Ronnie Coleman Recovering From Spinal Surgery

Joe Pietaro — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 06:31:14 +0000

Only someone as resilient as an 8-time Mr. Olympia can undergo a delicate spinal procedure and call it “cosmetic surgery.” Big Ron Coleman is home now and on the mend from a late December hospital stay at which he had a Cervical Disectomy Fusion of his C4-C5, C5-C6 and C6-C7 and downplayed it as much on his Twitter account.

“I’m going home,” he tweeted on December 29. “Cosmetic surgery was a huge success. I’ll be back on stage in a couple of weeks.”

Coleman further tweeted that he had the operation to add more size to his already massive frame. “It never hurts to get bigger.”

The 5’11″, 330-pound former champion has not competed since placing fourth at the 2007 Olympia but has never officially announced his retirement and seems to enjoy frequent rumors of his impending return. Coleman has kept himself busy with guest posing appearances in the years following his record-tying Sandow run (1998 to 2005), as recent as December’s IFBB Pro World Masters.

RON COLEMAN CONTEST HISTORY

1990 Mr. Texas (Heavyweight & Overall)
1991 World Amateur Championships (Heavyweight)
1995 Canada Pro Cup
1996 Canada Pro Cup
1997 Grand Prix Russia
1998 Night of Champions
1998 Toronto Pro Invitational
1998 Mr. Olympia
1998 Grand Prix Finland
1998 Grand Prix Germany
1999 Mr. Olympia
1999 World Pro Championships
1999 Grand Prix England
2000 Mr. Brody Langley
2000 Grand Prix England
2000 World Pro Championships
2000 Mr. Olympia
2001 Arnold Schwarzenegger Classic
2001 Mr. Olympia
2001 New Zealand Grand Prix
2002 Mr. Olympia
2002 Grand Prix Holland
2003 Mr. Olympia
2003 Grand Prix Russia
2004 Mr. Olympia
2004 Grand Prix England
2004 Grand Prix Holland
2004 Grand Prix Russia
2005 Mr. Olympia
2006 Grand Prix Austria – IFBB, 2nd
2006 Grand Prix Holland – IFBB, 2nd
2006 Grand Prix Romania – IFBB, 2nd
2006 Olympia – IFBB, 2nd
2007 Olympia – IFBB, 4th

Lee Priest Comeback May Result in 202 Victory

Joe Pietaro — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 02:30:45 +0000

An announcement was made during Olympia weekend that may just shake up the 202 division next year. Lee Priest, who has not competed since 2006, announced that he is coming back and intends on taking on Kevin English and the rest of the 202 division. He will begin preparing next month in his native Australia and will be filming his workouts for Muscular Development.

He said that his “good” arm measure 21 inches and his “bad” arm – his left, which he had recent surgery on – is 21 inches. Not too bad for a guy who stands at 5’4″. On a video on MD.com, Priest commented that the 202 is all about conditioning and that he had won shows in the past at 199 and 198 pounds.

He also called himself a “rebel” and a “loose cannon,” as well as a “guy who speaks his mind.” That is the Priest that bodybuilding fans have come to love and they wouldn’t have it any other way.

“With Infinite Labs an MD behind me, you’re going to see on hell of a comeback,” Priest commented on the video clip.

Priest, when in condition, is one of the most impressive bodybuilders on the circuit. Because of his short stature, he appears huge and should be the widest person on stage in the 202. The mass that he possesses is amazing and he also has a small waist to give him a great look.

You can view the long layoff in two ways: that it will be too long for him to get back into the swing of things or that his body is well rested from not having to go through the dieting process for what is going to be eight years. Figure on a little bit of each being reality and Priest may need a few contests to reach his full potential once again.

Here’s a vote of confidence that by the third time out, Priest, 38, will dominate the 202 class. Hopefully he competes in a show or two as a warm-up and qualify for the Olympia, where he may just have enough to dethrone English and take his place at the top.

LEE PRIEST CONTEST HISTORY:

2006 PDI Night of Champions Britain, 8th

2006 PDI Night of Champions, 9th

2006 IFBB Grand Prix Australia, 2nd

2006 IFBB Arnold Classic, 6th

2006 IFBB Ironman Pro, 1st

2005 IFBB Iron Man Pro Invitational, 2nd

2005 IFBB Arnold Classic, 4th

2005 IFBB Grand Prix Australia, 7th

2004 IFBB San Francisco Pro Invitational, 2nd

2004 IFBB Ironman Pro, 2nd

2003 IFBB Mr. Olympia, 15th

2002 Mr. Olympia – 6th
2002 San Francisco Pro Invitational – 1st
2002 SAN FRANCISCO GRAND PRIX – 1st
2002 IFBB Arnold Classic – 4th
2002 IRONMAN PRO INVITATIONAL – 2nd
2001 Ironman 7th, after bad virus

2000 Mr. Olympia 6th Place
2000 Night of Champions 5th Place Night of Fixes
1999 Ironman 6th Place
1999 Mr. Olympia – IFBB, 9th
1999 Ironman Pro Invitational – IFBB, 6th
1998 Olympia – IFBB, 7th
1997 San Jose Pro Invitational – IFBB, 4th
1997 Olympia – IFBB, 6th
1997 Ironman Pro Invitational – IFBB, 2nd
1997 Grand Prix Spain – IFBB, 3rd
1997 Grand Prix Russia – IFBB, 9th
1997 Grand Prix Hungary – IFBB, 3rd
1997 Grand Prix Germany – IFBB, 3rd
1997 Grand Prix Finland – IFBB, 9th
1997 Grand Prix England – IFBB, 6th
1997 Grand Prix Czech Republic – IFBB, 5th
1997 Arnold Classic – IFBB, 7th
1996 San Jose Pro Invitational – IFBB, 6th
1996 Ironman Pro Invitational – IFBB, 4th
1995 South Beach Pro Invitational – IFBB, 4th
1995 Ironman Pro Invitational – IFBB, 3rd
1995 Florida Pro Invitational – IFBB, 4th
1995 Arnold Classic – IFBB, 9th
1994 San Jose Pro Invitational – IFBB, 7th

1994 Night of Champions – IFBB, 12th
1994 Ironman Pro Invitational – IFBB, 4th
1994 Arnold Classic – IFBB, 7th
1993 Niagara Falls Pro Invitational – IFBB, 9th
1990 World Amateur Championships – IFBB, LightWeight,4th
1990 World Amateur Championships – IFBB, 4th
1990 Mr Australia – IFBB, Overall Winner
1989 Mr Australia – IFBB, Overall Winner

Muscle Sport Magazine » 2002 Mr Olympia

Ronnie Coleman Recovering From Spinal Surgery

Lee Priest Comeback May Result in 202 Victory