Chris Bumstead isn’t taking Wesley Vissers lightly following the Dutchman’s wins at the 2024 Arnold Classic Ohio and UK contests. In a Prime Time Muscle episode, Bumstead discussed his future in the sport, reflected on Wesley Vissers’ recent success, and shared a tip for aspiring bodybuilders.
Since taking the Classic Physique Olympia title from Breon Anley in 2019, Bumstead has asserted himself as a highly dominant champion. Last year, Bumstead triumphed over Ramon Queiroz in the finals of the 2023 Mr. Olympia in an intense two-man final call-out. Despite setbacks in the form of injuries, Bumstead has proven himself on the sport’s greatest stage, boasting five Classic Physique Olympia victories.
The Classic Physique results at the 2024 Arnold Classic served as a major shake-up for the division. Bodybuilding standout Wesley Vissers defeated Queiroz in Ohio by only one point on the official scorecards. Instead of resting his physique, Vissers shined at the Arnold Classic UK show, further cementing himself as one of Bumstead’s biggest threats.
Chris Bumstead Talks 2024 Mr. Olympia, Future, and Wesley Vissers at ‘120%’, Says He Can ‘Beat These Guys’
Although Bumstead has teased his retirement in two years, he reaffirmed his commitment to the 2024 Mr. Olympia contest.
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“I’ll be back for sure. That’s a great question. I’ve said it every single year, I’m taking it one year at a time. After I win the Olympia I take some time off I let myself come back to earth, and figure out what I want. If it’s still for me, if I still have that drive and that passion because there’s no point in me putting myself through this if I don’t have the passion for more.”
“Right now, I definitely still feel that I do. I’ve kind of discovered through all of this shit I’ve gone through the injuries, the stuff I’ve shared, and everything… I’ve almost mastered the art of competing where I can now compete at a high level and also have fun.”
Before capping off his career in Classic Physique, Bumstead hopes to achieve seven Classic Physique Olympia titles, similar to the accolades of Phil Heath and Arnold Schwarzenegger.
“It doesn’t last forever. Every year it’s an opportunity that I get to do it again. So, I’m just grateful I got one more in me and if I got another after that I’ll be up there with numbers like Arnold and Phil Heath winning seven, so, it’d be cool but just taking it one year at a time.”
Bumstead was surprised by Vissers and believes the weight caps in Classic Physique make it easier for competitors to come in and shock the world.
“Obviously Wesley was a bit of a surprise for everybody. I was there in the morning watching prejudging and I was like holy shit, he’s going to win. I thought he was going to win. I would have never guessed that going into it. But, that’s the thing with Classic Physique because of the weight limit we have people can come in and just shock you all of a sudden and you never really know.”
According to Bumstead, Wesley Vissers’ Arnold Classic wins ‘changes everything.’
“That’s why every year is an opportunity for people to jump placings, take my title, anything. Anything can really happen. I think Wesley coming in threw a huge wrench.
I don’t think it’s going to be a top-two call-out like last year with me and Ramon, it could be four of us, it could be whatever. It changes everything. It throws it all up in the air. ”
While ‘Cbum’ credited Wesley for peaking at the Arnold Classic Ohio at ‘120 percent,’ he believes he can still defeat him on the Mr. Olympia stage.
“I was side stage and I was looking at it and I was like, I can beat these guys. I could tell everyone is improving and they are all getting better. I don’t think everybody was at their best at this show. I think Wesley was beyond his best 120 percent and the other guys were more like 80. I don’t think people nailed this one perfectly. The Arnold is a really hard show to do given the timing on the Olympia.”
Bumstead also offered some sage words of wisdom to younger bodybuilders eager to advance in the sport.
“In the theme of the lesson I learned in this previous Olympia, I would say the biggest tip I give to people is not suppressing and fearing the down times. Life is always going to be full of ups and downs and when you’re going through downtime don’t just shut down, suppress, and numb, all these things, understand that that’s normal you’ll get out of it, embrace that moment,” said Chris Bumstead.
Bumstead and Vissers had the opportunity to size one another up during a special chest workout for the Olympia TV YouTube channel alongside Classic Physique threats Ramon Queiroz and Urs Kalecinski. Having gotten a sneak peek at many of his rivals’ training practices, ‘Cbum’ feels confident about the future.
All roads lead to the 2024 Mr. Olympia competition set to celebrate its 60th anniversary from October 10-13 in Las Vegas, Nevada. With new threats emerging in Classic Physique, Bumstead is more eager than ever to retain his title.
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Watch the full video from the Olympia TV YouTube channel:
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