• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Generation Iron

Generation Iron Fitness & Strength Sports Network

  • Movies
  • Original Content
  • Reviews
    • Supplements
      • Pre-Workout
      • Fat Burners
      • Testosterone Boosters
      • Creatine
      • Protein
      • BCAAs
      • Multivitamins
      • Omega-3
      • Joint Supplements
      • Super Greens
      • Meal Replacement
    • Recovery
      • Best Cold Plunges
      • Best Saunas
      • Best Foam Rollers
      • Best Massage Guns
    • Programs
      • Best Online Workout Programs
      • Best Workout Streaming Services
      • Best Home Workout Programs
  • Equipment
    • Cardio
      • Treadmills
      • Best Exercise Bikes
      • Best Stair Climbers
    • Fitness Accessories
      • Best Apparel
      • Best Gym Bags
      • Weightlifting Shoes
    • Strength
      • Best Dumbbells
      • Best Barbells
      • Best Kettlebells
      • Best Squat Racks
      • Best Weightlifting Belts
      • Best Home Gym Equipment
      • Complete Home Gyms
    • Training
      • Best Knee Sleeves
      • Best Wrist Wraps
      • Best Weightlifting Wraps
      • Best Weightlifting Gloves
  • More
    • About Us
      • Our Team
      • Our Experts
    • Advertise
    • Franchise With Us
    • Exercise Guides
    • Athlete Profiles
    • Podcasts
    • Power 30
    • Bodybuilding Awards
    • Supplement Awards
  • Shop
Bodybuilding

Chris Cormier: What It Was Really Like To Compete Against Ronnie Coleman | GI Vault

by GI Team Published on Dec 28, 2020

This post may contain affiliate links (disclosure policy).

Chris Cormier shares his first hand account on the experience of competing against Ronnie Coleman.

GI VAULT – is an extension of our GI Exclusive interviews. The difference? These interviews come straight out of the Generation Iron vault from the cutting room floor of our feature film documentaries. With over hours of interview footage that doesn’t make it into our final films, we’re now releasing them out into the world.

There’s no denying that Ronnie Coleman is one of the greatest bodybuilders in the history of the sport. With eight Mr. Olympia victories a massive physique that was equally matched in his conditioning – Ronnie’s presence in bodybuilding has been unmatched in almost every respect. So what was it like to have to compete against Ronnie in his prime? In our latest GI Exclusive, Chris Cormier shares his first hand account of what it was like to share the stage with Ronnie Coleman.

The 90s and early 2000s of bodybuilding is a beloved era of the sport. A large part of this is due to Ronnie Coleman’s Olympia reign and legendary physique. But Ronnie also competed against a lineup of some of the best bodybuilders of all time. It was a stacked era full of incredible athletes. A time passes, this era only becomes more and more respected. It’s been called the second Golden Era in some circles.

It must have been frustrating then, to be such a talented athlete stuck behind the behemoth shadow of Ronnie Coleman. That’s why we asked Chris Cormier to share his experience and mindset facing off against Ronnie during his prime years.

The interview in question was conducted during the filming of Ronnie Coleman: The King. Chris Cormier’s full answers wasn’t able to make it into the final film. We’re now releasing the full extended interview clips from our GI Vault to bring even more insight into a legendary man and a legendary era in bodybuilding history.

Surprisingly, Chris Cormier didn’t focus on frustration facing off against Ronnie Coleman. Instead, he describes it as an extremely fun experience. Cormier considers himself in that time to have been an X factor in bodybuilding. He was a competitor who could stand toe to toe with Ronnie and, had he played his cards just right, actually defeat the champion.

Of course, we know this didn’t happen during the Olympia. But in the moment, Chris Cormier didn’t feel taking down Ronnie was an impossible task. Instead, it was a challenge that made Cormier a better athlete. It made all of Ronnie’s bodybuilding peers better athletes. This increased the quality of the competition. It’s what helped make their era such a memorable one.

So when Chris Cormier looks back at those years, he thinks of them as the best times of his life. He had the luxury of pushing himself to improve against one of the greatest bodybuilders of all time. By being able to stand toe to toe with Ronnie, he was able to prove to himself how far past perceived human limits he was also able to go.

To hear about that kind of sportsmanship is encouraging. It’s the kind of mindset that promotes the true joy of sports and athletic endeavors. While pro bodybuilding is a competition at the end of the day, if the athletes are having fun and feeling passionate on stage – it can be felt by the audience. It elevates the entire sport.

You can watch Chris Cormier’s full comments in our latest GI Exclusive Vault interview segment above. You can also watch Ronnie Coleman: The King on digital today. Click here or the banner below to stream or download!

Ronnie Coleman The King Watch Now Generation Iron

About GI Team

The GI Team is here to provide top news and original content for the new generation. The generation of bodybuilders who are pushing the sport to bigger and better places. Join The Movement. Become a part of Generation Iron!

View All Articles

Primary Sidebar

Get the Latest

Stay informed with the latest news, product reviews, & expert advice.

Popular Reviews

  • best protein powders

    The Best Protein Powder Supplements of 2025 (Tried and Tested)

  • Best Creatine Supplements For Bulking & Muscle Growth of 2025 (Personally Tested)

  • top x pre workout

    The 14 Best Pre-Workout Supplements of 2025 (MD Reviewed)

  • Performance Lab SPORT BCAA

    The Best BCAA For Bodybuilding Health & Performance Goals

Trending Articles

  • female fitness models

    18 Best Butts On The Internet (Updated 2024)

  • ronnie coleman the king workout

    Ronnie “The King” Coleman’s Complete Bodybuilding Workout

  • Chris bumstead's 2024 workout and diet plan

    Chris Bumstead’s 2025 Complete Bodybuilding Workout & Diet Plan

  • The Ultimate Mike Mentzer Workout and Diet

Popular Now

  • best protein powders

    The Best Protein Powder Supplements of 2025 (Tried and Tested)

  • Best Creatine Supplements For Bulking & Muscle Growth of 2025 (Personally Tested)

  • top x pre workout

    The 14 Best Pre-Workout Supplements of 2025 (MD Reviewed)

  • female fitness models

    18 Best Butts On The Internet (Updated 2024)

  • best citrulline supplements

    The Best Citrulline Malate Supplements for Performance and Pump

  • ronnie coleman the king workout

    Ronnie “The King” Coleman’s Complete Bodybuilding Workout

Generation Iron

Generation Iron is the first and only digital network delivering health, fitness, bodybuilding, and strength sports content. We deliver premium content with the biggest names in fitness and provide expert coverage, reviews on top brands, workout tips and trends in the worlds of fitness, health and strength sports.

Strongman Corporation
Vladar

Sections

  • Trending News
  • Original Movies
  • Original Content
  • Supplement Reviews
  • Equipment Reviews
  • Exercise Guides
  • Nutrition Guides
  • Athlete Profiles

More

  • About Us
  • Our Team
  • Our Experts
  • Advertise
  • Franchise With Us
  • Podcasts
  • Power 30
  • Shop

CONTACT

Generation Iron Brands LLC
134 West 29th Street Suite 902
New York, NY 10001
Email: [email protected]

Follow

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • X / Twitter
  • YouTube

© 2025 · Generation Iron · Disclaimers · Privacy Policy · Accessibility