Ronnie Coleman Opens Up about His Relationship with Flex Wheeler and Their Bodybuilding Legacy

 Ronnie Coleman is a name that is synonymous with bodybuilding greatness. The former professional bodybuilder won the Mr. Olympia title a record-breaking eight consecutive times from 1998 to 2005. But did you know that he credits another legendary bodybuilder, Flex Wheeler, for helping him start his Mr. Olympia dynasty? It's true - and we're going to take a closer look at this fascinating aspect of Coleman's rise to stardom in the world of competitive bodybuilding. Keep reading to discover how Flex Wheeler played an instrumental role in Ronnie Coleman's success, and why their legacy still resonates with fans of the sport today.

Legendary bodybuilder Ronnie Coleman recently credited his former rival, Ken "Flex" Wheeler, for helping him start his Mr. Olympia dynasty. In a recent conversation with current bodybuilding star Derek Lunsford, Coleman revealed that it was Wheeler who introduced him to renowned trainer Chad Nicholls and changed his nutritional outlook.

According to Coleman, when Wheeler introduced him to Nicholls before the 1998 Mr. Olympia, he altered the course of bodybuilding history. "A lot of people don’t know it, but Flex Wheeler is pretty much the reason why I won the [1998 Mr.] Olympia because he turned me on to Chad Nicholls," said Coleman.

Initially, Coleman had trouble getting in touch with Nicholls, but it was only a minor impasse. Eventually, they got together, and Coleman's dynastic run would start shortly after. Nicholls changed Coleman's Olympia preparation approach entirely, revamping his nutrition and training.

"He [Nicholls] changed everything I was doing, everything," Coleman said. "I went from eating half a pound of food with every meal to a whole pound. I went from training maybe 45 minutes to an hour a day to about maybe an hour, an hour and a half, sometimes an hour and 15 minutes of training because I was trying to do some of everything."

Without Wheeler's intervention, Coleman might have never ascended to bodybuilding prominence. Even though Wheeler never bested Coleman for a Mr. Olympia title, he can still boast four Arnold Classic victories and a runner-up placing in the 1993 Mr. Olympia, behind six-time winner Dorian Yates.

Currently, Coleman is a retired International Federation of Bodybuilding & Fitness (IFBB) Professional Body Builder and an eight-time Mr. Olympia titleholder. He owns and operates his own company, Ronnie Coleman Signature Series™.

The Bodybuilding world recognizes Ronnie Coleman as a legend and credits his Mr. Olympia dynasty to his hard work and dedication toward his fitness regime.