On Apr. 12, 2023, Coleman discussed parts of his bodybuilding career in a segment of a conversation with current bodybuilding star Derek Lunsford. Coleman and Lunsford recently trained together in a meeting of past and present superstars. In his discussion with Lunsford, the legend revealed it was Wheeler who introduced him to iconic trainer Chad Nicholls and changed his nutritional outlook.

According to Coleman, when Wheeler introduced Coleman to Nicholls sometime before the 1998 Mr. Olympia, he altered the course of bodybuilding history.

His eventual rival helped turn Coleman into the all-time legend he’s now known as.

“A lot of people don’t know it but Flex Wheeler is pretty much the reason why I won the [1998 Mr.] Olympia because he turned me on to Chad Nicholls,” Coleman told Lunsford.

At first, Coleman had trouble reaching Nicholls. However, that was only a minor and expected impasse in the pair’s training relationship. Eventually, they’d get together, and Coleman’s dynastic run would start soon after.

“He [Wheeler] gave me his number and I called Chad [Nicholls] but Chad didn’t pick up the phone,” Coleman explained. “I said, ‘Flex [Wheeler] why’d you have me call this guy Chad, he didn’t pick up the phone.’ He [Wheeler] says, ‘Nah, he’s just like that, man. Call him again, and he’ll call you back.’ He [Nicholls] called me back and the rest is pretty much history. I won my first Olympia that year [1998] by hooking up with him.”

How did Nicholls change Coleman’s Olympia preparation approach? Per Coleman, among other tidbits, the trainer revamped his nutrition, eventually having the athlete eat almost a full pound of food in every meal.

“He [Nicholls] changed everything I was doing, everything,” Coleman said. “I went from doing, like, an hour of cardio a day to two hours. I went from eating half a pound of food with every meal to a whole pound. I went from training maybe 45 minutes to an hour a day to about maybe an hour, an hour and a half, sometimes an hour and 15 minutes of training because I was trying to do some of everything.”

In recent years, long after after his work with Coleman, Nicholls is perhaps most notable for his partnership with former two-time Mr. Olympia (2020-2021) Mamdouh “Big Ramy” Elssbiay. The trainer’s son, Morgan, is also an ascending powerlifter.

Even while he never beat Coleman for a Mr. Olympia title, Wheeler can still boast four Arnold Classic (AC) victories (1993, 1997-1998, 2000) as well as a runner-up placing in the 1993 Mr. Olympia, behind six-time winner Dorian Yates. With his competitive record, Wheeler is often considered one of the greatest bodybuilders to never win the sport’s most prestigious title. With both legends’ careers now in the rearview mirror, the former rivals each have something to hang their hat on. It’s ironic, then, that without Wheeler’s training intervention, Coleman perhaps never ascends to bodybuilding prominence.

Featured image: Ronnie Coleman on YouTube

The post Ronnie Coleman Credits Flex Wheeler For Helping Start His Mr. Olympia Dynasty appeared first on Breaking Muscle.

On Sept. 29, 2022, during an interview with Olympia judge Terrick El Guindy and Bob Cicherello (“Bob Chick”) on Olympia TV on YouTube, Jacked and his coach, four-time Arnold Classic champ Ken “Flex” Wheeler, discussed the upcoming 2022 Mr. Olympia. (Note: Jacked’s nutritionist George Farah was also in attendance as a subject.) Among the more pertinent topics were how Wheeler feels about the upcoming competition as well as Jacked’s chances against two-time reigning champion Mamdouh “Big Ramy” Elssbiay.

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There was a time when Jacked was an unknown entity. Then he earned his Pro Card at the 2022 Arnold Classic Amateur in early March and won his first two IFBB Pro League contests. In such a short time, despite his inexperience, he’s already risen well through the ranks. This success, despite Jacked’s inexperience as an IFBB Pro League athlete, makes Wheeler believe Jacked is a budding bodybuilding titan.

“I competed probably over 40 times as an amateur before I even got into the National Physique Committee [NPC] because I was back in the Amateur Athletic Union [AAU] days. I was learning. I was developing,” Wheeler said, comparing his career to Jacked’s. “But if you look at Andrew [Jacked], one NPC show, that’s it. Look at how much he changed from his Arnold Amateur debut, and then look at how much he’s changed at the Texas show. Then, just in a matter of fewer than two months, a little bit over two months, how much he’s changed going into the Arnold Classic [UK].”

In the context of a stacked Olympia field featuring Elssbiay, Brandon Curry, Hadi Choopan, Nick Walker, Hunter Labrada, and Derek Lunsford, Wheeler thinks Jacked has another significant advantage — less wear and tear on his body.

“He [Jacked] has less mileage than any competitor that he’s ever competing against or ever going to compete against,” Wheeler explained. “That right there tells you this young man’s potential. Because no one, even myself, has done what he’s done in such a short period of time. That’s damn scary.”

 

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As for Jacked’s chances to actually win the Olympia and topple Elssbiay, Wheeler thinks there’s an opening under the right circumstances. Even with Elssbiay recently weighing in at a jaw-dropping 337 pounds at the end of his off-season, the door could be cracked open.

“Ramy is the person to beat,” Wheeler offered as a disclaimer. “But now you’re going to have guys competing against him that are taller than him and match his mass. I’m going to argue and say possibly, I’m being nice, but he [Jacked] possibly has better symmetry and balance that he [Elssbiay] has.”

Even if Jacked doesn’t reach high expectations this year by beating Elssbiay, there seems to be little doubt Wheeler thinks Jacked’s talent has him primed to be one of bodybuilding’s next main fixtures. In the long run, whether the competitor lives up to that promise is anyone’s best guess for now.

The 2022 Mr. Olympia will take place on Dec. 16-18, 2022, in Las Vegas, NV.

Featured image: @andrewjacked on Instagram

The post Flex Wheeler Thinks Andrew Jacked Can Push Big Ramy for the 2022 Mr. Olympia appeared first on Breaking Muscle.