Metroflex Gym Tampa

Metroflex Gym Tampa is a gym in Palm River-Clair Mel, FL, located at 501 W Brandon Blvd. It holds a rating of 4.80 based on customer reviews. The gym is part of the MetroFlex network, a hardcore training facility founded in 1987, and is known as the original location where Ronnie Coleman trained for all eight of his Mr. Olympia titles.

The gym's history is deeply tied to its founder, Brian Dobson, a national-level bodybuilder and powerlifter from Detroit who started MetroFlex in 1987 to build a training culture for serious lifters. He discovered Ronnie Coleman working as a police officer and offered him a free lifetime membership on the condition that Brian could train him for competition. Coleman went on to win eight consecutive Olympia titles, with every one of them trained for inside these walls, along with feats like an 800lb squat for two reps and a 2,300lb leg press. The training philosophy emphasizes explosive lifting on basic movements with heavy weight, followed by stricter, more concentrated movements with lighter weight. The gym's culture extends beyond lifting, with a homeless outreach program that began in Fort Worth and continues today through Open Door Church, as well as an annual wild game feast where the founder cooks elk, venison, wild boar, and black bear for the entire community. The MetroFlex network has expanded to locations across the US and Japan, with the first international location opening in Saitama, Japan. Notable athletes associated with the gym include world-record holders in raw bench press, deadlift, and squat, as well as champions from the Arnold Classic and Mr. Olympia competitions.

Metroflex Gym Tampa sits on W Brandon Blvd in Palm River-Clair Mel, FL.

The gym holds a positive rating from the customers who have reviewed it, reflecting the reputation it has built since its founding in 1987. It stands as a training facility with a storied legacy in bodybuilding and powerlifting, tied directly to one of the sport's greatest champions.