The first time anything happens tends to carry special weight, and for 8x Mr. Olympia Ronnie Coleman, his ‘98 Olympia win remains a defining moment in his illustrious Mr. Olympia career. 

On January 25, ‘The King’ took to Instagram and sent fans into a deep state of nostalgia when he shared pictures from his first Olympia win, the 1998 Mr. Olympia.

The picture captioned “The 1998 Olympia changed my life forever! Comment below your favorite Olympia Title year?!”

Coleman must have been hit by nostalgia hard because this wasn’t the only post he shared about the ‘98 contest. Later on January 27, he shared another post from the same competition, a video this time, of a posedown between him, Flex Wheeler, and Nasser El Sonbaty. 

The 1998 Mr. Olympia was held on October 10 and was a turning point not only for Coleman’s but also for bodybuilding, as it crowned a new king who went on to reign for eight consecutive years. A feat only accomplished years earlier by the great Lee Haney.

After Dorian Yates announced his retirement following an injury, the stage was set for a new king, and the competition was brutal. 

Ronnie Coleman’s win was momentous at the tournament, as he was coming off a 9th-place win in the 1997 Mr. Olympia. In a close competition, he beat fan favorites Flex Wheeler and Nasser El Sonabaty to win the title. 

The toll of the moment must have been so heavy that even a beast like Coleman couldn’t carry it; soon after his name was announced as a winner, Ronnie collapsed on stage, making the ‘98 Olympia even more memorable. 

Fan reaction to Ronnie Coleman’s win was heartwarming

When a bodybuilding legend posts a throwback picture, it is another reminder for the fans to remember why they are the GOAT. As soon as Ronnie Coleman shared the photos, the comment section saw an outpour of love and admiration for him. 

Comments like “The king,” “Legendary aura,” “Steal man,” “father of bodybuilding,” and “Goat of the game” show the impact Coleman has in the bodybuilding world, even years after his retirement. 

Written by

Ruwa Javed

Edited by

Joyita Das