Ronnie Coleman can easily be called one of the OG's in the bodybuilding world. And, the OG just turned 62 years old, or perhaps 62 years young!

The man who redefined what a human body is capable of achieving marked his birthday today with a chocolate cake and a message that could not be any more appropriate coming from him.

"Yeah buddy, 62 years young today & time to celebrate! Feeling blessed and looking forward to seeing everyone this weekend at the Ronnie Coleman Classic!!" he wrote on his Instagram post.

This weekend, he'll be in Fort Worth, Texas, for the annual Ronnie Coleman Classic, the NPC amateur bodybuilding competition that bears his name, born out of the legendary Metroflex Gym where he trained and now one of the longest-running shows in the state.

This year's edition is the 30th anniversary event, a huge milestone for Coleman. He is not only a legend who is often talked of, but an inspiration and presence people still show up for.

The eight-time Mr. Olympia did not earn the honor in haste; he faced severe setbacks along his way to success and even after his retirement.

At 62 and after 13 surgeries, nothing keeps Ronnie Coleman from celebrating

After Ronnie Coleman retired in 2007, immediately following the 2007 Mr. Olympia, he underwent 13 surgeries. Nine on his back, two on his neck, and two hip replacements. All of his 25 spinal discs have been operated on once.

Now, Coleman walks with crutches after severe nerve damage to his legs, which no surgery has been able to heal completely.

The road to this was long before the Olympia stage even entered the picture. Coleman's first back injury came at 17, during a powerlifting meet. It happened when he experienced an electrical shock in his lower back during a workout in which he tried a 500-pound squat.

The bodybuilding legend ignored all the warning signs his body gave him, even ignoring the doctors who recommended spinal surgery before his first Sandow. Instead, he kept squatting 800 pounds, without addressing the damage.

Ignoring these issues did not do him any good; his retirement was followed by years of surgeries, where each fix seemed to create a new problem. But Coleman has never regretted any part of it. The story he still shares is the story of gratitude, inspiring everyone to show up.

Coleman is going to Fort Worth for his 62nd birthday. He’s going there to be ringside for an event he’s built from scratch.

He’ll be there to watch another crop of contenders do battle under his name, and, of course, to make someone else in that room believe they still have unfinished business.

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Written by

Proma Chatterjee

Edited by

Suyashdeep Sason