The comparison between the GOATs of bodybuilding, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Ronnie Coleman, is not new. In an exclusive interview, Essentially Sports asked Josh Murray, the actor-director of Gym Rat, about his preferred bodybuilder, and he did not hesitate to answer.

So, at the end of April, Murray was asked a simple question: “Arnold or Ronnie Coleman?”

In response, without underestimating anyone, he said, “Ronnie is the better bodybuilder and strongman; Arnold was a better performer.” So, let's decode it.

Ronnie Coleman’s absolute mass

The 8-time Mr. Olympia created a new era in bodybuilding by pushing the human physique to an extreme limit, demonstrating absolute mass, such as 300 lbs during the contest and 330 lbs during the off-season, with dry conditioning.

In addition to being a former police officer, he also holds the record for the most IFBB Pro wins in his career, 26. Coleman was also a powerlifter and competed in the annual Texas Deadlift Classic from 1991 to 1994. Open powerlifting reports that Coleman’s heaviest official pull was 727.5 lbs at just 29 years old.

However, in a 2000 DVD titled The Unbelievable Coleman, Coleman shocked fans by deadlifting 800 lbs.

Many fans and analysts considered Coleman's leg and back development superior to that of many other bodybuilders.

Arnold Schwarzenegger’s aesthetics

The legend of bodybuilding and the 7-time Mr. Olympia winner are known in nearly every part of the world. When Murray said Schwarzenegger was a better performer, he was definitely referring to the Austrian Oak's unmatched charisma and stage presence.

He knew how to promote himself through his physique. His body was described as classic, with a V-taper, proportion, and superior symmetry. During his peak, specifically from 1972 to 1975, Arnold Schwarzenegger showcased his 57-inch chest, 22-inch arms, and massive size.

However, what caught the judges' attention was his performance on stage. Specifically, his posing, including the vacuum pose, which is still popular, showed how he trained for this, along with his workout and diet. In the 1977 documentary Pumping Iron, the legend was also seen receiving posing training from a ballet dancer.

So, according to the actor from the highly rated IMDb TV series Bring Back My Heart, who also highlighted the comparison in the movie Gym Rat, Coleman and Schwarzenegger excelled in their eras. If the sport is viewed through the lens of pure muscle mass, Coleman gets an extra point.

However, if the sport is judged by presentation, global appeal, and influence, then The Austrian Oak is unmatched.

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Written by

Supradeep Dutta

Edited by

Ashvinkumar Patil