Ronnie Coleman, the legendary bodybuilder and eight-time Mr. Olympia champion, lived a life of extraordinary duality long before dedicating himself fully to the iron and stage. Prior to becoming a bodybuilding icon, Coleman served as a police officer in Arlington, Texas. Remarkably, he balanced his demanding law enforcement career with rigorous bodybuilding training, even clinching three Mr. Olympia titles while on active duty. This demanding schedule required immense dedication, juggling crime patrols and investigations with meal prepping and intense workouts, a testament to his unparalleled work ethic.
Eventually, the demands of professional bodybuilding grew so significant that Coleman faced an ultimatum from his superiors, leading him to resign from the police force to fully pursue his bodybuilding ambitions. However, his time in uniform remains a fascinating chapter of his life, particularly his struggle to fit into standard police attire. Numerous online videos capture glimpses of Officer Coleman, and one particularly popular clip shows him preparing for his shift, notably sporting police uniform shorts. This unusual sight caught the attention of Joe Rogan, who quizzed Coleman about these shorts during a 2020 podcast episode, sparking a humorous and insightful revelation.
The Tale of the Tailor-Made Cop Shorts
During his prime, Ronnie Coleman was a mass monster, dwarfing most people, including his fellow officers. Standard-issue police uniforms simply weren’t designed to accommodate his Herculean physique. As Coleman explained to Joe Rogan, ready-made police uniforms, particularly the shorts, were simply impossible for him to wear comfortably. His massive thighs and glutes required a customized solution.
Ronnie Coleman during a surgery recovery.
Rogan, intrigued by the visual of a bodybuilder in uniform shorts, directly asked, “You were so big; you’re sitting there with the uniform on. I’m like, there’s no way that’s a regular uniform. Did you arrest people with those shorts on?” Coleman chuckled and revealed, “No, I made those shorts myself, but we did wear shorts though.” Rogan further inquired if Coleman’s impressive physique inspired his colleagues, “Did that inspire other guys you worked with to start lifting too?” Coleman confirmed that his dedication and physique did motivate some of his fellow officers to start their own fitness journeys, showcasing his influence even beyond the bodybuilding world.
Coleman, despite the physical tolls of his bodybuilding career and numerous surgeries, looks back fondly at his time as a police officer. He has stated that had he not been forced to choose, he would have happily continued serving in law enforcement. In a podcast interview with Patrick Bet-David, Coleman expressed his sentiments, “I was doing two things that I love doing if I could have done if I could have done the police work until now… They forced me.” He elaborated that he genuinely enjoyed police work because it allowed him to help people and experience something different every day, highlighting his intrinsic motivation to serve his community alongside his passion for bodybuilding.
Ronnie Coleman’s story is a unique blend of dedication to fitness and commitment to public service. His “Ronnie Coleman Cop Uniform” anecdote, especially the self-made shorts, is a memorable illustration of how his extraordinary physique presented unique, and sometimes humorous, challenges in his life as a police officer. It underscores his ability to adapt and overcome obstacles, whether in the gym, on stage, or on the streets of Arlington.
