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Ronnie's Lucky Seven

© Adam Hughes

Six years ago, professional bodybuilding stood on the precipice of a new era thanks in large part to the retirement of six-time Mr. Olympia Dorian Yates due to training injuries sustained the year before. Standing in line to claim the champion's throne were a pantheon of bodybuilding greats who had been waiting their entire careers to have a legitimate chance at garnering a Sandow trophy of their own. Chief among the challengers were Shawn Ray, Kevin Leverone, Nasser El Sonbaty, and the heir-apparent, Flex Wheeler. Heading into 1998, Flex was the odds-on favorite to take the Mr. O title in the fall, and it was clear that one of the other men mentioned above would swoop in should Flex falter in his preparations. As Spring rolled around, though, the muscle forecast became murky as a great new thunderhead arose to cloud the competitive landscape. By October, the sport's biggest names had joined Bill Clinton in a fight for their professional lives. Unlike Slick Willy, no one came out unscathed.

By taking out Kevin Levrone at the 1998 Night of Champions in May, Ronnie Coleman served notice that he was beginning to realize the great potential which had always teased bodybuilding fans, and the pundits began to talk about the possibility of Big Ron making some major noise at the Olympia. Coleman not only made some noise, but he blew up the whole darn apple cart, parlaying his full, round muscle bellies and crisp conditioning into the title of the World's Best-Build Man (that would be the Mr. Olympia title, in case you hadn't guessed). In the ensuing years, Ronnie has changed his look, but the results have always been the same. Now, after another win on October 23, Coleman has seven and has Coleman has further vanquished Arnold Schwarzenegger, who also has seven titles, but won only six consecutively before taking a lengthy break from competition. Coleman now has all-time record holder Lee Haney (eight straight Sandows) solidly in his sights and has made no bones about his intentions to keep coming back for more.

The merits of Ronnie's physique can be and have been debated ad nauseum, but the fact remains that he continues to grow larger each year, a fact that is all the more remarkable given that he is now 40 years old! If that doesn't make you feel silly for spending your weekends sliding off the front of your couch while pounding the chips and Ding Dongs in front of the tube, nothing will.

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