A look back at the long winding career of Ronnie Coleman - 2013 scans

[SammyJr]

For those that can't read the small print, it's been copied and is all on the bottom.

A look back at the long and winding career of eight-time Mr. Olympia Ronnie Coleman

Ronnie Coleman, the greatest bodybuilder of all-time? Of course, there is bound to be debate. Some say the moniker belongs to Arnold Schwarzenegger, who won his first of seven Mr. Olympia titles in 1970, and remained undefeated for the remainder of his career. Others will insist that Lee Haney, who finished his career with eight Sandows, is more deserving. Or what about inaugural and two-time Mr. Olympia Larry Scott and his classic physique? The arguments can go on ad infinitum. But one thing no one can deny is that based purely on numbers, Ronnie Coleman is second to none.

In his early years, Coleman was just another anonymous pro. Nobody ever expected anything of him, unlike Schwarzenegger, Haney, Dorian Yates, Jay Cutler, or current two-time Mr. Olympia Phil Heath. But from his first Mr. Olympia win in 1998 to his swan song at the 2007 Mr. Olympia, Ronald Dean Coleman always surprised us. In a pro career that spanned 16 years, he amassed more hardware than anybody— with a record 26 titles, including eight straight Mr. Olympia wins and an Arnold Classic victory. The 297-pound physique he used to win his seventh Sandow in 2004 is the heaviest of any Mr. Olympia. Coleman achieved it all with a “just do it” attitude, and his ferocious workouts in the gym with mega weights—thanks to countless FLEX magazine features and videos—are just as memorable as his stage conquests, and, in fact, spawned such gym catchphrases as “light weight, baby!” and “ain’t nothing but a peanut!” to name a few. So, here then is the career of a man who most certainly ranks at or near the top of the list of the greatest bodybuilders of all time.

1991

ENTER BIG RON

In what many consider one of the greatest amateur contests of all time, Coleman places fourth in the heavyweight class behind Paul DeMayo, Flex Wheeler, and winner Kevin Levrone at the NPC Nationals. Later that year, he wins the heavyweight class at the IFBB World Amateur Championships to earn his pro card.

‘95-‘97

MAKING HIS MARK

Four years into his pro career, Coleman wins his first contest, the 1995 IFBB Canada Pro Cup (in second place is Günter Schlierkamp). The following year, he upsets the favorite Wheeler to defend his title. In 1997, in the post-Olympia European tour, he beats Levrone to win the Grand Prix Russia.

1998

ASCENSION

With six-time winner Yates forced into early retirement due to injury, the Mr. Olympia throne is up for grabs. Despite early season wins at the Night of Champions and Toronto Pro Invitational, Coleman is not considered an overwhelming favorite as Wheeler, Levrone, Shawn Ray, and others are considered to be Yates’ most likely successors. Then, in one of the sports greatest upsets, a huge, dry, and crisp Coleman steamrolls over everyone to become the 11th man to hold the Sandow. His eight-spot jump from ninth place the year before is the greatest single turnaround in Olympia history.

2001

BY THE SKIN OF HIS TEETH

By now a three-time Mr. Olympia and with no serious threat to his dominance in sight, a peeled-to-the-bone Coleman wins the Arnold Classic in March, the first reigning Mr. O in the modern era to compete in a contest before the Olympia. However, by the big O in September, Coleman shows signs of the grueling prep, as he appears flat with none of the skin-splitting size and detail of his previous victories. He loses the early rounds to an unbelievable Jay Cutler but rallies later that night to barely eke out another win. The Coleman aura of invincibility shows its first crack.

2002

UNTHINKABLE

With the much-anticipated Coleman–Cutler rematch on hold as the latter decides to sit out the 2002 Mr. Olympia, Coleman wins his fifth Sandow. However, fifth-place finisher Schlierkamp, who made it to the O stage thanks to a special invite, had yet to win a contest, and whose best Olympia showing to date was 12th in 2000, is the talk of the show. One week later, at the GNC Show of Strength, Schlierkamp hands Coleman his first loss in three years. It’s the first time an incumbent Mr. O has been beaten since Schwarzenegger beat Sergio Oliva at the 1970 Mr. World.

2003

LET SLEEPING DOGS LIE

With talk centered around Cutler returning to finish what he almost pulled off in 2001 and Schlierkamp’s upset win the year before at the SOS, Coleman was at his most vulnerable—and that spelled trouble for everyone not named Ronnie Coleman. Heading into his sixth title defense and fueled by the consensus that he is the underdog, he takes his training to a new place. The end result? A never-before-seen 287 pounds of striated, freak-show muscle that shocks and awes fellow competitors, judges, and fans alike. The 2003 Mr. Olympia contest is anything but that as Coleman wins by a landslide. The following year he collects his seventh Sandow in much the same fashion.

2005

BEGINNING OF THE END A “streamlined” 275-pound Coleman (in response to the IFBB mandate calling for tighter waistlines) relegates Cutler to runner-up again to collect his eighth Sandow, moving him past Schwarzenegger and tying him with Haney. In 2006, with his sights set on the new record, Coleman exhibits his usual confidence, but his physique, hovering near the 300-pound mark, lacks separation, detail—and his trademark striated glutes. Even more telling is the disparity between his left lat and triceps compared with their right counterparts. By the evening’s end, it is Cutler, not Coleman, who makes history as the first to dethrone a multiple, reigning Mr. Olympia since 1970. Coleman returns in 2007, but his physique has paid the price for years of gym wars and he falls to fourth place. As he announces his retirement onstage, the capacity crowd gives him an extended standing ovation befitting one of the sport’s greatest champions.

Stats

DATE OF BIRTH May 13, 1964

PLACE OF BIRTH Bastrop, LA

CURRENT RESIDENCE Arlington, TX

HEIGHT 5'11"

WEIGHT 297 pounds (contest); 330 pounds (off-season)

IFBB PRO LEAGUE CAREER WINS 2005: Mr. Olympia; 2004: Mr. Olympia, Grand Prix Russia, Grand Prix Holland, Grand Prix England; 2003: Mr. Olympia, Grand Prix Russia; 2002: Mr. Olympia, Grand Prix Holland; 2001: Mr. Olympia, Arnold Classic, Grand Prix New Zealand; 2000: Mr. Olympia, Grand Prix England, World Pro Championships; 1999: Mr. Olympia, Grand Prix England, World Pro Championships; 1998: Mr. Olympia, Grand Prix Finland, Grand Prix Germany, Night Of Champions, Toronto Pro Invitational; 1997: Grand Prix Russia; 1996: Canada Cup Pro; 1995: Canada Cup Pro; 1991: IFBB World Amateur Championships, heavyweight

[Larfleeze]

That hands on hips MM is mindblowing. Cheers Sammy.

[Unbiasedfan]

Thanks sammy,

In 2006, with his sights set on the new record, Coleman exhibits his usual confidence, but his physique, hovering near the 300-pound mark, lacks (...) and his trademark striated glutes

[handyman89]

Awsome thread!! 1998 pics blow my mind every time! so shredded

[Larfleeze]

inb4 06 Olympia sh*tstorm

[AD337]

those 1998 pics are just.. i don't even know.. Im at a loss of words every time

[RoroCwalker]

Thanks for these scans Sammy.

Lol'd at the 2002 photoshop from Ronnie's waist, it makes Gunter look bad.

I still can't understand Coleman, it's insane, he surpassed the highest bodybuilding standards and still has them up there, it's just mind blowing, no one came close to his physique in 1998, even 15 years later.

And that back shot of 1998.......no words cannot express the beauty.

[___]

His eight-spot jump from ninth place the year before is the greatest single turnaround in Olympia history.

isnt Wolfs jump from 4th (2008) to 16th (2009) the biggest?

[___]

Lol'd at the 2002 photoshop from Ronnie's waist, it makes Gunter look bad.

thats so ridiculously shopped... its sad

[RoroCwalker]

^
Wow, it's shopped more than I thought it would.

[Larfleeze]

isnt Wolfs jump from 4th (2008) to 16th (2009) the biggest?

Pretty sure they were only referring to improved placings

[___]

Pretty sure they were only referring to improved placings

so Wolfs 16th to 5th?!
i think Wolf broke both records

[RoroCwalker]

^
I think what's being said is that from 16th to 5th is not as impressive as 9th to actually wining the show, if you know what I mean?
For example, Rhoden's 11th to 3rd.

[___]

^
I think what's being said is that from 16th to 5th is not as impressive as 9th to actually wining the show, if you know what I mean?
For example, Rhoden's 11th to 3rd.

i agree going from 9th to 1st is much more impressive.. reading again it says "greatest" turnaround.. so it could be..

[TTimmerman]

^ i want miniature glutes like that

[mattryken]

Awesome scans Sammy, thanks!

[___]

another hd picture from the same magazine

[KuRdiSh]

lul

[Ehudd]

lul

How is this clown still green?

[TTimmerman]

How is this clown still green?

sometimes he makes good posts, but then he starts trolling again

[FAN0FdaSport]

How is this clown still green?

he's a kevin levrone fan

[SammyJr]

That hands on hips MM is mindblowing. Cheers Sammy.

np.

Awsome thread!! 1998 pics blow my mind every time! so shredded

those 1998 pics are just.. i don't even know.. Im at a loss of words every time

Thanks for these scans Sammy.

Lol'd at the 2002 photoshop from Ronnie's waist, it makes Gunter look bad.

I still can't understand Coleman, it's insane, he surpassed the highest bodybuilding standards and still has them up there, it's just mind blowing, no one came close to his physique in 1998, even 15 years later.

And that back shot of 1998.......no words cannot express the beauty.

no problem. hehe i also have a 23 page report of the 1998 MR O. many amazing pics of ronnie.

i agree going from 9th to 1st is much more impressive.. reading again it says "greatest" turnaround.. so it could be..

[img]http://i.imgur.com/Zq0YVqz.jpg[/ig]

i can scan a real hd pic of that if you want me to.

Awesome scans Sammy, thanks!

np. ty

[___]

i can scan a real hd pic of that if you want me to.

that would be nice for that back picture.. the pdf i got go only up to that resolution which sucks

[Iceman1981]

For those that can't read the small print, it's been copied and is all on the bottom.

Flex Magazine uses pics from the 2001 Arnold Classic of Ronnie, but they talk about his 1995 & 1996 Canada Pro and 1997 Russian Grand Prix Wins?
They really have some idiots who edit these magazines.

[Iceman1981]

Great stuff Sammy!!!

[Iceman1981]

that would be nice for that back picture.. the pdf i got go only up to that resolution which sucks

X2...................... HD scan Sammy. That back pic is insane.

[Larfleeze]

How is this clown still green?

I'm more confused as to how the hell he got unbanned.

[sedrik]

dat 1998 back.....
holy **** please do a closeup of that

[NeoSeminole]

Sammy, could you also scan the most muscular pic of Ronnie from 98? I've seen it before but not in high def

[SammyJr]

that would be nice for that back picture.. the pdf i got go only up to that resolution which sucks

X2...................... HD scan Sammy. That back pic is insane.

dat 1998 back.....
holy **** please do a closeup of that

Sammy, could you also scan the most muscular pic of Ronnie from 98? I've seen it before but not in high def

done.


for some reason my new scanner cant scan super hd like the other one :/





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if you want me to get rid of the blur i'll rescan it, just ask