Ronnie is a legend.
Honestly, I don't know why.
I know why Zane is a legend. I understand why Haney is a legend.
Judging should be rewarding perfection rather than awesomeness. A bodybuilder who can maintain perfection is deserving of being called a legend. Arnold's physique didn't get worse. Zane's physique never got worse. Haney's physique never got worse.
Why does Ronnie, whose physique got worse and worse each Olympia, get called a legend?
Honestly, I don't understand why.
You don't know much about BBing history, do you?
Arnold is constantly criticized for his '80 appearance, for no legs, being too small and taking half the amount of time he usually did to prepare for the contest. Some say he lost in 72 to Sergio, or that he shouldn't have won in 70- which Arnold himself said "Sergio was just as good if not better than me that day, but I won based on how I posed since Sergio forgot I was even there."
Zane didn't get worse? Perhaps you forget that he was in obscurity before he even won his first Olympia, taking a decade or so to win it, after beating Arnold and then getting trounced by Arnold for much of the time it took for him to win the O.
Haney didn't get worse? What about the drug tested Olympia, where many people showed up off, including Lee.
The human body can't take going all out for a number of years, and that's why everyone declines. Everyone. Including Arnold, Zane, Yates, Ronnie and your average gym rat.
There's a Rutger Hauer quote from Blade Runner that applies..."The light that burns twice as bright, burns half as long. And you have burned so very, very brightly, Roy."