Having won the Mr. Olympia title for eight straight years, Ronnie Dean Coleman is widely recognized as one of the best bodybuilders of all time. The retired pro also once held the record for most wins in the International Federation of BodyBuilding and Fitness. However, after pictures of him in a wheelchair spread on the internet, fans were concerned about the current state of the legend, Ronnie Coleman.
Background
Coleman was born on May 13, 1964, in Monroe, Louisiana. He received his bachelor’s degree in accounting from Grambling State University in 1984. He was a middle linebacker for the football team GSU Tigers while he was there.
He opted to go to Texas in the hopes of obtaining better work possibilities as an accountant. Young Coleman, sadly, had no luck and ended up working at Domino’s Pizza to make ends meet.
After reading about a vacancy through a newspaper, he became a police officer in Arlington, Texas. He held that position from 1989 to 2000 and up to 2003 as a reserve. During some of those years, he was competing while working as a sheriff.
Early Career
During his employment at the station, Gustavo Arlotta, a friend and fellow officer, persuaded him to join MetroFlex gym. And this was where it all started for Coleman. In exchange for participating in the Mr. Texas competition, Coleman was offered a free gym membership.
He went on to win the competition, even beating the guy who trained him for it. After this, Coleman finished third at the NPC Championships in 1990. But this wasn’t good enough for him.
The smart man took a step back and prepared for the 1991 World Amateur Championships held in Poland. He won the gold and earned the title of professional at 27 years old.
Professional Life
Upon becoming a pro, Ronnie Coleman didn’t win a show until the 1995 Canada Pro Cup, where he defeated Rich Gaspari and Milos Sarcev, two titans of the sport.
His reputation steadily grew, and the following year he won the same championship, proving that he could compete with bigger stakes. He won his first Mr. Olympia title in 1998.
Coleman dominated the international bodybuilding competition from 1998 to 2005, setting a record most athletes can only dream of breaking. He was finally defeated by future four-time champion Jay Cutler in 2006.
Injuries and Current Condition
Ronnie Coleman’s life took a very bad turn after having one of the most renowned bodybuilding runs ever. He confessed that he worked out and won many consecutive contests while battling with a herniated disc, a spinal condition that can lead to severe pain and even paralysis.
If someone has a back condition, they usually seek treatment straight away. But not Coleman. He disregarded the pain and continued to compete. He needed many back operations and a few hip surgeries as a result of this.
Nowadays, the man has been in and out of the hospital multiple times. Furthermore, Coleman said in June 2020 that he may never be able to walk anymore.
