Three-time Traditional Physique Olympia champion Chris Bumstead has been in a position to do what no different Mr. Olympia has completed since seven-time Mr. O Arnold Schwarzenegger: break into the mainstream. So far as social media attain and recognition, Bumstead— or C-bum, as he’s affectionally identified all through the bodybuilding trade—and his 10.4 million followers on Instagram alone is extra widespread than the final three Mr. Olympias mixed. The 27-year-old Canadian is 6’1” and ideas the scales wherever between 215 and 225 kilos. Although Bumstead has previously credited Tom Platz—aka the king of quads—as an affect, the aesthetics and symmetry C-Bum shows onstage is commonly in comparison with legends like three-time Mr. O Frank Zane (1977-1979).
We spoke with C-bum amid his prep for his fourth consecutive Olympia Traditional Physique title.
You’re the hottest bodybuilder on the planet by each measurable metric. What’s driving this reputation?
[laughs] I get requested that query throughout each interview I do. But it surely’s a superb one, as a result of I don’t actually know. Ask my mother and also you’ll most likely get a solution.
What do you suppose?
I believe it’s as a result of I’ve been genuine my complete profession. My mother and father raised me that approach. I’ve by no means tried to be somebody I’m not. I’ve by no means tried to be the massive, robust, intense, indignant, bodybuilder that nobody can relate…I’ve all the time been real and trustworthy once I’m anxious, nervous, excited, and I share plenty of that via my prep on my YouTube and social media channels.
On prime of that, [when I started competing] social media was beginning to grow to be the norm, and plenty of bodybuilders had been very anti social media. Then there have been the actual rivals. The actual rivals didn’t YouTube, or vlog, or take selfies. There was a stigma that bodybuilders—actual bodybuilders—had been too robust for that. And I wasn’t about that. What if I might bridge these two worlds collectively by getting into a prep for the Olympia and recording each single exercise, all the pieces I eat, once I’m having good days, once I’m having dangerous days? What if I might simply share the entire course of. Perhaps folks would relate to that.
So why basic and never open?
I began within the open as a result of there was no basic. I turned professional [in 2016] as an open bodybuilder. That yr, basic got here out. So I believed, this was nice, I didn’t need to placed on 40 kilos of muscle and construct this physique that I don’t even know if I actually need.
Do modern Mr. Olympia physiques attraction to you?
I needed to seem like Lee Labrada—however taller—Lee Haney slightly bit, Berry de Mey was undoubtedly certainly one of my favourite physiques for some time. These had been the physiques I needed to emulate quite than Phil Heath.
You’re the preferred bodybuilder, but you don’t get the identical cash because the Mr. Olympia winner. Are you OK with that?
I’d be mendacity if I mentioned I didn’t want the prize cash was extra. I believe a few of my fellow rivals may need a qualm, however I actually don’t care. Truthfully, I’ve by no means competed for the cash. On the finish of the day, would I prefer to take residence a much bigger examine? In fact, however is that going to alter how onerous I attempt to win? No.
Let’s put it one other approach: In case you’re extra widespread than Massive Ramy and draw extra folks to the game, shouldn’t you be extra essential than he?
I suppose it will depend on the way you outline “essential.” [Many people] would inform you Massive Ramy is extra essential as a result of he will get a much bigger examine on the finish of the yr. So it will depend on the way you worth significance. Proper now, I’m proud of the place I’m at. I believe I’ve earned plenty of respect from folks within the trade and on this planet and I believe basic physique is a really younger division. I imagine this yr the prize cash goes up a superb quantity—lower than open, but—however we’ve been round for only some years. I believe the recognition and the group it’s drawn speaks for itself. As does the quantity of affection, not solely from me, but additionally the love my fellow rivals have for the division.
Is it additionally drawing the subsequent era of rivals?
Youthful rivals all around the US and in Canada are selecting basic over the open. It’s exploding. I believe over time the prize cash will proceed to rise and possibly will match the open someday. When it occurs it occurs, I’ve no management over that. What’s in my management is how a lot cash I could make exterior competing and I work my ass off for that, however I can’t go run and whine to whomever controls that and say I would like more cash.
How onerous is the work exterior of competing?
It’s plenty of effort, however on the finish of the day, it’s not a very onerous job. Perhaps that’s simply me being grateful for what I get to do, as a result of I actually do love what I do day-after-day. How will you really feel such as you’re working very onerous whenever you’re having fun with it on a regular basis? I’ve constructed an incredible group round me that helps me with my model. I’ve a videographer, a photographer, and a pal who’s additionally my enterprise accomplice who helps me with my coaching app and our merch that we promote. We attempt to keep energetic locally. It’s plenty of work, but it surely’s completely value it. I a lot quite be doing this than sitting behind a desk, so I’d by no means complain.
What could be the primary sign that will make you suppose it’s time to rethink competing?
That’s a superb query. The very first thing could be my well being. As a result of as a lot as I really like bodybuilding and I get a lot pleasure and achievement out of it, my well being is my primary precedence. If I retire with out that, then what was the purpose? After that, it’s preserving the identical hearth lit. If I begin to lose that fireside and I’m not even joyful doping this, and I’m simply sort of forcing
myself into this for simply my ego’s sake to win one other one, or a fifth one, or a sixth one, then that’s not one thing I’m attempting to stay like.
The place would you draw the road healthwise?
I observe my blood work and urinalysis intently with medical doctors, particularly specialty medical doctors. I simply moved to the US, so I’m getting a brand new nephrologist ( a health care provider who makes a speciality of situations that have an effect on the kidneys), and I’ve a specialty physician that displays my stuff and I’ve a file of it for the final 4 years and nothing has actually declined a lot. I had one well being situation: I’ve an autoimmune illness [not bodybuilding-related] that may have an effect on my kidneys at random. I’ve been managing that fairly nicely. So, if I can see a comparability to years prior that it’s declining at a fee that I’m not proud of—that my medical doctors aren’t proud of (they’re conscious of bodybuilding and all that’s concerned)—then it might simply be a comparability of the change over time and if it’s declining at a fee I’m not proud of then I’ll pull out.
In 2021, 31 female and male rivals cross away throughout the globe. Is that one thing that weighs on you?
I believe you’re a idiot on this sport should you suppose you’re all set and don’t have anything to fret about. It’s one thing I hope each single certainly one of us worries about and will get the best checks and balances—ensure you’re seeing the best specialists and medical doctors who know you’re as wholesome as you could be doing what you’re doing. There might have been plenty of elements concerned in all these deaths, particularly contemplating the yr it was—I’m not going to get into that—however, after all it’s on my thoughts. I hope it’s on everybody else’s too.
Level clean: Is that this your final Olympia?
Folks all the time ask me what number of extra Olympias do I’ve in me, and I reply, “Another.” After which I pause and say, “and possibly yet another after that.” I actually don’t know. That’s the trustworthy reality.
How certain are you that you simply’ll win the 2022 Traditional O once more?
Fairly rattling certain
