Legendary bodybuilder needs emergency surgery for ‘infection in bloodstream’ after pulling out of UK event
LEGENDARY bodybuilder Ronnie Coleman needs emergency surgery after suffering an “infection in his bloodstream”, his family revealed.
The 61-year-old, hailed as one of the sport’s greatest ever competitors, was rushed to hospital last week and had to postpone his trip to the UK.
The bodybuilder’s family announced last Monday that Ronnie was “admitted to hospital” due to an “infection in his bloodstream”.
In an update on Monday, they said that doctors discovered an “additional underlying health matter” that will require him to undergo surgery.
The family wrote: “At this time, Ronnie’s overall condition remains serious but stable, with continued signs of gradual recovery.
“His medical team is still actively working to identify the source of the infection, which can take several days to confirm through thorough testing.
“During a recent round of evaluations, doctors identified an additional underlying health matter that will require a surgical procedure.
“This procedure is expected to take place in these coming days, and the medical team is confident in their approach as part of Ronnie’s broader care plan.
“We remain hopeful and encouraged by Ronnie’s resilience, and we are deeply grateful for the outpouring of support from around the world.
“Please continue to keep Ronnie in your thoughts and prayers as we await the next stages of his recovery.”
Ronnie holds the record for the most Mr. Olympia titles – with eight.
He also claimed 26 International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness titles before retiring in 2007.
Concerns over his health first arose after he was forced to postpone a scheduled trip to the UK earlier this week.
Ronnie shared the news in an Instagram post last week, writing: “Hey guys, I hate to break it to y’all, but I won’t be able to make it out to the UK this week like I planned.
“Unfortunately, I had a medical emergency and had to stick around here in the U.S. for treatment.
“But don’t worry… I’m in great hands, getting the best care, and I’m staying strong through it all.
“I’ll be back and better than ever, and I can’t wait to get out there and see you all real soon!”
His health update was shared on his Instagram account, which boasts nearly 12 million followers.
Ronnie was inducted into the International Sports Hall of Fame in 2016.
Two years later, the Netflix documentary Ronnie Coleman: The King – based on his life and career – was released.
