After what seems like a never-ending series of surgeries, did Ronnie Coleman make a mistake training so hard?
It’s been nearly two years since the release of our Ronnie Coleman biopic, titled Ronnie Coleman: The King. At the time, we were documenting what was meant to be Ronnie’s last surgery. This came after years of pain and struggles due to his heavy lifting during his bodybuilding career. But it wasn’t the last, and it seems every few months we receive news that he’s going back under the knife for more surgery. In our latest GI Exclusive interview, we ask Victor Martinez is he thinks it was a mistake for Ronnie to train so hard. Were the injuries worth it?
Pro bodybuilding presents some form of risk no matter how safe you try to be – especially for those trying to become the best of the best. This is true for any sport. The harder an athlete tries to push boundaries the more risk and sacrifice they endure. Ronnie Coleman is arguably the greatest legend of bodybuilding – and he now pays the price for that status with extremely painful spinal injuries. He’s had so many spine surgeries that we’ve lost count and he’s also had a double hip replacement surgery.
Did Ronnie Coleman need to train so hard in order to become the legend he is today? Or could he have remained a 8x Mr. Olympia champ without destroying his body? It’s a question that is hard to answer – but as time passes and we see the long term results of Ronnie Coleman’s choices, it can certainly be an eye opener for other bodybuilders still competing.
Victor Martinez is a bodybuilder who was inspired by a legend like Ronnie Coleman. But would he himself train the same way Ronnie did? Or does he use Ronnie as a cautionary tale to maintain a more stable and healthy long term life? Does Victor believe that Ronnie’s career was worth the pain that came later?
Ultimately, Victor doesn’t ever put himself through the same kind of heavy lifting like Ronnie or Dorian. But that doesn’t mean he thinks that what they did was a mistake. Victor believes that you can’t teach an old dog new tricks. Ronnie Coleman wouldn’t be happy if he didn’t train the way he did. So maybe he would be in less pain during his retired life – but would he be in emotional pain from wondering “what if?”
Ronnie Coleman still pushes himself in the gym even after all of these surgeries. That’s how you know that Ronnie couldn’t let himself pull back. Victor might not have the same kind of mentality – but he respects people like Ronnie who do. Ultimately, what each person decides to do with themselves is their own business.
Victor Martinez also touches upon the longest amount of time he’s been out of the gym – and whether or not he gets self conscious when he loses muscle during those times. You can watch his full thoughts in our latest GI Exclusive interview clip above!
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