LegendSpoon

Ronnie Coleman THE LEGEND RETURNS?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ronnie Coleman THE LEGEND RETURNS?

It’s not often that I get to interview a man who truly needs no introduction. We all know Ronnie Coleman as an eight-time Mr. Olympia and quite possibly the greatest bodybuilder of all time. I’ve also known him as a rival in years past, but much more importantly as a good friend and a great human being. It’s my privilege to finally bring to MD an interview with the living legend: Ronnie Coleman.

FW: OK, bro. I have to start off with the burning question about a rumor going around: are you competing again next year? If so, in which show or shows will we see you?

RC: I am definitely thinking about it. The shows I am considering are the Arnold Classic and the new pro show in Berlin after the Olympia. I have to make a decision real soon about the Arnold, because they like to have the lineup in place by the other guys, because they do it for money or to support a family, but I do it for fun. The whole reason I started competing was just to get a free membership to a gym. I already had a job with the police department. My hobby turned into a job, and now it’s really a hobby again.

FW: Is it weird not being the reigning Mr. O anymore? Do you find that people treat you any differently?

RC: Not really. A lot of people still consider me Mr. Olympia. I guess I made a lasting impact by having that title for eight years in a row. So I still get the recognition and respect from fans, and that’s a wonderful thing.

FW: It also seems like you’re keeping just as busy with appearances as when you held the title.

RC: I still travel all over the world. I just got back from an appearance in Saudi Arabia, where around 6,000 people showed up to see me guest pose. I’m getting ready to go to Russia this weekend. If anything, I’m busier now because I have more time. When I was still competing, I would have to limit my traveling and appearances over the last two or three months so I could focus on my training to defend my title.

FW: Emotionally, did you ever go through a rough time trying to deal with life after being Mr. Olympia?

RC: No, you know, I didn’t. Even though it’s been three years since my last win, I won the thing eight times. Who could ask for more than that? I’m just happy I was able to do what I did.

FW: Were you happy for Dexter when he won the Mr.

If he’s back to his best, with that injured leg looking as good as before, he could beat Dexter and take the title. He’s beaten Dexter a few times already. Plus, you got these guys like Heath and Wolf, too. It will be a real struggle for Dexter to repeat with all of them chasing him.

FW: Is it possible for Jay to ever win the Olympia again, or is he all done?

RC: I don’t ever want to say somebody is all done, but I don’t know what else Jay can do. He was only able to hold the title two years and then he relinquished it. I was shocked to see him lose it so fast. I really thought he would hold the title for a good four or five years. So in light of that, I don’t see Jay winning again. But anything is possible in this sport, so who knows?

FW: Do you want your title back? If you are able to win another Mr. Olympia, you would have the alltime record for most titles, and you would also be the only Mr. O who was able to come back after losing your title and regain it. Certainly, it would be a historic event straight out of a movie.

RC: I won eight. Eight is enough for me! Yeah, it would be nice to get that all-time record and all that, but I am honestly so grateful to have won eight times that it doesn’t really matter. It’s not at the top of my to-do list. I said I would go on with my life and do other things, like the Arnold or shows in Europe. I’m not saying I will never compete in the Olympia again; it’s just not a priority.

FW: Could you sympathize with Jay, knowing what it feels like to lose that title?

RC: I do sympathize with him, especially because he lost the title so quickly, like I said. But if you look at what happened, his wins weren’t like most of mine, which were hands-down.

FW: Most of the time, you would just come out and it would be lights out, game over for the rest of us poor fools.

RC: (Laughs) Yeah, for the most part. Neither of Jay’s wins was really decisive. And the second one with Victor…people will never stop talking about that. He was off, and Victor was on. So Jay didn’t really do what he needed to do to make sure he shut the door on the other guys. He left the door open for them, and Dexter just walked on in.

FW: Some bodybuilding fans were upset that you competed in 2007 and went from an unstoppable champion to fourth place, down from second in 2006. Now they worry that you might slide down the placings even more and thus tarnish your status as a living legend by hanging on too long. What do you say to that?

RC: People can say or think whatever they want. That’s their opinion. But our lives are ours to live. I don’t let others decide what I do or don’t do. I’m a man and I make my own decisions. If competing is what I love and it’s in my blood, I’m going to keep doing it as long as God lets me.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CONTİNUED SERİOUS ‘….’ 

 

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