What does it take to truly become a legend? For some, it is the titles, awards, acknowledgment, or popularity that come with a name. But very few know that it is the endless grilling, sleepless nights, and pushing yourself beyond physical limits. And if anyone wants to see a real-life example, they must look at the legendary Ronnie Coleman.

Coleman faced many struggles in his life. From financial hardship and working at Domino's to juggling bodybuilding and police jobs to become financially stable, he did it all.

There was a time when Coleman was unable to go to a fancy gym due to money issues and joined MetroFlex Gym after being offered a spot by the owner, Brian Dobsson.

On June 27, Coleman shared one of the incidents he experienced at the Metroflex Gym that also showcased his sportsmanship. In an Instagram post, he wrote, “Training at MetroFlex in the 110-degree summer heat isn't for the weak. Only a few have been able to keep up and finish the workout.”

Coleman also shared a short clip in that post, showing his fans how diligently he used to work out, even in an unpleasant situation.

Metro Flex Gym, located in Arlington, Texas, was a training sanctuary for Coleman. This gym was popular for being an old-school, raw-iron dungeon.

Without proper amenities and air conditioning, temperatures often reached 110 degrees. Even the heavy dumbbells and machines were often kept in sweat-soaked, unfurnished conditions. However, this was the gym where Coleman deadlifted 800 lbs.

Apart from that, this was where Coleman got his basics clear and later went on to earn 8 Mr. Olympia titles.

Ronnie Coleman’s workout routine at Metro Flex gym

According to a Metro Flex gym article, Coleman used to work hard and consistently showed up with great dedication.

Coleman used to split his workouts, targeting each muscle group on a specific day of the week.

According to the articles, his workout split used to look like:

• Monday: Chest and triceps
• Tuesday: Back
• Wednesday: Shoulders
• Thursday: Back again (trained twice weekly for width and thickness)
• Friday: Legs
• Saturday: Arms and shoulders
• Sunday: Rest.

Executing and adapting the workouts was hard.

The article writes, “Execution was legendary. His training partner Gus Carter loaded the plates, pushed the intensity, and showed up every single session. Jason "Big J" English, a former U.S. Army E-6, trained alongside Ronnie for over 20 years. Johnnie O. Jackson, who pulled an 832-pound raw deadlift at age 40, was right beside him on back days.”

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Written by

Supradeep Dutta

Edited by

Ashvinkumar Patil