How Chris Bumstead Overcame Various Life Impediments and Developed a Champion Mentality

Chris Bumstead, the Classic Physique God, had recently revealed how he was focused on adding to his champion mentality during his recent prep after winning his fifth Mr. Olympia title in the 2023 event. Life posed continuous impediments to testing the mental strength of the Canadian bodybuilder, and CBum unraveled the essence of champion mentality in the process. The soon-to-be dad is not just a person with a ripped physique, but also someone with deep thoughts.

CBum is arguably the most popular bodybuilder of recent times, and his fans love him for his honesty. Unlike many bodybuilders whose personality reflects toughness and strength, CBum has managed to display both his tough and sensitive side to his online fan community, winning their trust and faith. Despite the multiple physical setbacks throughout his career, CBum continues to win his fans’ hearts with his efforts and mental grit. But what were the challenges the Canadian faced during his journey?

The Autoimmune Kidney disorder

In 2018, CBum was aiming to win the Mr. Olympia, but seven weeks before the prestigious event, he received one of the scariest news of his life. The 5x Mr. Olympia started observing water retention in his ankles, but CBum reasoned that this could be because of his food and didn’t give it much thought initially. However, when he weighed five pounds heavier the following day and 15 pounds the day after, he understood something was seriously wrong. 

CBum admitted himself to the hospital and spent three nights waiting for the results in the emergency room. The mental condition of the young bodybuilder was drastically deteriorating with each passing hour. Doctors diagnosed him with IGA nephropathy, which affected his kidneys. However, bringing his champion mentality to the forefront, and instead of giving up on his dream, CBum started adapting his bodybuilding lifestyle to manage the disease. The next year, he won his first Classic Physique title. However, this was only his first learning. 

The 2022 Bicep Tear

The bodybuilding training regimen involving heavy weights is often prone to injuries. But most competing bodybuilders try not to injure themselves just ahead of the Mr. Olympia event. But CBum had to face such a devastating situation. In 2022, CBum competed at the Mr. Olympia with a torn bicep and still won the contest. 

The 5x Mr. Olympia tore his bicep two days before the show and ended up crying in the bathroom before the on-stage performance at the Mr. Olympia. The hard work and the strict diet routine came flashing back to his mind, making him believe that all his efforts would be flushed down the drain because of the last-minute injury. 

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Yet again, the hidden champion mentality kicked in, and CBum started giving himself a pep talk and appeared in front of the massive crowd to perform his routine. His never-giving-up attitude fetched him his fourth Mr. Olympia title last year. CBum himself talked about this situation and said, “Having a champion mentality isn’t about the trophies, medals, or success. It’s about having no quit. It’s not letting anyone hear you complain, standing up for all you believe in, living your truth, and setting the standard at which you operate for everything in your life.”

For CBum, success is hidden in every single second of preparation. The early morning struggles, the long cardio routine, and workout sessions that amplify pain, while starving nights add to the discomfort are the times when a bodybuilder is winning. After last year’s win, though, CBum was inclined to focus on improving his champion spirit along with his ripped physique, and life offered him a new challenge to make his wish come true. 

The lat tear and the clueless days in the 2023 preparation

This year’s training was not just a physical ordeal, but also a mental struggle for CBum. He suffered a lat tear, ten weeks out from the 2023 Mr. Olympia, and stayed away from training for many weeks. However, he realized how being mentally strong can level up his game. So, he started taking it one day at a time and built a physique that brought him his fifth Mr. Olympia crown. “I am hell a lot more proud of who I was to win it. Who I became in the process of winning it. Champion mentality is the endless pursuit of being the best man I can be, regardless of if this trophy comes home with,” he wrote in an Instagram post after his fifth win.

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Chris Bumstead navigated through life’s difficulties while building up his champion mentality. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that his mental strength helped him win the titles more than his ripped physique.