Written by Peter McGough
03 March 2016

 16TBT 2001-RONNIE-BEST-ARNOLD-CHAMP-EVER

2001 Ronnie Coleman - Best Arnold Classic Champ Ever?

 

 

Ronnie Coleman took the 2000 Mr. Olympia title thereby securing his third Sandow, but it was far from the dominating performance he had unleashed in 1998 and 1999. Indeed runner-up Kevin Levrone pushed the champ to an extent that he was far from comfortable with.

 

Whether the disappointment was the reason that Ronnie decided to enter the 2001 Arnold Classic, thereby becoming the first, and so far only, reigning Mr. Olympia to compete at the contest, wasn’t clear at the time; although that issue will be resolved later in this narrative.

 

I do remember that Joe Weider and the Olympia promoters weren’t too happy about Ronnie entering the number two show on the pro calendar. They felt that if by chance he lost it would not only reduce his Olympia aura, but it would diminish the contest itself with the defending champion coming in on the back of a loss. There was some to-and-fro between Joe and Ronnie before the latter committed to the show and he duly arrived in Columbus to do battle.

  

Thus on March 3, 2001, at the Veteran’s Memorial Hall, Ronnie -- in my opinion -- showed up in his best ever shape. He came in at 245 cut, diced and full pounds – 12 pounds lighter than he had been had been at the Olympia a few months earlier. When he walked out to do his mandatories, a collective gasp swept around the auditorium.

 

As he hit the first pose – front double biceps – Chad Nicholls, Ronnie’s contest prep advisor who was sitting a couple of rows behind me, boomed, “How d’ya like that Ronnie?”

  

Well his fellow competitors maybe didn't like that Ronnie, but the fans went bananas and the judges acquiesced giving the Arlington policeman a straight firsts victory.

CLEARING THE HOUSE

 In fact when Ronnie finished his seven mandatory poses (most muscular was not part of the set then) something happened that I don't think I've ever seen before at a major contest. Namely, whole sections of the audience just got up and left as if they had just witnessed “Lights out” and there was no need to hang around for the inevitable formalities of the prejudging.

  

Backstage after the contest, Ronnie did sort of confirm that him entering the Arnold had been in some measure a quest for redemption after his 2000 Olympia showing. He said, “I was not hundred percent at the Olympia and people were disappointed. I was hearing ‘Ron is going downhill, he’s peaked.’ So this was my opportunity to prove them wrong without waiting 12 months for the next Olympia.” With a wink and a smile he then continued, “Besides there was that Hummer [which was in addition to the 100 grand first prize]. I like Hummers and I’ve always wanted one of those things.”

  

Anyway, I felt that day and still feel, that we had just seen Ronnie at his best, and that he still ranks as the best ever physique to win the Arnold Classic. Those closest to him would have been Flex Wheeler in 1998, (many say Flex was better at his 1993 win, but I go for ’98) and Shawn Ray in 1991.

2001 Postscript

On the back of that on victory, Ronnie went forward to the 2001 Olympia seven months later as a red-hot favorite. However, he did not produce his Arnold form at the Olympia, and Jay Cutler who was ahead at the prejudging really should have beaten the reigning champion.

 

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