A painful lesson that changed the path of Ronnie Coleman’s career.

ARNOLD CLASSIC MOMENTS – is a special video series looking back at the history of one of the biggest bodybuilding competitions in the world. Legendary bodybuilders tell their personal moments in the Arnold Classic and share the oral history of what makes this specific competition rise above the rest – making a lasting impression for years to come. 

Ronnie Coleman is one of the most legendary bodybuilders of all time. He is known as setting the impossible new standard for what a mass monster should look like and won eight Mr. Olympia titles over his entire career (a world record tied only with Lee Haney). But Ronnie Coleman wasn’t born a Mr. Olympia champion – he struggled and learned how to improve – landing low placings until he unlocked his true potential.

Part of these struggles involved a moment where he thought he would stop competing. The Arnold Classic changed all of that and led him on a path to the champion we know and love today.

In this installment of Arnold Classic Moments, Ronnie Coleman himself recounts a serious injury right before the Mr. Olympia… and the recovery that lasted months right up to the Arnold Classic. Landing low at competitions in between, such as the Iron Man competition, Ronnie believed that it was time for him to give up bodybuilding. Then he stepped onto the Arnold Classic stage and everything changed. Hear the full story from the man himself in the video above.