Chris Bumstead Wins Fifth Classic Physique Title at 2023 Olympia
The first round of the 2023 Classic Physique Olympia featured a familiar sight. Four-time and defending champion Chris Bumstead was standing next to 2022 runner-up and 2023 Arnold Classic Physique winner Ramon Rocha Queiroz going pose-for-pose with the fans surrounding the stage cheering them on.
As the fans expected, the two favorites — Bumstead and Queiroz — held court in the center of the final callout, with Kalecinski and Ansley framing them. The crowd erupted with each pose the four men hit.
The individual routines for the top five athletes were underway following the final comparisons, featuring Ansley, Kalecinski, Queiroz, Ruffin, and Bumstead.
The last two men standing in front of the judges were defending champ Chris Bumstead and 2022 Olympia runner-up Ramon Rocha Querioz. In the end, it was CBum standing alone as the winner, taking home his fifth straight Classic Physique title.
Fans have been hoping for a rematch between “CBum” and “Ramon Dino” ever since they walked offstage in Las Vegas, NV last December, and they got their wish at the finals during the Saturday night portion of the 2023 Olympia in Orlando, FL. The sold-out crowd in the Orange County Convention Center was loud and proud of their favorites throughout the duration of the contest, which actually featured the entire top ten that moved on from the opening round of the day.
With this year’s wins, he now holds 5 consecutive titles which is a huge achievement in an individual’s life.
Chris Bumstead is a Canadian professional bodybuilder known for his impressive physique and success in the Men’s Open Bodybuilding division.
Let’s have a look around at his Early Life and Background:
Chris Bumstead was born on August 2, 1994, in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. He showed an early interest in fitness and sports, participating in various athletic activities during his youth.
Entry into Bodybuilding:
Chris Bumstead began weight training seriously in his late teens, initially aiming to improve his performance in hockey. However, he quickly developed a passion for bodybuilding and decided to pursue it as a career.
Competitive Career:
1. Early Competitions:
Chris Bumstead early competitive career began in the Classic Physique division, which emphasizes a balanced, aesthetic physique reminiscent of bodybuilders from the 1970s and ’80s.
2. IFBB Pro Card:
In 2016, Chris Bumstead earned his IFBB Pro Card, signifying that he had achieved a high level of success in amateur bodybuilding and was now eligible to compete at the professional level.
3. Rising Star:
Bumstead gained attention for his classic physique, impressive aesthetics, and dedication to the sport. He quickly became known as a rising star in the bodybuilding world.
4. Olympia Competitions:
Bumstead made his debut at the Mr. Olympia competition, the most prestigious event in professional bodybuilding, in 2019. He placed second in the Classic Physique division, signaling his arrival as a serious contender.
5. Mr. Olympia Victory:
In 2020, Chris Bumstead achieved a significant milestone in his career by winning the Classic Physique division at the Mr. Olympia competition, cementing his status as one of the best classic physique bodybuilders in the world.
Training and Diet:
Bumstead is known for his intense and disciplined training regimen. He focuses on achieving a balanced and aesthetic physique, with attention to symmetry, proportion, and muscle definition. His diet is carefully planned to support muscle growth and maintain a low body fat percentage.
Impact and Influence:
Chris’s success and dedication to the sport of bodybuilding have made him a role model and inspiration for aspiring athletes and fitness enthusiasts around the world.
Growing up, bodybuilding was only a hobby for Bumstead. He played many sports, ranging from soccer to baseball, basketball, and ice hockey. This developed Bumstead’s interest in athletics, and he began weightlifting during his freshman year of high school. His sister’s boyfriend, Iain Valliere, saw Bumstead’s potential and helped him prepare to compete.
As his bodybuilding goals began to stack up, “All of a sudden, I was coming second at the Olympia,” he stated. His first bodybuilding show was a regional-level show in Ontario, which he participated in with his sister, Melissa Valliere. They both won the overall, with Bumstead winning as a junior. He found himself in love with the sport of bodybuilding after his first show. He started to work with Iain firsthand and devoted his life to the sport.
Bumstead made his competitive debut in 2014 at 19 years old and obtained his IFBB pro card at age 21 after claiming the 2016 IFBB North American Bodybuilding Championship. He impressed the crowd and judges in his first Mr. Olympia back in 2017, taking second place in the Classic Physique category.
His results were the same in the 2018 Mr. Olympia competition, although his condition was worse compared to the previous year. Bumstead was hospitalized 4 weeks out from the 2018 competition due to severe water retention. He spent three nights in the emergency room and was given a strong diuretic to flush out potassium due to a kidney issue. Bumstead continued to train after his release, but this was a significant setback.
Bumstead rose to international fame as the winner of the 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023 Mr. Olympia competitions, making him the current reigning champion in Men’s Classic Physique.