Lee Priest is taking a closer look at the timeless physique of bodybuilding mainstay Serge Nubret. On February 20, 2025, he compared Nubret to Chris Bumstead and argued that he could have easily won the Classic Physique Olympia.
Serge Nubret was a high-profile bodybuilder who competed in the Golden Era of the sport. In addition to holding several victories on stage, Nubret gave bodybuilding legend Arnold Schwarzenegger a run for his money back in 1975 at the Mr. Olympia, where he narrowly took second place.
Nubret’s balanced proportions coupled with his impressive conditioning and small waist made for a potent combination on stage. Nubret was a co-star in the successful bodybuilding docudrama Pumping Iron, serving as one of Schwarzenegger’s main competitors at the height of his career. While he passed away in 2011, he is remembered by many as one of the most complete bodybuilders to compete in the sport.
Lee Priest Compares Serge Nubret to Chris Bumstead, Says He ‘Easily’ Could Have Won Classic Physique Olympia
In a recent YouTube video, Priest reflected on Nubret’s unassuming physique.
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“I remember seeing Serge Nubret when he came and guest posed. I saw him in his jumpsuit, I remember thinking, eh, you know if someone has a nice physique you can tell under their clothes. I was thinking he doesn’t look that great but when he walked out on stage I was like holy fuck where did that come from?”
He emphasized that if Nubret competed today, he could have easily won the Classic Physique Olympia title. He compared his physique to the current reigning six-time Classic Physique Olympia Chris Bumstead.
“I think if Serge Nubret was around now, he could easily win the Classic Olympia. Chris Bumstead is good but if you pull up Serge Nubret’s pictures even his skin was perfect. He didn’t have a blemish on his skin.”
“Pictures don’t do him justice,” he shared. “He looked great. The muscles were so full.”
He credited Nubret for having no weaknesses and dominant proportions.
“Look, Bumstead is great and all but when you see Nubret it’s just even Nubret’s quads in that were great and stuff. When you see him in person it’s incredible,” explains Priest. “Everything was so proportioned. You couldn’t really fault him when you saw him.”
“It’s all an illusion and he had everything where it was meant to be. He had one of the most perfect bodies all over. He easily would be winning the Classic Olympia.”
Although the standards of the sport have changed over the years, Priest is confident Nubret would have held his own against the best in the Classic Physique category, even when compared to Chris Bumstead.
RELATED: WATCH: Serge Nubret 54, Guest Posing At Arnold Classic – Final Posing
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