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Bumstead has his eye on bodybuilding’s grand prize alone.
After winning his fourth consecutive Classic Physique Olympia title in December 2022, members of the bodybuilding world have speculated about Chris Bumstead’s future. While the bodybuilder has previously alluded to plans to continue his Olympia dynasty — after he recovers from a torn right biceps muscle — legends such as 1983 Mr. Olympia Samir Bannout have advocated for Bumstead trying his hand in the Men’s Open division at the 2023 Arnold Classic (AC) this March. As rumors swirl about what’s next for the 27-year-old superstar, Bumstead was recently a bit more frank regarding his career goals.
On Jan. 27, 2023, Bumstead posted a video to his YouTube channel where he made an effort to outline his present competitive mindset. In the process, before he even considers a division change or appearing in contests, the athlete maintained that his mission for the foreseeable future is adding more Olympia titles to his trophy case.
Despite his dominance in the Classic Physique division, Bumstead doesn’t feel like he’s a class above his peers. According to the athlete, his current schedule allows him to go full throttle for recovery and subsequent Olympia training. That, in turn, affords him the advantage he feels is needed to get Olympia wins.
Whereas if Bumstead were to put himself out there for a competition like the AC, he noted it would disrupt the successful rhythm he’s established.
” … Because I won the Olympia, I qualify [to compete in the Olympia contest] for life,” Bumstead explained. “I think that puts me at a huge advantage because I can then take three months off [post-Olympia] to really give my body a break, recover and relax, and then I can get into my off-season, slowly ease into it and make the changes and growth that I need to, and then I can start prep. Then, I don’t have to worry about other shows in between.”
If Bumstead ever worked for a solid showing at the AC, it would reduce his recovery time and potentially hamper his Olympia chances. The athlete would only really have roughly one month of rest after the AC before jumping back into Olympia-focused training and nutritional plans.
Until further notice, that doesn’t appear to be a sacrifice Bumstead is willing to make. He’s involved in his bodybuilding endeavors to create an Olympia legacy alone.
“[Doing the AC] would give me a month to recover, a month off-season, and then I’d be into a three-month prep [for the Olympia]. I would just be in that cycle super-quick with no downtime, and I really want my body to stay young, rested, and youthful,” Bumstead elaborated. “I don’t want to start looking old, tired, beat-up, and injured on stage. All I want to do is win Olympias. That’s the legacy I’m trying to build right now. The Arnold [Classic] is not my priority.”
For what might be the first time in 2023, Bumstead has made his upcoming journey explicitly clear. He wants to extend his reign at the top of the Classic Physique division, with any non-Olympia ambitions being unimportant. For Bumstead, it appears that he wants to continue meticulously refining and polishing the competitive plan that’s been shown to work.
Featured image: @cbum on Instagram