Ronnie Coleman

Louisiana native Ronne Coleman has always been big, but his dedication to hitting the gym is what separates him from the chaff. In spite of his humble beginnings in rural Louisiana being raised by a single mother of four, he became a devoted athlete, joining the varsity football team in high school and, as his classmates later pointed out, spending his summers in the gym, exhibiting a motivation that continues to this day. He attended Grambling State University, playing football but also juggling a successful academic career leading to his graduation summa cum laude in Accounting. He moved to Texas after school, but was unable to find work and delivered pizzas to make ends meet. Before long, he became a police officer in Arlington, Texas following an ad in the wanted section, and not long after he was introduced to bodybuilding at the local gym Metroflex. Here, he became the training partner of the gym owner after he noticed the potential in Coleman for bodybuilding.

Coleman, always extraordinarily strong, had trained as a power lifter, and the owner Brian Dobson was quick to show him new techniques. Dobson's influence was immense: before long, Coleman was benching 500, squatting 500 in 20 deep reps, and leg pressing almost a ton, all without the aid of drugs. Before long, Coleman was competing, and in 1990 he swept the Heavyweight and Overall titles at the National Physique Committee (NPC) Texas Championship. This career breakthrough opened doors for further success, and Coleman entered the NPC Nationals that fall, placing third and the following year he placed fourth, earning a chance at the World Amateur Championship where he won.

Now a pro, Ronnie embarked on a career beginning in 1992, starting slowly and having some relatively poor showings in national competitions. But in 1995 he finally won a title in the Canada Pro Cup, his first pro victory, and the following year he repeated his success with another win there. In 1997, he competed in many contests, but only managed one victory at the Russian Grand Prix. However, he was on the verge of greatness. Ronnie Coleman annihilated the competition in 1998. His new-found partnership with nutritionist Chad Nichols yielded great results; Ronnie put on an additional 15 pounds of mass and won the Night of Champions, Toronto Pro Invitational, the Grand Prix Finland, and the Grand Prix Germany. Most coveted of all, he won the Mr Olympia contest, making him the greatest bodybuilder in the world. Just 34, young by bodybuilding standards, Ronnie was only getting started. He only had to keep the crown. And the next year Coleman spent his spring, quite characteristically, training. His motivation and perseverance paid off, not only keeping his Mr Olympia status but also winning Grand Prix in Rome and England.

Coleman would continue to win the Mr Olympia and several other prominent contests across the globe without break until 2005. Ronnie Coleman is renowned for his ability to push himself to points that would leave most men writhing in pain. He loves to train, and still continues to work as a police officer, a grim and terrifying idea for any would-be criminal.