Reigning Classic Physique Olympia champion Chris Bumstead shared an old, blurry, but special picture with his brother-in-law, Iain Valliere. The image captured a rare moment when the coach and pupil shared a bodybuilding stage. It’s even more surprising because Cbum’s former coach competed in the open class while Bumstead has always competed in Classic Physique.

Valliere met Cbum through the Classic Physique champion’s elder sister, whom he married. Iain Valliere was also the person who realized Chris Bumsted’s potential and got him into bodybuilding. After the Classic Physique champion’s former coach shared the picture, Cbum couldn’t help but share the memory with his social media followers.

Before Chris Bumstead became the champion

The image Bumstead shared in his story captures a moment from a guest posing session with his former coach. Since it was a guest posing session, Valliere and Bumstead shared the stage despite competing in different weight classes. “Hell of a throwback,” wrote Cbum in the caption of his Instagram story, and tagged his brother-in-law.

In the image, Cbum hits the abs and things pose while sucking in his stomach to create the signature Classic Physique vacuum look. Impressed with his trainee’s vacuum, Iain Valliere pointed at Cbum’s stomach. Valliere captioned the original post “deeper,” as if asking Cbum to suck in his stomach even more. Valliere’s brother-in-law and many of his fans commented on the post.

The now-retired bodybuilder also responded to a fan who said they remembered the guest posting session where the picture was taken. The 2023 Toronto Pro winner recalled that the guest posing happened in 2018, a year before Chris Bumstead won his first Classic Physique title. The 28-year-old won three Classic Physiqu titles under Valliere’s tutelage.

While Valliere stopped mentoring Cbum in 2022, they are like brothers off-court and support one another in every situation. When Valliere decided to retire early from bodybuilding, Bumstead defended his decision.

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Cbum’s heartfelt tribute to Iain Valliere

After a lackluster showing at the 2022 Mr. Olympia, Iain Valliere returned to the drawing board in 2023. His plan worked, and the Candain bodybuilding sar won the Toronto Pro, qualifying for Mr. Olympia. However, Valliere retired with barely two months left for the Super Bowl of Bodybuilding. The decision surprised many.

However, Cbum supported his brother-in-law’s decision. The five-time champion wrote a heartfelt note to Valliere on social media. Cbum said that walking away from bodybuilding, which was pivotal in Valliere’s life was a “harder decision than most people can imagine.” Cbum wrote that Valliere had made him a better man, and he was proud of everything his former accomplished.

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Chris Bumstead and Iain Valliere are not pursuing the same goal anymore. However, the memories they made will continue to inspire them and their fans.