No one can defeat Father Time.
At 60 years old, Ronnie Coleman is a far cry from the hulking mass monster who made winning the Mr. Olympia contest an annual tradition for nearly a decade. Sure, the legendary bodybuilder still boasts an impressive amount of upper-body mass — especially compared to most people in his age bracket.
However, the eight-time Olympia winner would gladly swap some of that hard-earned muscle if it meant he could do something he hasn’t been able to do for quite some time — and won’t do again for several years, if all the stars align.
Unfortunately for Coleman, decades of grueling training and a baker’s dozen worth of surgeries have rendered him unable to walk. In a YouTube video published on Nov. 18, 2024, the Louisiana native laid out his long-term plan to get back on his feet, giving viewers an inside look at his pool exercise rehabilitation program.
[Related: Best Pre-Workout Supplements]
Ronnie Coleman’s Long Road to Recovery
You don’t become “The King” without making some significant sacrifices. Speaking with four-time Olympia winner Jay Cutler on episode 141 of the Cutlercast, Coleman recounted all 13 times he’s gone under the knife.
“I had eight back, three neck, and three hip — it’s crazy,” he recalled.
For someone who prided himself on putting up some of the heaviest lifts among his bodybuilding peers, Coleman has been forced to accept the reality that each procedure comes at a cost.
“Every surgery I do it takes a little bit of strength away from me,” he explained. “I’m getting weaker and weaker. The more surgeries I do, the weaker I got.”
Eager to build his strength back, Coleman went back to his tried-and-true method of lifting in the gym. However, he quickly learned a valuable lesson that led him to change his tune.
“When you go to the gym you’re working mostly the big muscles, but you got to work the smaller muscles also,” he explained. “I didn’t do that and I got worse.”
[Related: Best Muscle Recovery Supplements]
Pool Exercises Could Get “The King” Back On His Feet
Still relying on a walker to move around and maintain his balance, Coleman has a two-pronged approach that he hopes will allow him to walk again.
- The 60-year-old works with a physical therapist twice a week for about 1.5-hour sessions.
- Coleman also performs pool exercises three times a week for about 45 minutes.
Like any form of training, it takes plenty of reps to see results. But when you’ve undergone 13 surgeries and have such severe mobility restrictions, the finish line is much farther away than you might think.
“I’m giving myself about a year and a half to be walking with a cane,” Coleman told Cutler. “Eventually to get to where I can walk without a cane, I’m looking at two years.”
[Related: Best Whey Protein Powders]
What does a pool workout look like for someone who once deadlifted 800 pounds for two reps? Let’s just say Coleman’s dialed back the intensity quite a bit in an effort to just be able to walk again.
- Coleman’s main exercise is high steps, where he marches across the pool without using his arms.
- He also performs single-leg stands to work on his balance and flutter kicks to develop core and leg strength.
In addition, Coleman credits stem cell therapy for helping him in his road to recovery. And while it may look like the bodybuilding legend faces long odds to walk again, it would be unwise to bet against a man whose fierce determination and positive attitude remain as strong as ever.
More Bodybuilding Content
- Conquer Your Mind, Transform Your Life: Shaun T.’s Journey From ‘Insanity’ to Pro Bodybuilding
- Are Ronnie Coleman’s Top 3 Bodybuilding Exercises Actually Worth It?
- Dorian Yates Is Your Favorite Bodybuilder’s Favorite Bodybuilder
Featured Image: Ronnie Coleman / YouTube
