Ronny Rockel

Background

Like many other professional bodybuilders from Europe such as Milos Sarcev and Pavol Jablonicky, Rockel grew up under communist rule.

Career

Ronny Rockel is an IFBB professional bodybuilder from Germany. 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. 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. From then Rockel decided that he had the potential to become a professional bodybuilder.

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 Maximum Pro Invitational Grand Prix, 6th

2003 IFBB Night of Champions, 15th

2004 IFBB Hungarian Pro Invitational, 6th

2004 IFBB Ironman Pro Invitational, 10th

2004 IFBB Night of Champions, 14th

2005 IFBB Mr.

Olympia, 17th

2006 IFBB Mr. Olympia, 16th (tied)

2007 IFBB Arnold Classic, 8th

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 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

2013 IFBB Arnold Classic, 13rd.

Achievements

• 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. lieutenant 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. 2003 IFBB Grand Prix Holland, 7th 2003 IFBB Grand Prix Hungary, 4th 2004 IFBB Grand Prix Australia, 7th 2004 IFBB Grand Prix England, 7th 2004 IFBB Grand Prix Holland, 7th 2005 IFBB Grand Prix Australia, 3rd 2006 IFBB Grand Prix Australia, 1st 2006 IFBB Grand Prix Austria, 5th 2006 IFBB Grand Prix Holland, 3rd 2007 IFBB Grand Prix Australia, 2nd 2008 IFBB Grand Prix Australia, 6th.

Politics

Following the demise of communism, entrepreneurial activities in the East of Germany spawned and with that the first gym opened in Ronny"s hometown.