Currently in Offseason, 5x Mr. Olympia Chris Bumstead Feels “Pale and Skinny” Next to His Rivals

The off-season is crucial for bodybuilding athletes to rest, recover, and prepare for future competitions. For five-time Mr. Olympia champion Chris Bumstead, this period is a time of reflection and adjustment as he gears up to defend his title against a formidable lineup of competitors.

During a recent training session dubbed the “Olympia battle,” Bumstead found himself face to face with his rivals, including Ramon Dino, Urs Kalecinski, and the newly crowned Arnold Classic champion Wesley Vissers. As they gathered for the showdown, the host, Tim Wilkins, couldn’t help but notice Bumstead’s demeanor and asked him how he was feeling.

Classic physique is the most thrilling division currently: Chris Bumstead

With honesty and humility, Bumstead confessed, “white and tired yeah I feel pale and skinny beside these guys right now you know but it’s good I’m proud of all of them.” Moreover, Bumstead expressed pride in his fellow athletes and excitement for the upcoming Olympia competition.

The 29-year-old expressed genuine appreciation for Wesley Vissers, stating, “It’s exciting that Wesley took it home and shocked us all. He kind of threw a wrench in what we were all expecting, you know? I think there’s a chance that any of us can do what we need to do at the Olympia, so it’ll be fun if we all get the chance to work out. CBum further explained that he believes the classic physique division is one of the most thrilling ones in the league. According to him, the division has an exceptional group of individuals who constantly challenge and support each other in their pursuit of excellence.

According to Bumstead, this excitement stems from the collective drive to be the best in the field. Now, you might be wondering what the Olympia battle is. Well, it’s basically a training session where the reigning champion has the privilege to choose which workout the rest of the participants will perform.

A fun collaboration between the elite contenders in classic physique

The four formidable bodybuilders were divided into two teams: one with CBum and Vissers, and the other with Dino and Kalecinski. For the first exercise, they delved into the pec-deck machine for more than 3 sets for the chest. IFBB Pro Chris Cormier assisted them all.

The coach introduced the next workout, “Already hit the uh the pec deck PEC should be nice and warm now we’re going to hit some incline dumbbells.” They further transitioned to dumbbell presses, after warming up on the pec deck. Amidst camaraderie, the competitors bantered, enhancing the intense session. Later, the focus shifted to mind-muscle connection, form, and dedication discussions.

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The battle showcased the strength and determination of the atheletes, with a surprise appearance by Dutch Oak, highlighting Olympia’s global appeal. Kalecinski’s sheer power demolished a cable machine, earning him the

“miracle bear” title. At the end of the video, athletes thanked Cormier for his guidance.

As the battle ended, the anticipation for the next one emerged with the host announcing another one with the men’s open division athletes on June 4th. Are you excited about the next battle in June? Let us know in the comment section.

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