Ronny Rockel
Encyclopedia
Ronny Rockel is an IFBB
professional bodybuilder from Germany
.
. Like many other professional bodybuilders from Europe such as Milos Sarcev
and Pavol Jablonicky
, Rockel grew up under communist rule. Because of this Rockel was not aware of bodybuilding and other things of the outside world. This soon changed in 1989 when the Berlin Wall
was taken down.
At seventeen years of age, 143 pounds decided that he wanted a body like Arnold Schwarzenegger
's after seeing the film Conan the Barbarian
, but at the time commercial gyms in his hometown of Chemnitz, East Germany, were non existent. Instead of abandoning his interest in bodybuilding, he created his own weight set.
Following the demise of communism, entrepreneurial activities in the East of Germany spawned and with that the first gym opened in Ronny's hometown. He soon joined and began absorbing information about diet and weight training from other members and fitness magazines.
At his first competition, the Hessian Championships, he placed last in his class. But he did not become discouraged, he came back a year later and won the 1995 NABBA German Nationals and placed third at the NABBA Mr. Universe. From then Rockel decided that he had the potential to become a professional bodybuilder.
It was not until 2002 that Ronny Rockel achieved professional status by winning the International German Championships. After this victory he won a contract with a nutritional company and relocated with his girlfriend to Venice
, California
for some time while competing.
International Federation of BodyBuilders
The International Federation of BodyBuilders is a competitive bodybuilding organization founded in 1946 by brothers Ben and Joe Weider and is the highest level of competitive bodybuilding in the world. Currently, the IFBB consists of seven different sub-divisions for different competitors ,...
professional bodybuilder from Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
.
Biography
Ronny Rockel was born and raised in GermanyGermany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. Like many other professional bodybuilders from Europe such as Milos Sarcev
Miloš Šarcev
Miloš Šarčev is an IFBB bodybuilder from Bečej, Serbia known for his excellent muscular proportion and symmetry.-Biography:Šarčev owns the Koloseum Gym in Fullerton, California...
and Pavol Jablonicky
Pavol Jablonicky
Pavol Jablonicky is an International Federation of BodyBuilders professional bodybuilder.-Contest history:*1987 European Amateur Championships, Light-Heavyweight, 1st*1987 World Amateur Championships, Light-Heavyweight, 1st...
, Rockel grew up under communist rule. Because of this Rockel was not aware of bodybuilding and other things of the outside world. This soon changed in 1989 when the Berlin Wall
Berlin Wall
The Berlin Wall was a barrier constructed by the German Democratic Republic starting on 13 August 1961, that completely cut off West Berlin from surrounding East Germany and from East Berlin...
was taken down.
At seventeen years of age, 143 pounds decided that he wanted a body like Arnold Schwarzenegger
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger is an Austrian-American former professional bodybuilder, actor, businessman, investor, and politician. Schwarzenegger served as the 38th Governor of California from 2003 until 2011....
's after seeing the film Conan the Barbarian
Conan the Barbarian
Conan the Barbarian is a fictional sword and sorcery hero that originated in pulp fiction magazines and has since been adapted to books, comics, several films , television programs, video games, roleplaying games and other media...
, but at the time commercial gyms in his hometown of Chemnitz, East Germany, were non existent. Instead of abandoning his interest in bodybuilding, he created his own weight set.
Following the demise of communism, entrepreneurial activities in the East of Germany spawned and with that the first gym opened in Ronny's hometown. He soon joined and began absorbing information about diet and weight training from other members and fitness magazines.
At his first competition, the Hessian Championships, he placed last in his class. But he did not become discouraged, he came back a year later and won the 1995 NABBA German Nationals and placed third at the NABBA Mr. Universe. From then Rockel decided that he had the potential to become a professional bodybuilder.
It was not until 2002 that Ronny Rockel achieved professional status by winning the International German Championships. After this victory he won a contract with a nutritional company and relocated with his girlfriend to Venice
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
for some time while competing.
Contest history
- 1994 NABBA Hessian Championships, Did not place
- 1995 NABBA German Nationals Championships, 1st
- 1996 NABBA World Championships, Medium, 3rd
- 1998 NABBA Mr Universe, Medium, 2nd
- 1999 NABBA Mr Universe, Medium, 2nd
- 2000 NABBA Mr Universe, Medium, 2nd
- 2000 WABBA World Championships, Short, 1st
- 2002 WABBA International German Championships, 1st (HW and Overall) (Pro Card)
- 2003 IFBBInternational Federation of BodyBuildersThe International Federation of BodyBuilders is a competitive bodybuilding organization founded in 1946 by brothers Ben and Joe Weider and is the highest level of competitive bodybuilding in the world. Currently, the IFBB consists of seven different sub-divisions for different competitors ,...
Grand Prix Holland, 7th - 2003 IFBB Grand Prix Hungary, 4th
- 2003 IFBB Maximum Pro Invitational Grand Prix, 6th
- 2003 IFBB Night of Champions, 15th
- 2004 IFBB Grand Prix Australia, 7th
- 2004 IFBB Grand Prix England, 7th
- 2004 IFBB Grand Prix Holland, 7th
- 2004 IFBB Hungarian Pro Invitational, 6th
- 2004 IFBB Ironman Pro Invitational, 10th
- 2004 IFBB Night of Champions, 14th
- 2005 IFBB Grand Prix Australia, 3rd
- 2005 IFBB Mr. OlympiaMr. OlympiaMr. Olympia is the title awarded to the winner of the professional men's bodybuilding contest at Joe Weider's Olympia Weekend - an international bodybuilding competition that is held annually by the International Federation of BodyBuilding & Fitness . Joe Weider created the contest to enable the...
, 17th - 2006 IFBB Grand Prix Australia, 1st
- 2006 IFBB Mr. Olympia, 16th (tied)
- 2006 IFBB Grand Prix Austria, 5th
- 2006 IFBB Grand Prix Holland, 3rd
- 2007 IFBB Arnold ClassicArnold ClassicThe Arnold Classic, renamed Arnold Fitness Weekend, is an annual bodybuilding competition, named after Arnold Schwarzenegger. It takes place in late February or early March in Columbus, Ohio, United States.-History:...
, 8th - 2007 IFBB Grand Prix Australia, 2nd
- 2007 IFBB Colorado Pro, 4th
- 2007 IFBB Santa Susanna Pro, 3rd
- 2007 IFBB Mr. Olympia, 11th
- 2008 IFBB Arnolds Classic, 13th
- 2008 IFBB Grand Prix Australia, 6th
- 2008 IFBB Grand Prix New Zealand, 6th
- 2008 IFBB New York Pro Championships, 3rd
- 2008 IFBB Mr.Olympia 14th
- 2009 IFBB Mr.Olympia 7th
- 2010 IFBB Arnolds Classic, 6th
- 2010 IFBB Mr Europe, 1st
- 2010 IFBB Mr.Olympia, 6th
- 2011 IFBB Arnolds Classic, 6th
- 2011 IFBB Mr.Europe Gran Prix, 1st
- 2011 IFBB New York Pro Championships, 2nd