What happened to Ronnie Coleman?

Ronnie Coleman, who counted muscleman Arnold Schwarzenegger as his competition, changed the face of bodybuilding forever.

But his glittering career came at a price – and forever changed the 58-year-old’s life.

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Who is Ronnie Coleman?

Ronnie Dean Coleman hails from Monroe, Louisiana, where he was born on May 13, 1964.

He began playing football as a middle linebacker for the GSU Tigers while attending Grambling State University.

The graduate moved to Texas but couldn’t find work as an accountant and instead had to work at Domino’s Pizza.

Ronnie recalled secretly chewing orders since he couldn’t afford food at the time.

But he soon managed to move on, becoming a police officer in Arlington from 1989 to 2000.

After being invited by colleague Gustavo Arlotta to visit the Metroflex gym, the police officer’s new career path began to emerge.

The facility’s owner, amateur bodybuilder Brian Dobson, offered Ronnie a free lifetime membership if he would allow him to train him for the upcoming 1990 Mr. Texas bodybuilding contest.

The then 26-year-old cop accepted and won first place in both the heavyweight division and overall, defeating Dobson himself.

It was the start of his burgeoning bodybuilding career that made him a household name across America.

What happened to Ronnie Coleman?

After Ronnie rose to fame with his massive physique and extreme workouts, he continued to compete as a bodybuilder.

But his first big break didn’t come until 1998 when he clinched his first Mr. Olympia win – which catapulted him to stardom.

He received a number of product endorsements and traveled the world promoting them, becoming a well-known public figure in the United States.

The professional athlete enjoyed shocking audiences and working out with free weights, and combined the two to raise his profile.

Ronnie rose to prominence as a powerlifter and bodybuilder who squatted and deadlifted 800 pounds.

But his arduous and daring training eventually took its toll on his body, forcing him to undergo several serious surgeries.

The bodybuilding icon has had two hip replacement surgeries alongside various attempts to relieve chronic pain from his damaged discs.

The painful injury is caused when a rubbery disk pushes through the sheath between your spinal bones, causing pain, numbness and even paralysis.

Some of his surgeries – which cost millions of dollars – have had such poor results that Ronnie may never be able to walk unaided again.

The strapping star has lost much of his mobility and, at just 58, has to travel long distances in a wheelchair.

But he still has no regrets about his radical training program and “would do it again” if given the chance.

Ronnie even joked he wished he’d done four reps instead of two when squatting 800lbs, saying it was “the only regret in my career.”

He has continued to exercise despite his health issues to prevent muscle wasting, but is now only able to lift light weights.

What bodybuilding competitions did Ronnie Coleman win?

During his illustrious bodybuilding career, Ronnie won a number of competitions – even retaining a crown for eight straight years.

The strongman’s genetics and superhuman proportions made him a memorable candidate, earning him the nickname “The King.”

He won first place in the following competitions:

• Mr. Texas (heavyweight & overall) 1990
• World Amateur Championships (Heavyweight) 1991
• Canada Pro Cup 1995 and 1996
• 1997 Russian Grand Prix
• 1998 Toronto Invitational
• Mr. Olympia from 1998 – 2005
• World Professional Championship 1999
• 1999 British Grand Prix
• World Championship of Professionals 2000
• 2001 New Zealand Grand Prix
• Dutch Grand Prix 2002
• 2003 Russian Grand Prix
• Grand Prix England, Holland, Russia 2004

In 2001, Ronnie became the first man to win both the Arnold Classic and Mr. Olympia titles in the same year.

His most notable achievement is winning eight straight Mr. Olympia titles from 1998 to 2005, as well as first place in 26 IFBB professional titles.

What is Ronnie Coleman doing now?

Ronnie remains active on Instagram, where he shares workout videos and motivational advice with his 5.6 million followers.

Today he lives with his wife, the American personal trainer Susan Williamson, and their four children in Arlington.

Filmmaker Vlad Yudin has created a documentary about the colorful life of the weightlifting legend for Netflix titled Ronnie Coleman: The King.

The 58-year-old launched his nutritional supplement business, Ronnie Coleman Signature Seriesm, in 2011.

He also runs a YouTube channel where he discusses the evolution of his physique which has proved a hit with fans.

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