🏋️ how strong was ronnie coleman?

Warner Bros. is reportedly looking to remake The Lord of the Rings films. Don't fret. Here at BarBend, we'll never unnecessarily repurpose strength news. 

Jessica Buettner is on a warpath. The powerlifter's first stop in 2023? A record-breaking performance at the latest Canadian Nationals. 

Ronnie Coleman captivated the bodybuilding world for nearly a decade with eight consecutive Mr. Olympia titles. But how strong was he? We took a look. 

Want bigger legs? Improved balance? Check out the dumbbell split squat. 

Powerlifting

Jessica Buettner Dominates. Again

Jessica Buettner's prowess as a 76-kilogram powerlifter has been well-established. After all, there's a good reason she's the reigning two-time International Powerlifting Federation (IPF) World Champion in the class. In her first contest of 2023, Buettner moved up in weight, and you guessed it: she dominated anyway. 

Last week, Buettner competed in the 2023 Canadian Powerlifting Union (CPU) Nationals, and for the first time since 2019, she appeared in the 84-kilogram category. Any perceived rust didn't matter. En route to a first-place performance, Buettner set the raw Canadian National deadlift record of 250 kilograms (551.2 pounds) and the raw Candian National total record of 559 kilograms (1,234 pounds). You can check her performance out below:

Bodybuilding

Ronnie Coleman's Royal Strength 

You know Ronnie "The King" Coleman for holding the Mr. Olympia title for eight straight years at the turn of the 21st century. You probably understand the work it took to maintain his throne, too. But was this living legend really as strong as he seemed during his physical prime?

*Clears throat* Yeah, buddy!

We took a deep dive into the mind-boggling displays of strength Coleman put out in public over the years. And yes: He was strong. Very strong. In fact, he might be the strongest bodybuilder to ever win the Mr. Olympia. As if there was any real doubt. 

Training Tips

Split Squats for Big Gains

The back squat, leg press, and other more traditional leg exercises are great and all, but they're not the only movements out there. If these are the sole focus of your routine, you're leaving so much meat on the bone. But that's okay. 

That's where the dumbbell split squat comes in. 

If you want to develop improved balance, attain bigger and stronger legs, and even improve your posture, our guide on the dumbbell split squat has you covered.

Everything Else

Rhianon Lovelace Leaves No Love Lost

• The latest in Rhianon Lovelace's list of conquests? An Atlas stone World Record.

• Here's where everyone stands with the first week of the 2023 CrossFit Open in the books.

• Speaking of split squats, augment this new phase of your training by elevating your front foot.