let's see how long until ND cracks
Joe Weider - IFBB Co-Founder"Many experts, including reigning Mr.Olympia, Jay Cutler, believe that at his best Ronnie has the greatest physique of all-time. When looking at pictures of Ronnie from the 1998 Mr.Olympia, I find it hard to argue with that."
Team Flex - http://www.flexonline.com/training/49"We've said before that the 245 pounds or so physique with which [Ronnie Coleman] won the 2001 Arnold Schwarzenegger Classic is the best ever - unbeatable."
John Plummer – Flexonline 2003 Mr. Olympia Contest Review"The long-awaited triple showdown between Coleman, Jay Cutler and Günter Schlierkamp failed to materialize as the defending champion destroyed all-comers with possibly the most awesome physique ever seen on a bodybuilding stage."
http://www.flexonline.com.au/216.htmlHany Rambod - MD, February 2004"[Ronnie] was so far ahead of everyone else, I heard a rumor that his DNA actually tested positive for being an alien."
Lonnie Teper - MD, December 2005"I've always said that it's too hard to compare athletes of different eras (then he names a few Mr. Olympias including Dorian). Still, it's hard to imagine that anybody who's ever stepped on a bodybuilding stage could have beaten Coleman. So I reserve the right to change my mind on this one. No offense to the rest of the champs - you were/are all truly amazing physique athletes - but Coleman has really taken it to the next level, as all magnificent conquerors do."
Peter McGough - Flex, August 2005"Ronnie sporting that [01 ASC] look would, in my opinion, be unbeatable."
Peter McGough - Flex, April 2002“[Ronnie Coleman] bounced back to win the 2001 Arnold Schwarzenegger Classic with a physique that may have been the best ever seen.”
Shawn Perine Ironage Dec 11, 2004“As much as I love Haney and my IA champs, I think Ronnie circa '98 or at the 2001 Arnold is pretty much untouchable. Except by Dorian Yates 6 weeks out from the '93 O as photographed by our own KMH. Both men, on those specific occasions carried so much dry muscle mass in good proportion and with good lines that it's almost unfair to compare them to others.”
Shawn Perine - Flex, July 2007 p. 207"After all, he's still, even at 43 yrs old, eight-time Mr. O Ronnie freakin' Coleman. Which is to say, arguably the best bodybuilder who has ever lived."
Tony Doherty - Heavy Muscle Radio (03-16-09)"Ronnie is the best ever. No one even comes close."
Tony Doherty - http://www.getbig.com/boards/index.php?topic=270388.msg3803035#msg3803035"Absolutely no question. The best ever, I have seen them and worked with them all. Seeing Ronnie in 2003 was like looking into the future!"
Raymond Cassar - Muscletime Editor and Photographer"There is no one alive that can beat Ronnie Coleman when he is at his best - No One! (and his best for me was when he won the 2001 Arnold Classic)"
http://www.muscletime.com/news/contest-results/2007-mr-olympia-analysisSteve Blechman - MD, February 2004"Ronnie perseveres and proves continually that, at his best, he is unbeatable."
"Ronnie Coleman is not only the greatest Mr. O of all time, he is also one of the oldest"
Greg Merritt - Flex, July 2007 p. 212"Coleman is only two years older than the new Mr. O (hypothetical article saying if Toney Freeman won), but time stops for no man, including the greatest bodybuilder who ever lived."
Greg Meritt – http://www.metroflexgymtraining.com/testimonials.html“From the greatest bodybuilder of all-time, Ronnie Coleman, to gregarious owner Brian Dobson to the kid who joined yesterday, everyone is trying to push themselves further than ever before, and it’s the energy of this shared commitment that makes Metroflex great.”
Chris Lund (Paraphrased by Milos Sarcev) - European Flex, April 2004"Chris Lund who I consider to be a great expert in our sport of bodybuilding, told me that Ronnie is simply the best bodybuilder he has ever seen, or photographed, and he has seen everybody, during the last 35 years."
http://www.getbig.com/boards/index.php?topic=237938.0Hollis Liebman - Former Fitness Editor and IFBB Official"The era of the big man would commence with Lee Haney (1984-1991), whose formidable torso would dominate the lineup for 8 straight years and was then elevated by Dorian Yates (1992-1997), whose back and overall conditioning upped the ante yet again until an alien named Ronnie Coleman (1998-2005), in all likelihood the greatest bodybuilder of all time, would redefine the sport bringing a near 300 pound contest ready physique to the stage."
http://www.getbig.com/boards/index.php?topic=238675.0Flex Wheeler - MD, February 2004"I'll go on record as saying Ronnie is truly the biggest, hardest, most shredded Mr. Olympia in history. No disrespect to anybody at all, but I'd to identify Ronnie Coleman as the greatest Mr. Olympia of all time."
Paul Dillet - MD, February 2004"Understand that if Ronnie walked away tomorrow, I do not think anyone can measure up to the standards he has set. Just like Sergio Oliva, an awesome bodybuilder way ahead of his time, and like Flex Wheeler, who had an absolutely perfect, beautiful physique. No one will match Serigo or Flex and now Ronnie."
Mike Matarazzo – Flex, January 1999“I think this creature from another planet, Ronnie Coleman, is going to be number one for a while. I think that, in the shape he was in, he would have beaten Dorian Yates. Ronnie has every single attribute it takes to be the greatest bodybuilder who ever lived.”
Jean Pierre Fux - Personal Website"The current Mr. Olympia (Ronnie Coleman). In top shape, probably the best physique that ever stepped on stage."