Eight-time Mr. Olympia champion, Ronnie Coleman, sits down with Shannon Sharpe at Club Shay Shay for a deep dive into Ronnie's life, career, and incredible journey in bodybuilding. In Part 1, they go way back, discussing Ronnie's upbringing in Louisiana where he grew up working on a farm, chopping cotton, and dreaming of becoming a professional football player. He reflects on his time playing football at Grambling State University, describing it as the greatest time of his life, even though a neck injury he sustained there would impact him for the rest of his bodybuilding career.

Ronnie talks about his early passion for weightlifting, which started when his mom bought him a 110 lb weight set from Walmart at the age of 12. He also shares stories about his various odd jobs, including working as a sports writer and editor in the journalism department, and graduating cum laude with a degree in accounting. Despite these accomplishments, he took on a job delivering pizzas at Domino’s to make car payments, where he ate pizza every day for two years, eventually trading slices for burgers, fried chicken, and tacos from neighboring fast-food joints.

Shannon and Ronnie delve into his entry into the world of bodybuilding. Ronnie recalls walking into a gym for the first time, where the owner predicted he could win Mr. Olympia. After initially placing third in nationals during his first year, people began speculating about whether he was using steroids. Ronnie also talks about his grueling training regimen, eating a pound of protein with every meal, and how his strict discipline set him apart from other bodybuilders who would frequent strip clubs while he stayed focused.

Ronnie dives into his impressive personal records (PRs), including a 500 lb bench press, 800 lb deadlift, 800 lb squat, 2300 lb leg press, and curling 225 lbs, revealing that walking lunges were his favorite movement. He claims to have the best back of all time and explains the importance of back muscles in bodybuilding. When asked about his Mount Rushmore of bodybuilders, Ronnie lists his top picks and reflects on why he couldn’t win nine Mr. Olympia titles in a row.

Ronnie talks about his disappointment over not winning nine Mr. Olympia titles in a row and recalls training with his competitors, like Flex Wheeler and Jay Cutler, who were intimidated by his strength. He also details his struggles with surgeries, explaining that his muscles were too big for standard procedures, and after his screws broke post-surgery, no lawyer in Dallas would take his malpractice case.

Ronnie reflects on why he never became a trainer, claiming no one could keep up with his intensity. Even Deion Sanders wanted him to train him and his wife, but Ronnie declined. He also shares the grueling experience of touring in China for three weeks, calling it the hardest thing he’s ever done, and recounting a memorable meal where he saw the eye of a chicken in his dish.

Lastly, Ronnie discusses his family life, proudly mentioning his eight daughters—one for each of his Mr. Olympia titles—and takes Shannon through a typical day as a father. He talks about his current diet, explaining that he now prefers chicken thighs and ground beef because he got sick of chicken breasts and steak.

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About Club Shay Shay:
Club Shay Shay is a weekly podcast hosted by Shannon Sharpe – 3x Super Bowl champion, member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame and co-host of First Take on ESPN. Each week Shannon will sit down with athletes, celebrities and influencers to break down, analyze and discuss the latest headlines in sports, pop culture and everything in-between. Get on the VIP list at Club Shay Shay NOW and never miss an episode!

Ronnie Coleman | EP. 138
   • GOAT Bodybuilder, 8x Mr Olympia Ronni...  

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