today.