[18] While there, he played football as a middle linebacker with the Grambling State Tigers under Hall of Fame coach Eddie Robinson.

[20] Coleman's fellow officer Gustavo Arlotta suggested he attend the 'Metroflex Gym', owned by amateur bodybuilder Brian Dobson.

The top athletes were continuously improving with Dorian Yates taking bodybuilding to the next level, and Coleman also increased the weights and intensity of his workouts.

Around this time, Coleman started to compete prolifically, traveling around the world and taking trains instead of flights because it was all what he could afford, and kept up with the top athletes.

[25] He defeated Kevin Levrone and Nasser El Sonbaty to win the title and started getting recognition for his 'wide and thick' back development.

Flex Wheeler was favored to become the titleholder, with predominant competition coming from Levrone, El Sonbaty and Shawn Ray.

However, Coleman, whose quadruple victories already in the calendar year had considerably elevated his esteem and brought further improvements, weighing 248 lb (112.5 kg) on stage, shredded to the bone, to defeat Wheeler, El Sonbaty, Levrone and Ray to win the 1998 Mr. Olympia held at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York.

[24] Judges praised Coleman's superior back development, v-taper, conditioning and the posing routine which all aided his victory.

[26] In 1999, Coleman went up against one of the most iconic and toughest lineups in bodybuilding history at 1999 IFBB English Grand Prix, where he emerged victorious after defeating Wheeler, Levrone, Dexter Jackson, Milos Sarcev, El Sonbaty and Markus Rühl who all came in with some of their best physiques ever.

The competition went on to be known as 'The Greatest Show on Earth' [27] and the final trio: Coleman, Wheeler and Levrone in this contest is regarded as the best top three ever on stage at the same time.

At 1999 Mr. Olympia held at the iconic Mandalay Bay Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, Coleman successfully defended his title after defeating the likes of Wheeler, Chris Cormier, Levrone, Ray, El Sonbaty, Paul Dillett, Lee Priest, Mike Matarazzo, Jean Pierre Fux and Pavol Jablonický.

Coleman also became only the sixth person after Sergio Oliva, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Frank Zane, Haney and Yates to win 3 Mr. Olympia titles in a row.

Therefore instead of his standard 12-week cutting down period, he started 16 weeks prior which resulted in a slight loss of muscle mass which was clearly evident in his arms and legs.

[30] Coleman also won 2002 IFBB Dutch Grand Prix but came 2nd to Schlierkamp at 2002 Show of Strength Pro Championships, which was the only time he was defeated during his Olympia reign.

In 2003, Coleman made massive improvements to his physique and came in for 2003 Mr. Olympia at a staggering 292 lb (132.4 kg) on-stage weight and ripped.

Cutler, who had taken last year off described, even though he came well prepared and with confidence to dethrone the champion, the minute Coleman took his clothes off backstage, his mouth dropped and he knew it was game-over.

Coleman secured a perfect score and convincingly won his 6th title, tying his predecessor Yates as the joint-third most decorated Olympian in history.

At 2004 Mr. Olympia, for the first time judges initiated a challenge round, where the top 6 finalists called out each other for a one-on-one pose comparison of their choice.

Coleman came with the biggest upper arms he ever posed on stage at over 24 in (61 cm) in contest shape, but his clearly visible lat asymmetry cost him a 9th title.

[38] With his high-pitched voice, many of the lifts and vocal gimmicks Coleman popularized in them have become commonplace in the global physical culture community, especially after the advent of viral videos.

[40] Coleman's success as a professional bodybuilder has led to many product endorsements and other opportunities in his career, which he has traveled the world to promote.

[45] In 1998, Coleman met French-Lebanese personal trainer Rouaida Christine Achkar at a sports exposition in Paris,[46] and they got married in 2007.

These include double hip replacements and various attempts at alleviating chronic pain from damaged intervertebral discs[53] costing millions.

[54] Despite using a wheelchair[55] because he can no longer walk unassisted due to surgical procedures,[56] Coleman continues to train, but uses only light weights now.