13 surgeries and a sepsis hospitalization couldn't stop Ronnie Coleman. Because come 2026, he's back in the gym and to his usual workout antics.

Just a day ago, Coleman put out a post on Instagram captioned, "New Year, New Goals!! This year, my goal is to get back to full strength in the gym after my recent Sepsis and truly focus on getting back on my feet and walking. You can do anything you put your mind to, and I’m dedicated to my recovery this year…Yeah Buddy!!”

It was a video of Coleman doing leg-presses, and while the weights weren't as heavy as Coleman fans are used to seeing, it was still a big step-up.

What's even more impressive is that this is just the latest step in his recovery from sepsis. In June 2025, he was admitted to the hospital. And after some days of battle, on 11th July 2025, Ronnie Coleman's family revealed that he was being treated for sepsis and underwent a successful invasive heart procedure.

Just a week after leaving the hospital, he started working out again. In September, while weight lifting with light weights, he posted on instagram “Slowly getting back into training since my Sepsis attack. Yeah, Buddy, now when I say Lightweight Baby…. it is Lightweight for real."

Just a few months later, in November, Coleman promised to get back to a more intense workout in 2026. "This has been the longest I’ve ever been without being able to work out, so you know your boy is itching to make some gains back… Yeah, Buddy!"

Now, Ronnie Coleman’s Battle Isn’t Just About Working Out Again

While recovering from the procedure, Ronnie Coleman decided to keep fighting against sepsis.

"This is the toughest battle of my life. But I'm not just fighting for myself. I'm using my voice to help others learn the warning signs of sepsis before it's too late. If we can save even one life through this campaign, it's all worth it.”

This was his message to his fans and the bodybuilding community when he launched the Ronnie String Campaign. This campaign launched limited-edition merchandise and an official website, with 50 percent of income donated to Sepsis Alliance, an NGO working to save lives through advocacy and sepsis education.

Even the official Instagram account of Sepsis Alliance said, “Wishing you all the best in recovery. Thank you for helping raise awareness!”

Written by

Supradeep Dutta

Edited by

Siddharth Shirwadkar