With nine weeks until the sport’s biggest event of the year, Chris Bumstead is beginning to size up his competition. In a special Olympia TV interview, Bumstead and Ramon Queiroz discussed their 2023 Olympia preps and potential moves into the Men’s Open division.
In 2019, Chris Bumstead reached the top of Classic Physique after dethroning Breon Ansley at Olympia. Crafting an undeniable look with muscle hardness, conditioning, and symmetry, Cbum proved to be a commanding force in the category. Since capturing the prestigious title, the 28-year-old has only improved and now boasts four Classic Physique Olympia victories.
At the latest Mr. Olympia contest in December, Bumstead managed to defeat runner-up Queiroz and Urs Kalecinski with a torn bicep. While Bumstead opted to prioritize rest, recovery, and a rebound phase, Queiroz targeted Columbus, Ohio for another show. The Brazilian star entered the 2023 Arnold Classic, where he again outmuscled Kalecinski on his way to earning gold.
Given his dominance, some in the sport believe Chris Bumstead could find success in the Open division. Even though Bumstead has teased a possible splash, bodybuilding veterans have argued that the Classic Physique star would need to add 40 pounds. In his latest venture, Bumstead sat down with his rival Ramon Queiroz to discuss preps and whether an Open contest could be on the table in the future.
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Chris Bumstead Tells Ramon Queiroz He’s Fighting w/ Urs Kalecinski for 2nd Place at 2023 Olympia
Bumstead believes Ramon Queiroz looked better from the 2022 Olympia to the Arnold Classic but was unsure if his posing improved.
“I think he looked better, he looked sharper and leaner, he looked like he was a little bit tighter and dryer at this show [2023 Arnold Classic]. A little bit leaner and he had a lot more time to prep. I think it’s just going to be filling out his frame. I think some of his shots he can still look a little bit thin and I think he looked leaner at this show, but I think he looked better than the Olympia and he looked really good.”
“It’s hard for me to say [if he improved his posing] because I was so focused on myself at the Olympia, I didn’t notice how he was posing or not. But I know his posing looked good at the Arnold, I didn’t see any flaws in it.”
According to Bumstead, he isn’t concerned with Queiroz and believes 2023 Olympia will be a repeat of last year’s contest.
“I do [believe they are all fighting for second place]. It was Urs and Ramon against each other at the Arnold and I think it’s going to be them battling for it again at the next Olympia and I just have to beat myself.”
“I’m just going to do the Chris Bumstead thing. I have a strategy to be better, but the strategy is to be better than myself, not anyone else, so that’s the goal.”
Next, Bumstead explained how he improved his back with mind-muscle connection and different posing variations.
“You looked amazing from the back at the Mr. Olympia, but I noticed that you changed a little bit of your pose, like you’re not flexing your lower back, you’re more like stretching and it looks awesome… that’s something that you improved the last prep. You are still getting better at your posing routine. That’s something you’re training a lot?” asks Ramon Dino.
“My back is always something I’ve been trying to bring up. I changed that posing. If you see my changes from 2019 to 2020, that’s when I learned how to do that pose. I switched my back pose and that made my back look a lot better. That also built my mind-muscle connection, got my training better, and I was able to grow my back by feeling it more when I pose like that.”
If Bumstead decides to transition into the Open class, Queiroz says he’ll hunt him down there too.
“Chris, I just asked Ramon, ‘If Chris Bumstead goes into the Open, are you going to hunt him down in the Open?’ And he said, ‘Yes.’ Do you think that he has any chance against you in the Open or it’s going to be the same story?” asks Terrick El Guindy.
“I’m not going to the Open but I think it would be the same story. Maybe I will, maybe I won’t. You’ll find out when I do.”
This isn’t the first time Bumstead has hinted at making his mark in the Open. In February, Bumstead told his coach Hany Rambod on The Truth Podcast that he would consider competing at the Arnold Classic in the Open if they made the event two or three weeks after the Olympia.
There is demand among fans to see Bumstead try out a category with zero weight restrictions. Even bodybuilding veteran Chris Cormier believes that Bumstead should receive a special invite to compete in the Open Mr. Olympia.
Whether Chris Bumstead actually makes the switch remains to be seen. In the meantime, he’s looking forward to exerting his dominance against Queiroz on the 2023 Mr. Olympia stage from Nov. 2-5, in Orlando, Florida.
RELATED: Kevin Levrone Says Chris Bumstead’s Physique Ushered In New Era of Aesthetics In Open Bodybuilding
Watch the full video from the Olympia TV YouTube channel below:
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I back bumstead he’s great looking up to him
Can you do one interview on Tristan Lee please
He might be the next big thing in bodybuilding a few years to come