"I don’t know if I’ll be able to walk, but I’m gonna give it my best shot." This was the harsh reality Ronnie Coleman faced seven years ago. Years of hard work and grueling effort put into winning eight Mr. Olympia titles had taken a toll on his body. Screws, rods, and cages became a part of his body. He can't walk without crutches. But does that stop someone like Coleman? Think again.

By January 2019, he was back in gym, screaming, "Light weight baby!" However, it has never been a smooth ride for him. Well, at the end of June 2025, Coleman was hospitalized with sepsis. Following a minimally invasive surgery, Coleman was out of the hospital. And now, months after the procedure, the legend has once again sparked excitement across the fitness world with a new update on Instagram.

Just yesterday, Coleman posted a short video that showed just what he could do when working out during his peak with a caption: "I’m looking forward to 2026 and getting back into the gym so I can lift that Light Weight Baby again! This has been the longest I’ve even been without being able to workout so you know your boy is itching to make some gains back…Yeah Buddy!"

While Coleman went back to the gym back in August, he wasn't up to his usual routine. Regular trips back to the doctor forced him to take it easy. The fight against sepsis was tough even for a bodybuilding legend. Also in an Instagram post in July, Coleman wrote, "It’s been a long and scary two weeks battling my complications from sepsis, one of the toughest fights of my life."

And now with little over a month left for 2026, Ronnie Coleman has set his goals. It may not be an easy road for him!

The challenge of rebuilding muscle at 61 for Ronnie Coleman

At 61, rebuilding muscle after long layoffs is scientifically challenging. The hormonal drop reduces muscle protein synthesis, meaning that when older adults lift weights, their muscles respond less effectively, a phenomenon described as anabolic resistance reduces testosterone, slows recovery, and accelerates muscle loss, a process known as sarcopenia. 

Yet, there's hope. His decades of high-level training mean his muscles can regain size faster than the average person. Still, his surgeries impose limitations no amount of mental toughness can erase.

Whether he regains his legendary size or not, Coleman’s mindset continues to inspire generations of lifters. What is your take on Coleman's 2026 aims? Comment your thoughts below.

Written by

Amanjeet Singh

Edited by

Siddharth Shirwadkar