Ronnie Coleman’s prime will forever be remembered as one of the most dominant eras in bodybuilding history. In 1998, when he won his first Mr. Olympia title, Coleman carried a physique that looked almost unreal, around jacked 255–260 lbs on stage, with freak-level proportions, and the famous “thin skin” conditioning that made every muscle fiber pop.

This was the version of Ronnie that started an eight-year winning streak and left the sport permanently changed. Coleman was known for lifting weights that most powerlifters wouldn’t touch, regularly squatting 800 lbs for reps and deadlifting similar loads. 

Coleman's Nostalgic Post

That passion resurfaced again just four days ago, when Ronnie shared a nostalgic Instagram video looking back at his iconic 1998 season. The clip included moments from his Olympia win, scenes of him in his police uniform, clips of him prepping meals, and, of course, his legendary heavy squat sessions. Watching Ronnie squat those monstrous weights again reminded fans how brutally hard he trained during that era. 

The post was a time capsule of what shaped him: long work shifts, relentless dieting, and workouts that pushed the limits of human capability.

In the caption, Ronnie wrote:
“I had so much passion working for the police department, I would have worked there for free if they needed me to!”

Despite being the world’s greatest bodybuilder, he remained a full-time police officer in Arlington, Texas, for years. He loved the job, the community, the routine, and the sense of purpose it gave him. Ronnie never saw policing as a burden.

Even with his bodybuilding commitments, he balanced both careers because he believed passion is something you don’t walk away from, no matter how big you become.

As The King famously said once, “Everybody wants to be a bodybuilder, but nobody wants to lift no heavy a** weights.” He will always be remembered as the greatest of all time.

Who is your favourite bodybuilder from that era? Let us know in the comments section.

Written by

Amanjeet Singh

Edited by

Oajaswini Prabhu