Considerable doubt has surrounded Chris Bumstead‘s ability to stay on top of the Classic Physique mountain this October. In a recent Prime Time Muscle Podcast, Terrick El Guindy and Chris Cormier warned that Cbum is one injury away from never competing again and discussed his 2024 Mr. Olympia matchup against Wesley Vissers.
After five years of utter dominance in the Classic Physique division, it appears there is a chink in the armor of Chris Bumstead, who leads the pack as the winningest athlete to come out of the division. Injuries and thoughts of retirement loom for the champion, who has hinted at hanging it up in two years.
On top of that, the rise of Wesley Vissers this season has many fans questioning if Cbum can retain his title in the months to come. His stature and powerful front poses could spell trouble for the dominant champion, as shared by El Guindy and Cormier.
Terrick El Guindy, Chris Cormier Discuss Wesley Vissers vs. Chris Bumstead 2024 Olympia Matchup: ‘It’s Trouble for Chris’
According to El Guindy and Cormier, Bumstead’s susceptibility to injuries could mean the end of his reign later this year.
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“This man right now that has won five titles and is incredible has defeated Ramon, Urs Kalecinski, Wesley Vissers, he could very well be one injury away from never competing again or never winning again. There’s nothing against his greatness. It’s just the history of bodybuilding,” says Terrick El Guindy.
Cormier adds that Bumstead is likely feeling the impact of his injuries now more than ever.
“Lee Haney didn’t have the injuries like that. Lee Haney had the most smooth sailing career out of anyone I’d ever known and still, Terrick didn’t mention the hamstring tear and the quad injury leading up to these Olympias. That right there, tells you his whole body must feel some kind of way going into these shows,” explains Chris Cormier.
Although Bumstead has found success against names like Wesley Vissers and Ramon Queiroz, El Guindy believes ‘The Dutch Oak’ could find success at the 2024 Mr. Olympia by overpowering Cbum in the front double biceps pose.
“Chris Bumstead last year beat all these guys including your boy Wesley Vissers, Ramon, Urs, and Breon, and he had an injury. He had the lat injury. The previous year he looked incredible, his conditioning was perfect and he had an injury. He has got himself a little bit of a distance from those guys but I think he’s one injury away from either calling it quits or losing because the body is taking a pounding.”
At the 2024 Arnold Classic, in Columbus, Ohio, this man [Wesley Visssers] not only surprised the world with his conditioning beating Ramon Dino but for the first time since the beginning of the Cbum era, we see a man that can overpower Chris Bumstead on the front double biceps. This guy, Wesley Vissers, has the amount of mass, the large clavicle bones to take the impact from Chris Bumstead’s front double biceps,” says El Guindy.
If Vissers hopes to pull off the improbable upset, Cormier says he needs to be in the greatest shape of his life at the 2024 Mr. Olympia.
“He has better biceps than Chris, correct? And a better back double biceps than Chris, correct? So it’s trouble for Chris,” shares Chris Cormier. “If Wesley is not in tip-top best shape of his life, better than the Arnold Classic, then it’s all for nothing.”
Bumstead has made it clear he intends to present his absolute best on stage in less than three months. In addition to discussing his mentality and game plan, he teased possibly testing himself against Derek Lunsford in the Open division in 2025.
As one of the most popular bodybuilders on the planet, many fans are waiting patiently to see if Bumstead can persevere once again to become a six-time Classic Physique Olympia champion. Don’t miss the event when it returns to Las Vegas, Nevada October 10-13.
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