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Bodybuilding legend Ronnie Coleman is one of the most reputed athletes in the sport. However, years of heavy lifting ultimately resulted in him suffering from multiple severe injuries. As a result, he had to undergo numerous surgeries which resulted in him being in a wheelchair for the rest of his life.
Contrary to popular belief that bodybuilders don't lift heavy, Ronnie Coleman lifted mind-numbing weights during his prime bodybuilding year. He is one of only two bodybuilders ever to win the Mr. Olympia a whopping eight times along with Lee Haney. He made sure to leave a legacy behind before officially retiring from the sport back in 2007 when he was 43 years old.
Coleman admits having no regrets about his heavy lifting. He also once addressed the issue and revealed that while most people think it was bodybuilding that resulted in his back pain, it was actually football. During his podcast with strongman icon Brian Shaw back in 2023, Coleman said (via Essentially Sports):
"I did a lot of Chiropractic and people don’t know that my back uh you know bodybuilding but I actually hurt it playing football." (09:09)
Ronnie Coleman underwent multiple hip replacement and back surgeries. He still visits his team of doctors daily to help him with the extreme pain. However, the doctors have made it pretty clear that there is almost no chance that 'The King' would ever be able to walk again.
Ronnie Coleman's astounding 800 lbs squat
Having lifted a whopping 800 lbs on squats for two reps during his prime bodybuilding days, Coleman said that his only regret was not to have attempted six reps. He revealed this during his podcast with Bradley Martyn Bradley Martin's Raw Talk, saying:
"Don't have no regrets, the only regret I had is when I was doing that 800 pounds squat, I didn't do six reps. Because I knew I had six in me. But I didn't know that until I put it up. Because that was my first time trying it.
"If I had done it before that day, i would have got six easy reps on camera. I would have been fully satisfied. But because I didn't do it, that's the only regret I ever have in the sport. " (22:51)
Despite the fact that the lift was actually pretty unbelievable, these years of lifting finally led to several back injuries. As a result, the former police officer went through 13 surgeries, that ultimately resulted in him being in a wheelchair for the rest of his life.
Despite all this, the constant smile on Ronnie Coleman's face indicates his satisfaction with his life. He started working at the age of nine to support his family and ultimately left an enduring mark on the fans of bodybuilding. Inspiring countless individuals to take up bodybuilding and fitness, Ronnie Coleman doesn't believe that being in a wheelchair makes him any less of a legend.
What are your views on Ronnie Coleman's inspiring life story? Let us know in the comments.
