Ronnie Coleman VS Arnold Schwarzenegger

Here is another Muscle Kombat competition with Ronnie Coleman vs Arnold Schwarzenegger. These are various images of the 2 champions!

Ronnie Coleman vs. Arnold Schwarzenegger: Who Left a Greater Impact on Bodybuilding?​

Ronnie Coleman and Arnold Schwarzenegger are the most prominent bodybuilders who have proven their bodybuilding achievements. During the peak of their careers, the legendary bodybuilders have set the standards of a perfect bodybuilder.

Both have laid their hands on the prestigious Mr. Olympia title, but they have distinct differences in many aspects of bodybuilding. Many fans and enthusiasts compare the two famous bodybuilders because of what they left for the industry.

Who do you think has the best physique of all time? Whose career left a mark in the bodybuilding industry? This article will explore the difference between their careers, training regime, and bodybuilding contributions.

Bodybuilding Careers​

Early Life​

Ronnie Coleman and Arnold Schwarzenegger were both engaged in sports before they got into bodybuilding.

During his younger years, Ronnie Coleman was into basketball, baseball, and football. He was also a regular accounting student and eventually shifted his career to being a police officer. His constant physical training became the key to his bodybuilding career. His fellow police officer persuaded him to join competitions. To make him say yes, he was given a free membership to the gym, where he started his regular training sessions.

On the other hand, Arnold Schwarzenegger came from a family with strict military habits because of his father. His father required him to get up before sunrise and do an intense fitness routine before breakfast. Like Ronnie, he was into sports, but in Arnold’s case, it was soccer. Weightlifting and bodybuilding became a passion because it was already a part of his daily life.

Training Regime​

Ronnie Coleman focused on lifting heavy weights and high-volume training. No wonder his body features became large. For Ronnie, the split training routine requires hard work and dedication. He trained different body parts weekly with a high number of weights. He frequently challenged his muscles by increasing the volume of his training.

But for Arnold Schwarzenegger, training is about mind and body connection and compound muscle movement. He trained twice a day, working on different muscle groups. A split training focusing on weak points made his muscles grow during his time. He works his upper body in the morning and his lower body in the afternoon. Both sessions last for hours with different exercises and a seemingly endless number of sets.

Competition History and Major Achievements​

Ronnie Coleman and Arnold Schwarzenegger both won several titles in Mr. Olympia in different years. However, Ronnie had eight titles, while Arnold had seven. The bodybuilding industry has recognized both names as the most successful bodybuilders in Mr. Olympia's history.

Aside from 1998 to 2005 Mr. Olympia, here are the other competitions where Ronnie Coleman made it to the top as a professional bodybuilder:

• 1997 IFBB Grand Prix Russia
• 1999 IFBB Joe Weiders Pro World
• 1999 IFBB Grand Prix England
• 2000 Grand Prix England
• 2000 Joe Weider’s Word Pro Cup
• 2001 Arnold Classic
• 2001 New Zealand Grand Prix
• 2002 Grand Prix Holland

Just after he joined the military, Arnold Schwarzenegger already won his first bodybuilding as an amateur in 1965, Junior Mr. Europe in Germany. His Mr. Olympia titles were from the years 1970 to 1975 and 1980. Here are the other world titles that Arnold had during his professional career:

• 1968 German Powerlifting Championship
• 1968 IFBB Mr. International
• 1968 NABBA Mr. Universe
• 1968 to 1970 IFBB Mr. Universe
• 1969 IFBB Mr. Europe
• 1970 AAU Pro Mr. World
• 1970 IFBB Mr. Europe

Contributions to Bodybuilding and Fitness​

Bodybuilding Promotion​

Bodybuilding fans and enthusiasts know Ronnie Coleman as an advocate for fitness and training. He promoted bodybuilding by sharing his workout routine in many interviews, which motivated aspiring bodybuilders to train harder. He also created a YouTube channel to share his opinions with other bodybuilders, training sessions, and diet. Many people subscribed to his channel, earning him a Gold Creator Award.

As for Arnold Schwarzenegger, he promoted bodybuilding differently. He used his connection in the media to inspire younger bodybuilders interested in joining the industry. The industry became more famous when he entered the entertainment industry as an actor. He also wrote articles about his success as a bodybuilder in different magazines and books.

Today, the most prominent contribution of Arnold to the bodybuilding industry is the launching of the Arnold Schwarzenegger Festival. This annual event welcomes all professional bodybuilders and fitness athletes to show off their hard-earned body figures.

Workout Influences​

Arnold Schwarzenegger developed two workout plans to help beginners appreciate their routines. First, he created the “Golden Six,” which involves a step-by-step guide on different fitness programs he designed. These specialized programs go up to 12 weeks of training with different variations for beginners. It works on all muscle groups to build muscle mass and strength.

He also released a special playlist of songs from the 1980s accompanied by workout instructions.

Ronnie Coleman also inspired bodybuilding enthusiasts in his workout video called “The Cost of Redemption.” The video features Ronnie’s workout routines while training for 2003 Mr. Olympia. He also launched Yeah Buddy to guide more athletes, a lifestyle fitness app that helps achieve health and fitness goals.

Impact on Popular Culture​

Because of his advocacy, Ronnie Coleman launched a line of sports nutrition supplements for the younger generations of bodybuilders. He also expanded his business by offering lifestyle apparel that follows Ronnie’s legacy in bodybuilding. Ronnie guested in many YouTube videos and podcasts to encourage those interested in bodybuilding to pursue it as a career.

The 90s kids may have known Arnold Schwarzenegger as an actor. He starred in films like Terminator, Kindergarten Cop, Expendables, and Total Recall. He also entered politics as the 38th governor of California. Because of his popularity in bodybuilding, entertainment, and politics, Time Magazine recognized Arnold as one of the most influential personalities worldwide.

Challenges and Controversies​

Injuries and Setbacks​

People know Ronnie Coleman as a bodybuilder who can lift high-volume plates during training. Because he was too focused on working out, he suffered from a dislocated disk in a squatting routine in 1996.

This injury led to more severe cases like spinal problems. Because of this, Ronnie went to 13 surgeries and multiple treatments. Because Ronnie ignored them during his younger years, he lost his mobility and could not walk without support.

According to his book, Arnold: The Education of a Bodybuilder, Arnold Schwarzenegger suffered knee and shoulder injuries during his bodybuilding career. He had a knee operation in 1974 due to a strain from intense training. Another result of his heavy lifting was back pains. Because of this, he had to undergo surgery in 1997, which affected how he trained.

Controversies and Criticism​

Like many bodybuilders, Ronnie Coleman and Arnold Schwarzenegger received issues with steroid use. Though Arnold acknowledged steroid use, it wasn’t banned yet during the peak of his career. He also mentioned that he did not regret it because it was under a medical professional’s monitoring.

However, it was not the steroid use that raised controversies with Arnold. It was winning Mr. Olympia in 1980. Many believed he bagged the top spot because of his popularity in his movie Conan The Barbarian. Before the event, he decided to skip that year’s competition but stepped on the stage at the last minute.

Post-Bodybuilding Careers​

Schwarzenegger’s Acting Career and Political Role​

After retiring from bodybuilding, Arnold Schwarzenegger became a household name in many action movies. Not only because of his body, he also possessed excellent acting prowess. His first film was Hercules in New York in 1970, and he eventually met more people in the industry who made him a star in many blockbuster films.

Some of his first political positions were chairman of the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, Red Cross ambassador, and California Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports chairman.

Coleman’s Training and Supplement Business​

Because Ronnie Coleman was an advocate for fitness training, he entered several business ventures to support those who like to try bodybuilding. He launched a brand called Ronnie Coleman Signature Series, which includes fitness-related supplements.

He also continued his support for the bodybuilding industry by opening Metroflex Gym in Arlington, which attracted his fans and many fitness enthusiasts. He also shared many of his experiences as a motivational speaker in many seminars and events related to fitness and bodybuilding.

Conclusion​

We cannot compare Ronnie Coleman and Arnold Schwarzenegger since they excelled in their bodybuilding and other careers. Ronnie impacted the bodybuilding industry by supporting his fellow athletes by launching several products to help them in training. On the other hand, Arnold promoted the industry to many people using his media connections and the Arnold Sports Festival.

Here are a couple more comparison shots of Ronnie Coleman side by side with Arnold Schwarzenegger!








Ronnie is bigger, but I HATE HATE HATE that extended gut look. I also dislike the uber dry look as well. So while Ronnie is bigger, Arnold still wins in my book.

I love Ronnie but Arnold wins against anyone.

i prefer ronnie coleman. because ronnie is the king. I know only freak bodybuilding era. i started bodybuilding with dorian yates era.
i respect arnold, but ronnie is ronnie

Here to go .