Journalism of Courage
Eight-time Mr Olympia winner and fitness freak Ronnie Coleman wowed the city with his 24-inch biceps
The visit of eight-time winner of the coveted Mr Olympia title,Ronnie Coleman,created a buzz in the city. Coleman landed late on Sunday night and managed a heavily accented “namaste” as he patiently greeted a swarm of people who had gathered to see him. The reception here is overwhelming,” he said modestly. On his first visit to India,Coleman travelled to Bengaluru to launch his clothing line ‘Ronnie Coleman Clothing’ and then flew to Pune for the inauguration of fitness centre,’Beyond Fitness’ in Kalyani Nagar.
Coleman has been in the bodybuilding business for 35 years now. Even at the age of 12,I knew I had to become a bodybuilder. I don’t know why or how,but I just knew,” he says. The former Texas-based cop,who is also the heart of videos like The Unbelievable,The Cost of Redemption ,and On the Road, says that he is not the right person to give budding bodybuilders any tips. I am not a trainer,hence I cannot advise youngsters on the use of supplements or the way to build their bodies. But I can tell them one thing that I did – find a good,honest trainer,” he says. Coleman owes his achievements to his trainer Bryan Dobson. “Right from the use of supplements to different exercise routines to learning how to pose and knowing when to stop over-exercising,he advised me on everything. He made me what I am.
Ask about his workout and diet regime and the 330-pound bodybuilder says with enthusiasm,while munching on his dinner of 14 ounces of steak and baked potatoes,steamed rice and two diet cokes,I work out every body part twice a week,and that is what helps me stay in shape. I work out even during off season as it helps me get back into shape faster during the season. For example,if I’m doing squats,I do around 700 pounds of free weights. Free weights help build raw power. And run on the treadmill occasionally too, he says.
Coleman is doubtful about his return to the Mr Olympia stage. In 2010,his return was confirmed but he was missing from the stage. It requires some serious preparation. It’s not a walk in the park and right now I have so many things to do that I don’t really know whether I would make a comeback soon. But I am doing something called ‘The Legends’ show, he says. Ask him who he admires among the current crop of bodybuilders and he says,”Lee Haney. No one else comes close.
He isn’t clued into the Indian bodybuilding scene. Right now I am just happy to be here and launch my clothing line. We will soon be bringing the ‘Ronnie Coleman Signature Series’ supplement line to India so it will be good to come back here, he says.
