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Eight-time Mr. Olympia Ronnie Coleman didn’t just dominate on stage, he also left everyone behind in the Gym. While most bodybuilders don’t regularly train with a lot of weight, Ronnie was the exception. The former champion trained with extremely heavy weights.

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Ronnie’s numbers were insane as well. His bench press max was over 550 lbs and he could bust out reps with 200 lbs dumbbells. All these lifts can be found on Ronnie’s YouTube channel. However, according to Ronnie, even he had to pause and think before attempting to squat 800lbs.

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Ronnie Coleman explained his mindset

After retiring, Ronnie built up a massive following on social media. Coleman uploaded some of his most insane lifts on his YouTube channel. The former Mr. Olympia broke down his 800lbs squat video. The ‘King’ explained his mindset going into the lift. “My thought process began on my way to the gym when I was riding in the car… I was trying to think to myself exactly how am I going to do this…”, said Ronnie.

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“I was getting myself psyched up, telling myself I knew I could do it.”, said Coleman. Two years before attempting the 800lbs squat, Ronnie had successfully deadlifted 800 lbs. However, deadlifts are typically a lifter’s biggest lift, and almost everyone squats less than they deadlift.

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Coleman wasn’t ready to back down easily. The ‘King’ tapped into his unwavering mindset. “I said to myself, you know, I did it on the deadlift so if I can deadlift it, I know I can squat it!”, said the eight-time Mr. Olympia.

READ MORE: Despite His Feet Being “Totally Numb,” the King of Bodybuilding Doing Strenuous Calf Raises in the Gym.

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The video then shows Coleman putting on his accessory gear before the lift. Ronnie hyped himself up as he wrapped his knees and slipped into a blue lifting vest. Although the bodybuilding icon had confidence in himself, two spotters flanked the ‘King’ as he approached the barbell.

The King’s “The lift”

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When Ronnie was ready, he ducked under the barbell and lifted the mammoth 800 lbs weight on his shoulders. Ronnie said he thought he would go for two reps. However, Coleman didn’t expect 800 lbs to feel light. The rep happened easily and Ronnie said he went even deeper during the second one.

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The champion bodybuilder also said he realized he could get more reps after re-racking the barbell, but became too exhausted for a 2nd attempt.

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Watch this story – 8x Mr. Olympia Ronnie Coleman Disclosed the Amount of Money He Spent on Bodybuilding Competitions During His Career

Contrary to popular belief, there is more to weight lifting than picking up and putting down the weight. The mindset and willpower are equally important, especially when attempting insane lifts like Ronnie Coleman.  

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Written by

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Sagnik Bagchi

3,368 Articles

Sagnik Bagchi is a Senior Writer at EssentiallySports, covering collegiate and Olympic sports through opinion‑driven storytelling. His volleyball reporting often spotlights program shifts and leadership changes, including Harper Murray’s evolving role and John Cook’s candid retirement reflections at Nebraska. With nearly four years in sports media, Sagnik has contributed across key beats, from the Paris 2024 Newsbreak team to behind‑the‑scenes coverage of the NHL Playoffs. An English Literature postgraduate, Sagnik’s versatility spans bodybuilding, US sports, and Olympic disciplines. As a former Senior Bodybuilding Writer, his work earned recognition from IFBB Pro Greg Doucette. His adaptability and consistency have resulted in a place in EssentiallySports’ Journalistic Excellence Program, where selected writers work with industry mentors to refine their reporting and analytical skills.

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Rupak Kumar Jha

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