Eight-time Mr. Olympia champion Ronnie Coleman and seven-time Mr. Olympia champion Phil Heath account for 15 Sandow trophies since 1998. Heath, who dominated in an era after Coleman’s retirement, has not competed at the Olympia since his bronze finish in 2020.
Coleman and Heath trained back and biceps together, a video of which was published on Coleman’s YouTube channel. During the session comprised of five exercises, Heath suggested his return to competitive bodybuilding might occur in the near future. Check out their workout below:
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Coleman’s & Heath’s Back & Arms Workout
Here’s a list of the exercises the two multi-Olympia champs performed together:
- Super Lat Convergent Machine
- Lat Pulldowns
- Machine Seated Rows
- Cable Curls
- Concentration Curls
The lat convergent machine was first, followed by traditional lat pulldowns. At nearly 60 years old, Coleman doesn’t lift as heavy as he used to but does maintain a relatively high volume. Heath still lifts heavy at age 43 and might not be entirely out of the competitive bodybuilding game yet.
While training seated rows, Coleman mentioned that he had to train during his prime without many of the equipment pieces commonly found in gyms today. Heath got into bodybuilding relatively late for an all-time great, having first attended college for five years, studying business and IT, and using that time to familiarize himself with training at the school’s gym.
Coleman and Heath trained their biceps via cable curls and concentration curls. Heath signed Coleman’s wall, writing Heath’s name and “7x Mr. O.”
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2023 Mr. Olympia
During their workout, Coleman and Heath discussed the 2023 Mr. Olympia contest, won by Derek Lunsford. The 2022 Mr. Olympia champion, Hadi Choopan, left the stage early after the results were announced. While not considered controversial, the heat of the moment might have caused Choopan to leave before the final photos of the top finishers were complete. That moment inspired Heath to seriously consider a return to competitive bodybuilding.
Coleman and Heath’s Connection
Coleman retired in 2006 due to nerve damage and injuries. He had surgery after his last show, where he could barely stand on stage. The lasting effects of the neurological damage remain, as Coleman still requires the use of a walker.
Coleman won his eighth consecutive title in 2005 — tying the record set by Lee Haney. Heath made his Mr. Olympia debut three years later, in 2008, and captured seven straight wins from 2011 to 2018. So, from 1998 to 2018, Coleman and Heath won 15 of the 21 possible Sandow trophies.
While there wasn’t confirmation that Heath will return to the Olympia stage, he holds a lifetime invitation as a former champion. Should he actually step on bodybuilding’s grandest stage again, he would have to contend against a deep roster of younger competition.
Featured image: @ronniecoleman8 on Instagram
