Three-time Traditional Physique Olympia champion Chris Bumstead has been capable of do what no different Mr. Olympia has performed since seven-time Mr. O Arnold Schwarzenegger: break into the mainstream. So far as social media attain and recognition, Bumstead— or C-bum, as he’s affectionally recognized all through the bodybuilding business—and his 10.4 million followers on Instagram alone is extra common than the final three Mr. Olympias mixed. The 27-year-old Canadian is 6’1” and suggestions the scales wherever between 215 and 225 kilos. Although Bumstead has previously credited Tom Platz—aka the king of quads—as an affect, the aesthetics and symmetry C-Bum shows onstage is usually in comparison with legends like three-time Mr. O Frank Zane (1977-1979).

We spoke with C-bum amid his prep for his fourth consecutive Olympia Traditional Physique title.

You’re the hottest bodybuilder on the planet by each measurable metric. What’s driving this recognition?

[laughs] I get requested that query throughout each interview I do. But it surely’s an excellent one, as a result of I don’t actually know. Ask my mother and also you’ll most likely get a solution.

What do you suppose?

I feel it’s as a result of I’ve been genuine my entire profession. My dad and mom raised me that approach. I’ve by no means tried to be somebody I’m not. I’ve by no means tried to be the large, robust, intense, indignant, bodybuilder that nobody can relate…I’ve at all times been real and trustworthy after I’m anxious, nervous, excited, and I share a variety of that via my prep on my YouTube and social media channels.

On high of that, [when I started competing] social media was beginning to grow to be the norm, and a variety of bodybuilders have been very anti social media. Then there have been the true opponents. The actual opponents didn’t YouTube, or vlog, or take selfies. There was a stigma that bodybuilders—actual bodybuilders—have been too robust for that. And I wasn’t about that. What if I may bridge these two worlds collectively by getting into a prep for the Olympia and recording each single exercise, the whole lot I eat, after I’m having good days, after I’m having dangerous days? What if I may simply share the entire course of. Possibly individuals would relate to that.

So why traditional and never open?

I began within the open as a result of there was no traditional. I turned professional [in 2016] as an open bodybuilder. That yr, traditional got here out. So I believed, this was nice, I didn’t should placed on 40 kilos of muscle and construct this physique that I don’t even know if I really need.

Do up to date Mr. Olympia physiques attraction to you?

I wished to appear like Lee Labrada—however taller—Lee Haney a bit bit, Berry de Mey was undoubtedly considered one of my favourite physiques for some time. These have been the physiques I wished to emulate fairly than Phil Heath.

You’re the preferred bodybuilder, but you don’t get the identical cash because the Mr. Olympia winner. Are you OK with that?

I’d be mendacity if I stated I didn’t want the prize cash was extra. I feel a few of my fellow opponents may need a qualm, however I actually don’t care. Truthfully, I’ve by no means competed for the cash. On the finish of the day, would I prefer to take house a much bigger examine? After all, however is that going to alter how exhausting I attempt to win? No.

Let’s put it one other approach: In case you’re extra common than Massive Ramy and draw extra individuals to the game, shouldn’t you be extra essential than he?

I suppose it relies on the way you outline “essential.” [Many people] would let you know Massive Ramy is extra essential as a result of he will get a much bigger examine on the finish of the yr. So it relies on the way you worth significance. Proper now, I’m proud of the place I’m at. I feel I’ve earned a variety of respect from individuals within the business and on the earth and I feel traditional physique is a really younger division. I consider this yr the prize cash goes up an excellent quantity—lower than open, but—however we’ve been round for only some years. I feel the recognition and the group it’s drawn speaks for itself. As does the quantity of affection, not solely from me, but additionally the love my fellow opponents have for the division.

Is it additionally drawing the subsequent technology of opponents?

Youthful opponents all around the US and in Canada are selecting traditional over the open. It’s exploding. I feel over time the prize cash will proceed to rise and perhaps will match the open someday. When it occurs it occurs, I’ve no management over that. What’s in my management is how a lot cash I could make exterior competing and I work my ass off for that, however I can’t go run and whine to whomever controls that and say I need extra money.

How exhausting is the work exterior of competing?

It’s a variety of effort, however on the finish of the day, it’s not a very exhausting job. Possibly that’s simply me being grateful for what I get to do, as a result of I actually do love what I do on daily basis. How will you really feel such as you’re working very exhausting if you’re having fun with it on a regular basis? I’ve constructed an incredible workforce round me that helps me with my model. I’ve a videographer, a photographer, and a good friend who’s additionally my enterprise associate who helps me with my coaching app and our merch that we promote. We attempt to keep lively locally. It’s a variety of work, nevertheless it’s completely value it. I a lot fairly be doing this than sitting behind a desk, so I’d by no means complain.

What can be the primary sign that might make you suppose it’s time to rethink competing?

That’s an excellent query. The very first thing can be my well being. As a result of as a lot as I like bodybuilding and I get a lot pleasure and success out of it, my well being is my primary precedence. If I retire with out that, then what was the purpose? After that, it’s holding the identical hearth lit. If I begin to lose that fireplace and I’m not even blissful doping this, and I’m simply sort of forcing

myself into this for simply my ego’s sake to win one other one, or a fifth one, or a sixth one, then that’s not one thing I’m attempting to stay like.

The place would you draw the road healthwise?

I comply with my blood work and urinalysis carefully with docs, particularly specialty docs. I simply moved to the US, so I’m getting a brand new nephrologist ( a health care provider who focuses on circumstances that have an effect on the kidneys), and I’ve a specialty physician that screens my stuff and I’ve a document of it for the final 4 years and nothing has actually declined a lot. I had one well being difficulty: I’ve an autoimmune illness [not bodybuilding-related] that may have an effect on my kidneys at random. I’ve been managing that fairly effectively. So, if I can see a comparability to years prior that it’s declining at a fee that I’m not proud of—that my docs aren’t proud of (they’re conscious of bodybuilding and all that’s concerned)—then it might simply be a comparability of the change over time and if it’s declining at a fee I’m not proud of then I’ll pull out.

In 2021, 31 female and male opponents move away throughout the globe. Is that one thing that weighs on you?

I feel you’re a idiot on this sport in case you suppose you’re all set and don’t have anything to fret about. It’s one thing I hope each single considered one of us worries about and will get the best checks and balances—ensure you’re seeing the best specialists and docs who know you’re as wholesome as you could be doing what you’re doing. There may have been a variety of components concerned in all these deaths, particularly contemplating the yr it was—I’m not going to get into that—however, after all it’s on my thoughts. I hope it’s on everybody else’s too.

Level clean: Is that this your final Olympia?

Individuals at all times ask me what number of extra Olympias do I’ve in me, and I reply, “Another.” After which I pause and say, “and perhaps yet another after that.” I actually don’t know. That’s the trustworthy reality.

How certain are you that you just’ll win the 2022 Traditional O once more?

Fairly rattling certain