Tag: Ronnie Coleman
Jay Cutler vs. Nick Walker: A Fantasy Bodybuilding Showdown
If you want to determine the most successful bodybuilder of a certain era, then you simply look at the number of championships they won during their careers. Determining the most popular competitors is a little different. Social media can help provide some information, but it isn’t all about followers online. Crowd support at shows, lines at expos, and merchandise sales could tell more of the story.
Regardless of what metrics you use, Jay Cutler and Nick Walker hold their own in both onstage success and fan support.
Cutler, a four-time Mr. Olympia, competed as a pro from 1998 to 2013, and he’s still one of the most admired athletes in the sport 10 years after his retirement.
Meanwhile, Walker was one of Cutler’s fans growing up, but he’s now forging his own legacy and building his own fanbase — and trophy case — that could potentially rival Cutler’s someday.
Could Walker actually match Culter’s accomplishments? We’ll have to wait a while before we get an answer. But in the meantime, we here at BarBend are breaking down their physiques and accomplishments to see how both men stack up.
Credit: @JayCutler on Instagram (Cutler) // T.J. Darr (Walker)
[Related: Arnold Schwarzenegger vs. Chris Bumstead: Breaking Down a Fantasy Bodybuilding Matchup]
Bodybuilding Accomplishments
Comparing the duo’s accomplishments in 2023 wouldn’t exactly be fair to Walker. He’s only in his third full season as a pro, while Cutler had a career that lasted well over a decade. Even though we will mention all of Cutler’s major career highlights, we’ll emphasize his success up to the age of 28, which is Walker’s age as of March 2023. In a striking coincidence, the two even share a birthday — August 3 — meaning Cutler is exactly 21 years older than Walker.
Jay Cutler’s Accomplishments
Cutler won 15 pro shows during his career, including four Mr. Olympia titles and three Arnold Classics. However, he didn’t score any of those Olympias before the age of 33. If we were to keep his career analysis to the age of 28, then that leads up to his 2002 season.
According to Muscle Memory, Cutler turned pro in 1996 by winning the NPC Nationals heavyweight title. His first pro show was the 1998 Night of Champions, where he placed 12th. He then qualified for the 1999 Mr. Olympia by placing in the top three at that year’s Iron Man Invitational, but he finished 15th out of 16 competitors at the O itself.
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[Related: 9 Bodybuilders Under 200 Pounds Who Were Absolute Giant Killers]
Cutler’s first pro win came at the 2000 Night of Champions, which became the New York Pro years later. He then finished eighth at that year’s Mr. Olympia. He really hit his stride after placing second to champion Ronnie Coleman at the 2001 Mr. Olympia. Many feel Cutler was actually the better competitor that night, and it’s a decision that is still considered one of the most controversial in the show’s history.
The 2002 season kicked off with 28-year-old Cutler winning his first Arnold Classic title. He then opted to skip the Olympia that year, making his career highlights up to age 28 as follows:
1996 NPC Nationals Heavyweight Winner
2000 Night of Champions Winner
2001 Mr. Olympia, 2nd Place
2002 Arnold Classic Champion
Nick Walker’s Accomplishments
Walker turned pro at the 2020 North American Championships, and he immediately made his pro debut at the Chicago Pro that same season, finishing in fourth.
He already had a following going into the 2021 season, but his popularity skyrocketed after winning the New York Pro. In another coincidence, Walker’s first pro win came at the same contest as Cutler’s, albeit with a different name.
The 2021 Arnold Classic came after the New York Pro due to scheduling changes around the COVID-19 pandemic. Walker shocked the world and won that contest as well, marking his first major title in only his third pro show.
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[Related: Ronnie Coleman vs. Mamdouh “Big Ramy” Elssbiay: A Fantasy Battle Between Bodybuilding Heavyweights]
His Olympia debut came two weeks later with a fifth-place finish — 10 spots higher than Cutler’s first Mr. O outing. Walker returned to the Olympia in 2022 and placed third behind champion Hadi Choopan and runner-up Derek Lunsford. He then kicked off the 2023 season by returning to the Arnold Classic, where he finished second behind champion Samson Dauda.
Walker isn’t expected to compete again until the 2023 Olympia Weekend on Nov. 2-5 in Orlando, FL, and he be turn 29 by that point. Here are his career highlights as of March 2023:
2020 North Americans Champion
2021 New York Pro Winner
2021 Arnold Classic Champion
2022 Mr. Olympia, 3rd Place
Training Style
Both men are known for their freakish muscle mass — but how did they build it? Cutler is reported to be 5’9” while Walker stands 5’7”, and both weighed around 250 pounds on stage. With Walker being such a fan of Cutler growing up, you can imagine that he took some training cues from the four-time Mr. Olympia over the years.
Jay Cutler’s Training Style
Cutler credits foundational free weight movements such as the bench press, squat, and deadlift for building his mass.
“While machines are still beneficial — when you get to a certain point, you can’t get to that [Mr. Olympia] level without doing free weight movements,” Cutler said on his YouTube channel in September 2021. He did (and still does), however, work more with machines and dumbbells to refine his physique as his career progressed.
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[Related: 10 Memorable Performances From the Arnold Classic Bodybuilding Contest]
During his prime, Cutler implemented a high-volume training approach and rarely used supersets or other intensity-boosting methods. He hit upwards of 20 to 25 sets per body part, with sets being in the eight to 12 rep range. He still follows this approach as he nears his 50th birthday.
In November 2022, Cutler shared an 11-exercise shoulders and triceps workout that is similar to how he trained during his days of dominating the stage. He didn’t detail the reps and sets, but these are the moves he performed:
Seated Dumbbell Shoulder Press
Chest-Supported Seated Lateral Raise Machine
Rear Delt Cable Crossover Flye
Incline Fixed Barbell Front Raise
Incline Dumbbell Rear Delt Flye
Seated Triceps Extension Machine
Cable Triceps Pushdown
Kneeling Rope Pushdown
Seated Cable Triceps Extension
Machine Calf Raise
Leg Press Calf Raise
Nick Walker’s Training Style
Though Walker performs many of the same movements as Cutler, he’s far more notable for his freakish displays of strength on social media. During his 2022 Mr. Olympia prep, Walker posted a video of himself hitting incline bench press reps with 180-pound dumbbells and deadlifts with five 45-pound weight plates on each side (which totals 495 pounds, assuming Walker was lifting with a standard 45-pound barbell).
Like Cutler, Walker has since started incorporating more machine movements into his programming because they allow him to isolate muscle groups and refine his mass.
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[Related: The Story Behind the Chaotic Drug-Tested 1990 Mr. Olympia]
That said, he still uses free-weight exercises regularly and keeps his rep ranges around 12 to 15. One example of Walker’s shoulder training is this session he completed with 2019 Mr. Olympia Brandon Curry in the summer of 2022.
Popularity
It’s always difficult to compare the popularity of bodybuilders from different eras because of the lack of social media during Cutler’s career and the different ways of promotion between then and now. There are significantly fewer magazines around now, and merchandise sales have changed as well. Nonetheless, you can see why these two men are where they are in the bodybuilding world.
Jay Cutler’s Popularity
Cutler’s popularity during the 2000s was matched only by eight-time Mr. Olympia Ronnie Coleman. That’s because, throughout their careers, they were usually the last two men standing on the Olympia stage, and their physiques helped define the “mass monster” era. They were the most high-profile athletes in the sport, with each selling workout DVDs and appearing in magazines. If anything, their rivalry helped both men achieve even greater heights in terms of popularity.
[Related: How Strong Was Arnold Schwarzenegger? We Look Back at the Oak’s Short-Lived Powerlifting Career]
Cutler was — and still is — savvy when it comes to the business of bodybuilding. He was the top athlete for the supplement company MuscleTech for most of his career, started his own merch line, and was a fixture at trade shows. His pursuit of Coleman, combined with his commitment to support his fans, made him a legend long before he won an Olympia title.
Since his retirement, Cutler stays relevant with newer fans thanks to his podcast, social media pages, and his YouTube channel. On Instagram alone, he has more than 4.8 million followers as of March 2023, ranking alongside current competitors like Big Ramy.
Nick Walker’s Popularity
Walker’s fanbase can be seen in part on both his Instagram (1.3 million followers) and YouTube channels (231,000 subscribers). Outside of social media, he has his own clothing line and is sponsored by supplement brand HD Muscle. Like Cutler, Walker also makes appearances at trade shows, gyms, and nutrition stores.
[Related: How Strong Was Arnold Schwarzenegger? We Look Back at the Oak’s Short-Lived Powerlifting Career]
The attention of bodybuilding fans is now more spread thanks to the addition of other divisions such as Classic Physique and Men’s Physique, but Walker remains a popular figure in the industry and could remain so for several years to come.
Coaching
Both Walker and Cutler employed some of the most respected trainers and coaches in the industry to help them build their championship physiques. Here’s who helped them get to the top:
Jay Cutler — Chris Aceto and Hany Rambod
Cutler began his career with “The Technician” Chris Aceto and stayed with him throughout most of his career. Aceto helped Cutler win all of his pro shows up until the 2008 Olympia when he lost to Dexter Jackson.
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[Related: Kings, Chemists, and Oaks: The 10 Best Bodybuilding Nicknames of All Time]
Cutler then changed over to Hany Rambod, who guided him to his final two Olympia victories in 2009 and 2010. After initially agreeing to work with Chad Nicholls for his 2013 return to the stage, Cutler eventually reunited with Aceto and finished his final Mr. Olympia contest in sixth place.
Nick Walker — Matt Jansen
Walker has mainly used one coach throughout his competition preps so far: Matt Jansen. The duo worked together from Walker’s amateur days until the 2021 Olympia, where he finished in fifth.
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[Related: 12 of the Most Underrated Bodybuilders of All Time]
After a brief falling out, Walker switched to working with Dominick Mutascio in early 2022. However, Walker and Jansen reunited later that year and returned to the 2022 Olympia as a duo. Walker finished that contest in third place, and they followed that up with a second-place finish at the 2023 Arnold Classic.
Conclusion
From birthdays to first victories and major titles, the comparisons between Cutler and Walker appear to be valid to this point. They also happen to be among the most popular bodybuilders of the respective generations. In the end, though, it all comes down to Olympia hardware. “The Mutant” certainly has the potential to rival Cutler when it comes to Sandow trophies, but only time will tell if he gets it done.
Featured Images: @jaycutler on Instagram (Cutler), T.J. Darr (Walker)
WATCH: Ronnie Coleman Reacts To Crazy Lifts By Kyriakos Grizzly
Ronnie Coleman spent the time trying to figure out what Kyriakos Grizzly was working on.
Ronnie Coleman knows a thing or two about working out and different lifting techniques. He built a championship physique in the gym that led to a record eight Olympia titles. Now, Coleman has become a social media sensation sharing his insights and entertaining viewers.
During his career, Coleman built one of the best physiques of all-time. He won eight straight Sandow Trophies from 1998-2005. In bodybuilding, Coleman is still an influential voice and often shares some training tips.
Here, he did not share any tips but made some comments on what he was seeing. Coleman recently reacted to lifts made by Kyriakos Grizzly. During the video, Grizzly can be seen lifting heavy amounts of weight in many different ways.
Ronnie Coleman: “This Is Absolutely Crazy”
Grizzly is seen in the video doing some variations of different exercises, such as a pull-up or barbell row. Ronnie Coleman made comments on the weight and what muscles could possibly be hit.
“I think he is trying to do a pull-up but he is just doing an up,” Coleman said.
“What is he working on? This is absolutely crazy sh*t I can think of to do at the gym.”
The lifts being done by Grizzly definitely got the attention of Coleman, who started to feed into the energy of Grizzly screaming all over the gym. At the same time, he admitted these were not affective movements.
“He’s just got a bunch of weight on the bar that’s hanging. He’s just lifting some heavy sh*t. He is not working out,” Coleman said.
Ronnie Coleman was a monster in the gym during his career and remains active to this day. He still puts in work on a daily basis to keep his physique and mind in shape. When he is not in the gym, Coleman can be seen reacting to some crazy videos and this certainly makes the list.
“This is him practicing his technique for going taking the sh*t. That’s all this is cause he ain’t working anything.”
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For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Ronnie Coleman Discusses Encounter With DEA In 2002 Over Steroids That Made Him Testify Before Grand Juries
Ronnie Coleman opened up about a run-in with the DEA and the effects of his back surgeries.
Ronnie Coleman is one of the best bodybuilders to ever step on stage. To get to that level, athletes must be willing to put their bodies through hors of training and absorb different substances to build muscle. Because of this, Coleman has been through many surgeries over the course of his career and even ran into some trouble with the DEA.
Coleman holds the record, along with Lee Haney, for most Olympia victories in history with eight. He has spoken about his career in detail since retiring from competition. Recently, Coleman joined the Don’t Be Sour podcast to go in-depth about information that might not be known.
A physique like the one Coleman possessed was eye-opening for all — including the DEA. He was brought in and the agency might have been looking to charge him. Coleman admits that he was buying his steroids through legal means and conducted blood tests.
“Even when I was taking things, I would go to the pharmacy because the DEA came in and brought us all up and I don’t know what they were trying to do, maybe charge us. They came in, brought us all before grand juries, made us testify. This was like 2002. Somewhere in there. Not too long ago. We had, at least I did, we had to go and get our stuff legally,” Ronnie Coleman explained.
Despite buying his steroids legally, Coleman could not avoid a run-in with the DEA. Over the last five or six years of his career, Coleman got his steroids from a place that required blood tests, prescriptions, and specific pharmacies.
“We would go to these pharmacies, and they would take your blood, you know, because you’re a certain age, you can take testosterone.
you know I did everything legally, where I would go to pharmacies and take these blood tests, and they would write a prescription for everything we took.”
Ronnie Coleman Talks About His Many Surgeries
It is no secret that Ronnie Coleman has suffered many injuries over the course of his career. He pointed out a specific incident when he was dealing with a herniated disc back in 1996 before the Arnold Classic.
“I was okay, I still did the Arnold Classic and still continued lifting heavy and working out every single day. I think just over time, you know, it wore itself out.”
Coleman admits to this being the only one he ever had but he did go through eight different back surgeries and three on his neck and hip.
The reason for some of the surgeries would be to replace a screw in his back, which broke on four separate occasions.
“Right out of surgery, I get to my room, nurse comes in and said, ‘Hey, I need to change your bandage.’ I’m like, ‘already?’ She’s like, ‘yeah.’ I turn over, pow! Right there in the hospital bed. It shattered my whole body. Like I said, it happened four times in a row.”
Ronnie Coleman has had a fascinating career and has only made it even better in retirement. Coleman is taking on a new role as a YouTuber and runs a successful page where he provides entertaining videos involving bodybuilding and fitness. He remains a big name in the sport and is extremely active in the gym to this day.
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For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Ronnie Coleman Takes Fitness Star Jesse James West Through Bodybuilding Workout He Used During Career
Ronnie Coleman walked Jesse James West through exercises that helped him win eight Olympia titles.
Fitness star Jesse James West has been seen doing some crazy workouts and experiments during his time in the gym. Now, he has taken it to the extreme by going through. bodybuilding workout led by eight-time Olympia champion Ronnie Coleman.
During his career, Coleman dominated the stage because of his insane physique that he kept shredded to defeat the competition. From 1998-2005, there was no better bodybuilder in the world and Coleman is still considered to be one of the best of all-time.
This is not the first time that West has trained with a bodybuilder. He has been through leg workouts with different competitors and that includes Brittany Best. Now, he has taken his workouts to another level and gained some valuable advice from Coleman.
Ronnie Coleman Leads Jesse James West In Muscle-Building Workout
Jesse James West has built a following of 1.54 million subscribers on YouTube because of his personality in his videos along with keeping a conditioned physique. That is where the video was shared as the two hit a muscle-building workout that Coleman used during his time on stage.
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Barbell Squats
The workout begins with barbell squats. Ronnie Coleman urges Jesse James West to do back squats. This is Coleman’s favorite workout to build the legs and believes that it is the best way to do so. He mentioned how he was able to rep 600 pounds for 12-15 reps during his career.
“It’s all lightweight. As long as you can lift it, it’s light,” Coleman said.
Hammer Strength Incline Bench Press Machine
Coleman took a seat on this machine and hit it for 20 reps next. West decided to ask Coleman about his relationship with Jay Cutler, who defeated Coleman during the 2006 Olympia.
“Friends. We were friends. We worked out together. When we were on stage, we were competing,” Coleman explained.
Seated Incline Dumbbell Shoulder Press
Dumbbell shoulder presses were next on the list. West began lifting while Coleman spotted him. Before the workout, the duo discussed Stranger Things and who their favorite characters were.
Seated Dumbbell Curl
Ronnie Coleman then took Jesse James West through a set of dumbbell curls. This is when the influencer asked Coleman about the importance of protein while working out.
“Protein builds muscle. I used to do 600 grams a day,” Coleman said.
West continued by fact-checking a crazy stat about Coleman during his time on stage.
“Is it true you were .33 percent body fat?,” West said.
“I had it done at Cooper Clinic,” Coleman said.
One-Arm Seated Hammer Strength Row
During hammer strength rows, West asked Coleman about his first Olympia victory. For Coleman, it was an accomplishment he did not think he was going to get.
“I had no idea I was going to win. I never thought I was going to win. I turned pro in ’91. My first Olympia was in ’92.”
Deadlifts
The final exercise of the day was deadlifts. West performed them with a sumo grip and had to make sure that it still counted the same.
“Yeah, we’ll count that. Yeah buddy. As long as you’re picking it up, it counts,” Coleman said.
Jesse James West performed a set of 10 reps before the workout ended. Prior to his final set, he asked for advice from Coleman.
“Pull with your hamstrings. When I was 22, I did 725-pounds easy. Everybody wants to be a bodybuilder, but don’t no one want to lift no heavy ass weight.”
Some of the numbers that Ronnie Coleman was throwing out over the course of the video just shows how much of a freak he was in the gym. This is the work that led to eight Olympia titles and now, he continues to share that wisdom and guidance to those who want it.
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Ronnie Coleman Displays “No Excuse” Olympia Mindset During Cardio: ‘When Your Legs Get Numb, Use Your Arms’
Ronnie Coleman is one of the best to ever step on stage and he continues to show why during training.
Ronnie Coleman is one of the best to ever do it in bodybuilding. It is no surprise that he continues to be active in the gym and share his wisdom with the next generation. When thinking about his success on stage and mindset in retirement, Coleman keeps it simple with two words — “no excuses.”
Coleman won a record eight consecutive Olympia titles beginning in 1998 and spanning all the way to 2005. In 2006, Coleman finished as the runner-up to Jay Cutler after he bested Cutler in the previous three competitions. To this day, Coleman is considered one of the biggest freaks that ever stepped on a bodybuilding stage. His overall size and conditioning is unmatched and it is because of his training mindset.
Ronnie Coleman has become active on social media, whether it be YouTube or Instagram. This time, he was able to share a video on the incumbent bike explaining how to keep it rolling even when you cannot feel your legs.
“When your legs get real numb while riding the incumbent bike. You use your arms as legs because there are no excuses when it comes to doing cardio. When there’s a will you find a way to get the job done.”
This is not a new mindset that Coleman has developed in retirement. It has carried him to Olympia victories and through different injuries.
READ MORE: Ronnie Coleman Trains Legs Twice A Week, Hits Calf Raises With Feet “Totally Numb”
Ronnie Coleman’s “No Excuse” Olympia Mindset
Ronnie Coleman has suffered different injuries and surgeries over the course of his career. In 2001, Coleman struggled with severe dehydration and nearly died prior to the Olympia. He was able to bounce back and win the competition by rehydrating and getting himself back to neutral.
“You don’t win eight Olympia’s by making excuses. Determination, Dedication, Perseverance, Passion and Faith. The keys to any successful venture. #yeahbuddy“
Despite his great success, Ronnie Coleman understands the dangers of bodybuilding and the substances that are used. He has spoken out claiming that the “sport is not worth dying for.” Coleman has shown that there are plenty of ways to train naturally and keep the mindset needed.
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Who Has Bigger Biceps? Ronnie Coleman Shares Video Comparing Arms With Jay Cutler
Ronnie Coleman turned back the clock showing off a video comparing biceps with Jay Cutler.
There is plenty of history between Ronnie Coleman and Jay Cutler, including 12 Olympia titles and many legendary battles on stage. Boasting two of the best physiques of all-time, it is natural for the duo to want to see who has the bigger biceps. Coleman shared an old video of the two measuring arms outside the gym.
The video was shared to Coleman’s YouTube page on Wednesday afternoon but it is clear that it is an older video taken while the two were still competing on stage.
Ronnie Coleman has eight Olympia titles, which is tied for the most all-time with Lee Haney. Coleman began his run of consecutive victories in 1998 and it ran all the way to 2005. In 2006, Coleman had to settle for silver as Jay Cutler was able to win his first title. He would go back-to-back twice, winning consecutive titles in 2006-2007 and 2009-2010.
Cutler might have taken the crown from Coleman in 2006 but this was not the first time they met on stage. From 2003-2005, Cutler finished as the runner-up to Coleman as he won the latter of his eight championships. During the early part of the 2000s, it was clear who was at the top of bodybuilding.
Ronnie Coleman or Jay Cutler: Who Had Bigger Biceps?
Ronnie Coleman had a physique that was marveled at for many years because of his pure size and conditioning. Whether it is back, chest, or arms, Coleman is on the list of best ever. Here, Jay Cutler decided to measure his arms up against his biggest foe during their time on stage.
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In the video, there is a trainer using a measuring tape to take the size of Cutler and Coleman’s biceps in inches. It is revealed that Coleman is around 23.3 inches while Cutler comes in at 22.5. These are massive biceps for two competitors who perfected their physiques over the years.
Ronnie Coleman was the star of the 2018 film Ronnie Coleman: The King. This film went in-depth about one of the greatest’s upbringing and career in bodybuilding. Jay Cutler has also been featured, making an appearance in Generation Iron 3.
Since retiring from the stage, both athletes remain active in the gym. Jay Cutler often shares different workouts for viewers to try as he trains in a different way than he used to. Coleman is active on social media posting workout videos and working on other projects to remain in shape. Both athletes are still influential in the sport of bodybuilding and this is something that is never going to change.
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Ronnie Coleman Trains Legs Twice A Week, Hits Calf Raises With Feet “Totally Numb”
Ronnie Coleman continues to train in the gym despite some physical limitations.
Ronnie Coleman put together a legendary career that will keep him up there with the best bodybuilders of all-time. The eight-time Olympia champion is tied for the most victories ever with Lee Haney. Despite his retirement and some physical limitations, Coleman has continued to train in the gym and recently showed off a leg day.
Coleman underwent many surgeries during his decorated career. In 2019, Coleman explained that he had went through back surgery 10 or more times. This left him needing some assistance to walk but the bodybuilder made sure to remain active in the gym.
In an Instagram post, Coleman shares a calf raise exercise and explains the importance of hitting leg day each week.
Ronnie Coleman: “It’s About How Bad You Wanna Do Something”
Ronnie Coleman went to MetroFlex Gym in Arlington, TX to take down this leg day. In the video, Coleman is seen on a seated calf raise machine attacking reps. Despite his feet going numb, Coleman continues the workout and does this to keep other levels where they need to be.
“Trying my very best to do calf raises with both of my feet being totally numb. Sometimes it’s not about how hard you try do something, it’s about how bad you wanna do something. Shout out to my friends over at Frontline Alternatives for helping me keep my liver, kidney and heart levels on point. #yeahbuddy“
This post comes a week after Ronnie Coleman revealed that he still trains legs twice a week. He is unable to squat anymore and says that this is what he misses the most but Coleman still has strength in his legs and likes to keep them in shape.
Coleman has remained active and influential in the sport of bodybuilding. He has discussed the issue of PEDs in the sport and believes that the “sport is not worth dying for.” This came after he went over a near-death experience of his own prior to the 2001 Olympia.
Ronnie Coleman continues to be an inspiration to all and this is why he was given the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2021 Arnold Classic. Workouts and videos like this calf raise venture is the big reason why.
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Ronnie Coleman Discusses Issues In Bodybuilding: ‘This Sport Is Not Worth Dying For’
Ronnie Coleman recently addressed the deaths in bodybuilding and reflected on an experience of his own.
Ronnie Coleman is one of the best bodybuilders to ever step on stage and his resume backs it up. Coleman is an eight-time Olympia champion, which is tied for the most all-time with Lee Haney. To this day, Coleman remains an influential voice in bodybuilding because of his knowledge of the sport. Coleman recently discussed the recent deaths in bodybuilding and reflected on an experience of his own.
Coleman joined Bradley Martyn to discuss the recent happenings around bodybuilding. Unfortunately, there has been a string of deaths that has hit the world hard. Shawn Rhoden and George Peterson passed away last year. Recently, Cedric McMillan suddenly died and this shifted conversations further toward the health concerns in bodybuilding.
Ronnie Coleman knows a thing or two about preparing for shows and what it takes to be the best in the world. During his time, there was not this many deaths and it is because there used to be testing for substances such as diuretics.
“It’s kind of hard, you know when I was coming up, we had one guy die and they started drug testing every show. He died of diuretics of course, you know. So they started drug testing for diuretics every show, and nobody died or nothing, until they stopped. I’ll never forget when they stopped. He died in 1996 I think. (Mohammed) Benaziza, he died on the European Tour. I know I wasn’t there, I wasn’t Mr. Olympia back then. They drug tested every single show after that in the IFBB.”
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Following this death, Ronnie Coleman explained that the IFBB began testing doe diuretics and there were not many deaths in the sport. This changed once Jay Cutler threatened to sue the league after testing positive. Coleman explained that Cutler got testing outlawed.
“When Jay failed the test, they, because Jay told them he was going to sue them. They was like, okay, well we won’t keep testing, and you get the chance to keep your prize money too. We will just do away with the testing. Jay changed that. They didn’t test no more after that.”
Ronnie Coleman and the 2001 Olympia
Ronnie Coleman knows the dangers of diuretics firsthand and it was at its worst in 2001. This is the season Coleman became the first competitor to win the Arnold Classic and Olympia in the same year. Despite his success, the Olympia victory almost didn’t happen.
Coleman reflects on waking up the morning of the Olympia competition feeling extremely dehydrated and wanting to go to the hospital.
“When you start dying, this sport is not worth dying for. Ronnie laughs. Not at all. I remember back in 2001, I’ll never forget it like it was yesterday. I woke up the morning of the Olympia and I felt awful. I was totally dehydrated, you know, you have to be kind of a little dehydrated to get up there on stage,” Coleman explained.
But this morning, I felt awful, I felt real bad. I was to the point where I felt like I was kind of dying. It scared the living hell out of me. I called my nutritionist, and said hey, dude I feel awful. Forget this show, I’m going to the hospital. I’m not going to die for this sport. I’m going to the hospital.”
Ronnie Coleman was able to hydrate enough to get on stage and defeated Cutler to keep his Olympia streak going. This opened Coleman’s eyes and he did not want to have this problem again moving forward.
Many have discussed how to improve the health of bodybuilding. Since McMillan passed away, competitors and powerlifters have been going to get checked out to make sure their health is in a good position. This is a growing problem and it will be interesting to see how it is handled moving forward.
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Ronnie Coleman To Launch NFT Collection On May 2
Ronnie Coleman is one of the top bodybuilders of all-time and will now take on a new avenue.
Ronnie Coleman put together a career on stage that has him up their with the all-time greats. Now, he is taking a new path off the stage. Coleman is preparing to launch his new NFT collection on May 2nd that will offer many perks and sweepstakes to owners.
The general collection will offer 1,410 limited edition NFTs that grant access into Ronnie Coleman’s private fitness club. Other utilities will include a chance to won a Tesla Model 3, a private group chat with Coleman, and exclusive content for NFT holders.
There will also be different collections based on the years that Coleman won his Olympia competitions. From 1998-2005, Coleman logged eight consecutive Mr. Olympia victories, which is tied for the most all-time.
The name of the collections can be found below:
1998: That Cobra Back
1999: Well Rounded
2000: 4-Dimensional Muscle
2001: Life Or Death
2002: Fly Birdie, Fly
2003: Meat Market
2004: Super Human
2005: Game Over
The presale Whitelist only will begin on Saturday, April 30 at 10 A.M. PDT.
“The King, Ronnie Coleman, has created an NFT Series consisting of 1,419 limited edition NFTs which include his 9 most iconic poses over his eight consecutive years as reigning Mr. Olympia,” stated on the official website of Ronnie Coleman’s NFTs.
“The NFT will come with many perks and will grant the owner access to exclusive fitness community only accessible through ownership of the NFT.”
Ronnie Coleman is the latest fitness figure to launch an NFT line. Men’s Physique Olympia champion Brandon Hendrickson recently created his own NFT line to help others reach their fitness goals. Generation Iron also has its own collection, that features athletes such as Kai Greene.
Coleman is beginning to spread the word about this collection and will offer a presale option for those who want to get in early. When looking for a fitness NFT, it is hard to go against the man who has the most Olympia victories in the history of bodybuilding.
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Ronnie Coleman Reacts To Absolutely Insane Lifts By Bradley Martyn
Ronnie Coleman took a break from lifting and decided to react to some of Bradley Martyn’s feats.
Ronnie Coleman is one of the best bodybuilders of all-time and is still very much involved in the sport. Not only does he continue to follow bodybuilding but he is active in the gym and provides insight to other lifters. Coleman has also started some entertainment content reacting to other huge lifts by strength athletes.
On his YouTube page, Coleman was reacting to some eye-opening lifts by Bradley Martyn, who has become a social media sensation showcasing wild lifts of all sorts. This is the video that Coleman is commenting on and it features five minutes of some of Martyn’s best.
Early in the video, Martyn is seen doing an incline bench press with a dumbbell in one hand. In the other hand, he is lifting a woman by the lifting belt around her waist. He is able to control both and keep his reps steady.
“Don’t hurt that girl. Don’t hurt her. Woah, woah. Yeah, I, that’s pretty impressive right there,” Coleman said.
Other lifts that Bradley Martyn showcased was a flat bench press but instead of dumbbells, he used two barbells that were 225 pounds. Many lifts are unorthodox but Martyn also mixes in some normal lifts with massive amounts of weight, including barbell shrugs and deadlifts.
Ronnie Coleman explains how these are all lifts that show strength and coordination. He expresses many times over the course of the video that these lifts are impressive and should not be attempted by many. This includes a 405-pound bench press for reps in the middle of the street.
“Who did this? Put this in the middle of the street now? In the rain, too. Benching 405. I’d never do that one.”
Ronnie Coleman ends the video saying that they can get together for a session but he will not attempt the crazy lifts. Coleman has remained active in his retirement and still has plenty of muscle mass.
“That coordinated strength right there. A lot of that stuff he doing right there, he’s the only one who can do it….Maybe we can get together when I come out there and we can talk about it because there’s no way I can do any of that stuff.”
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