Ronny Rockel

Ronny Rockel (born 12 July 1972) is a former IFBB professional bodybuilder from Germany.

Biography

Ronny Rockel was born and raised in East 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 and 143 pounds, he 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 Karl-Marx-Stadt (now 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.

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 IFBB 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. Olympia, 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 Classic, 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 Arnold 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 Arnold Classic, 6th 2010 IFBB Mr Europe, 1st 2010 IFBB Mr.Olympia, 6th 2011 IFBB Arnold Classic, 6th 2011 IFBB Mr. Europe Gran Prix, 1st 2011 IFBB New York Pro Championships, 2nd 2013 IFBB Arnold Classic, 13th 2014 IFBB Ferrigno Legacy, 1st 2015 IFBB Mr. Olympia, 14th 2015 IFBB Ferrigno Legacy, 2nd 2016 IFBB Mozolani Pro (Men's 212), 2nd 2016 IFBB Mr. Olympia (Men's 212), 9th 2017 IFBB New York Pro Championships (Men's 212), 1st 2017 IFBB Toronto Pro Supershow (Men's 212), 1st 2017 IFBB Mr. Olympia (Men's 212), 7th 2017 IFBB EVL´S Prague Pro (Men's 212), 3rd 2017 IFBB Kuwait Pro (Men's 212), 7th 2018 NAC Frey Classic Pro Am, 2nd