Over the years, there have been debates about the greatest bodybuilder of all time. Legendary personalities like Ronnie Coleman and Arnold Schwarzenegger have often been the focal points of these debates. While Ronnie Coleman has won 8 Mr. Olympia titles, the joint highest with Lee Haney, Arnold is a close second with 7 Mr. Olympia victories.

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Along with bodybuilding, Coleman also participated in powerlifting competitions. He was renowned for lifting heavy weights during his prime days. Recently, he bestowed a massive honor on a world-record-holding powerlifter.

Ronnie Coleman lauds Larry Wheels

Earlier this week, the 8-time Mr. Olympia caught up with a world-record-holding powerlifter from the United States, Larry Wheels. During their interaction, Coleman labeled Wheels the world’s strongest bodybuilder.

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Wheels took to Instagram to share a glimpse of this moment. In the Instagram Reel shared on his official Instagram handle, Wheels can be seen bowing down on his knees as Coleman bestowed upon him the massive honor of the world’s strongest bodybuilder. “I was knighted by @ronniecoleman8 @teampersonalrecord,” Wheels wrote in the reel’s caption.

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Wheels grew up in a humble background, living in poverty and foster homes in New York City. He started training and lifting weights at the age of just 14. Further, he created history at the 2020 Arnold Classic with a massive 1075 kg/2370 lb total at 308 pounds bodyweight, an all-time powerlifting record.

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Coleman reacts to Larry Wheels’ lifts

The eight-time Mr. Olympia has become a YouTube sensation and regularly shares insights about the bodybuilding world in his YouTube videos. In one video, he talked about Larry Wheels’ eye-catching lifts.

Ronnie Coleman

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Coleman reacted to Wheels’ 150kg (330lbs) and 142kg (313lbs) log lift for ten reps, saying“This is 313 for 10. I’ve never ever done, anything even remotely close to that. I have never even attempted to do this exercise before.”

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Meanwhile, Coleman hopes to regain his full mobility and plans to attend Mr. Olympia, which will take place later this year.

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Vatsal Shah

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Vatsal Shah is a tennis journalist at EssentiallySports, covering ATP and WTA storylines from the ES Trends Desk since 2023. He delivers breaking insights on major tournaments and player arcs, decoding tactical shifts and viral moments into accessible takeaways for fans worldwide. His coverage of Taylor Townsend’s Dubai title win stood out for capturing both the emotional significance of her victory and the context of her comeback. Drawing on his background as a recreational player, Vatsal adds a courtside perspective to his reporting, bringing depth and authenticity to Grand Slam coverage for the ES News Center. By combining sharp observation with a clear, engaging writing style, he ensures that key tennis moments are not only reported but truly understood. Fluent in English, French, and German, as well as three Indian languages, Gujarati, Hindi, and Marathi, Vatsal connects with a diverse global readership. With his mix of linguistic reach, analytical insight, and passion for the sport, he is carving a niche as a fresh, incisive voice in tennis journalism.

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Simar Singh Wadhwa