“I Don’t Want to Start to Look Old, Tired, Beat Up”: Chris Bumstead Gives Arnold Classic 2023 a Hard Pass

Four-time Mr. Olympia Classic Physique champion Chris Bumstead is arguably the most famous bodybuilder on the planet at the moment. With 14.5 million Instagram followers and over 4.8 million YouTube subscribers, Bumstead is a global bodybuilding icon. Part of why fans love the Canadian bodybuilding champion is because he constantly communicates with them. From posting regular life updates to doing Q&A videos, the champion bodybuilder never keeps his fans in the dark. In his latest Q&A video on YouTube, Bumstead answered an important question.

Unlike many bodybuilders who compete in other shows, Bumstead only does Mr. Olympia. Even his rivals Urs Kalecinski and Ramo Rocha Queiroz are participating in the upcoming Arnold Classic 2023. Since Bumstead chose to skip the prestigious contest, a fan asked, “Why don’t you participate in the Arnold Classic?”

Chris Bumstead knows his priorities

After reading the question, Bumstead cited multiple reasons for giving the upcoming Arnold Classic 2023 a hard pass. Firstly, the Canadian bodybuilding star said he has a “huge advantage” over his rivals because he has won the Olympia. “Because I won the Olympia, I qualify for life,” revealed the reigning champion. While others have to fight for a spot at different pro shows. 

READ MORE | “Just Did Some Stem Cell Injections”: Chris Bumstead Gives an Update on His Torn Biceps

Secondly, Chris Bumstead is also one of the few bodybuilders who prioritize their health above everything else. Hence, for the four-time Classic Physique champion, recovering from an intense prep and healing the body becomes more important than competing at the Arnold Classic. Solely focusing on the Olympia gives Bumstead a three-month break and ample time to grow in the offseason.

However, since the Arnold Classic happens within six months of the Mr. Olympia contest, the Canadian said, “I would just be in that cycle super quick with no downtime, and I really want my body to stay young, rested, and youthful. I don’t want to start to look old, tired, beat up, and injured on stage.” Health is also why Bumstead won’t switch to Men’s Open bodybuilding.

A contrasting view from another 4x Mr. Olympia

In the video, Bumstead said he wants to win more Olympia titles. “That’s the legacy I’m trying to build right now, Arnolds are not my priority.” However, four-time Mr. Olympia winner Jay Cutler presented a different perspective on competition. In episode 62 of the Cutler Cast, the former Mr. Olympia said he got the best results when competing twice a year.

Unlike Bumstead, not having downtime and maintaining the diet protocol helped Cutler place second at Mr. Olympia 2002 and win the Arnold Classic 2003.

Watch this story | From Arnold Schwarzenegger to Chris Bumstead – Here Are the Top 5 Most Aesthetic Bodybuilders to Ever Compete in Mr. Olympia

What do you think about Chris Bumstead’s approach? Do you agree with Bumstead or Cutler? Let us know in the comments.