Reigning five-time Classic Physique Olympia, Chris Bumstead, recently underwent a hair transplant in Turkey. Now, back on another podcast with multi-millionaire host Patrick Bet David, Chris Bumstead discussed his 4 most influential bodybuilders. In addition, he provided evaluations of the physiques of stars from the 1990s era.
During the 1990s, the concept of Classic Physique hadn’t even crossed anyone’s mind. Fans fondly remembered the golden age of bodybuilding, characterized by health, vibrancy, and fullness as key features of a great physique. However, times changed, and so did the aesthetics in bodybuilding.
With years passing, mass monsters like Dorian Yates and Ronnie Coleman emerged, dominating the IFBB Pro League. Although size and mass remain pivotal in today’s Open class, the Classic Physique division, introduced in 2016, aimed to preserve a more aesthetic look on stage.
Over the years, this category gained massive success, now rivaling the Open in popularity. The reigning champion, Chris Bumstead, has dominantly held the throne for the last five years. Taking a break from his busy schedule, he closely examined some of the best talents from the sport during the ’90s.
Classic Physique Great Chris Bumstead’s Biggest Inspirations: Gives Thoughts On 1990’s Bodybuilding Star
Chris Bumstead Top 4 Bodybuilders Picks
Chris Bumstead, when asked about his favorite and most influential bodybuilders, highlighted these names:
- Berry DeMey
- Flex Wheeler
- Bob Paris
- Ronnie Coleman
Shawn Ray
Firstly, Cbum shared his views on Shawn Ray’s physique. He pointed out that Ray might encounter difficulties meeting the current weight limit for Classic Physique if he were to compete in the division today.
“I think he had a beautiful Classic Physique for sure, I don’t even think he’d make the weight limit for Classic anymore honestly because he was a little shorter. Great lines, great physique, he had that small waist, he had that very symmetrical physique.
My physique, I have to pose to make it look more symmetrical and give the illusion, he can stand straight on, the more straight on you can hit every pose no angles or anything shows you that you’re not hiding anything it’s just perfect,” said Bumstead.
“I don’t know if he’d make weight. I think he’d be a little heavier. He looks like a lot bigger than a lot of the guys right now than you see in Clasisc.”
Kevin Levrone
Bumstead discussed Shawn Ray’s physique, noting potential challenges with the weight limit in today’s Classic Physique. He emphasized that despite Olympia-worthy physiques in the 90s, special talents like Ronnie Coleman often took precedence.
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“Again, all these guys from this era were the guys who didn’t win the Olympia in this era, it was just the wrong time they were around some great people A lot of these guys if you spread them through time they would have won some Mr. Olympias in their own ways but they were all up against crazy competitors. They are all great physiques.”
“It is hard to compare a lot of these pictures because back then there was a little bit of different look. In this era, they were still just as lean, cameras were a little different sometimes you watch the old videos that were a little grainy and it makes them look more grainy. It’s hard to compare now with 4K cameras and everything, it’s different. This is one of those guys that looked amazing. I think this is peak Open size.”
“If Open had stopped around that cap rather than keep pushing those limits. And it’s difficult because someone like Ronnie Coleman came around and he can hold 300 pounds and still look aesthetic, he’s a one-of-one, you know,” said Coleman.
Sergio Oliva
“I mean also a great physique. I think this was back in the era when they were a little bit less dry and a little bit less lean, which I know a lot of people also liked. It’s a little bit healthier as well.
Everything progresses, every sport you see continually progresses so it’s hard to say that anyone would still appreciate looking at someone who isn’t quite as lean. Amazing physique. He had one of the smallest waist-to-arm ratios anyone has ever had,” said Chris Bumstead.
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Hadi Choopan
“I love Hadi. What I love about him is he trains like an absolute animal this is why a lot of people love him. He’s coached by Hany [Rambod].”
“He doesn’t speak English he speaks Farsi and he’s also kind of deaf, he’s very non-verbal communication but makes fun of me teasing makes jokes, then it’s time to do sets, he gets all serious, puts two more plates on, Hany tells him not to go that heavy and he puts another plate and just goes balls to the walls.”
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Serge Nubret
Bumstead agreed with Patrick Bet David. He emphasized that achieving a physique as sculpted as Serge Nubret’s requires extreme dedication to diet and exercise, even if someone uses steroids.
“Nope [steroids won’t make you look like that]. Which is funny because they call Classic Physique sometimes more attainable when realistically, the more genetic freaks out there that you can’t get.”
“You know 300 pounds versus 220 pounds,” said Bumstead.
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Flex Wheeler
Additionally, Chris Bumstead acknowledges that Flex Wheeler served as one of his early inspirations as a bodybuilder.
“He’s a good guy and definitely one of the physiques I looked at and was like this is it.”
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In a revealing discussion on Bradley Martyn’s Raw Talk Podcast, Patrick Bet David shared intriguing insights into the world of bodybuilding. A noteworthy revelation was his collaborative attempt with Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson and Danny Garcia to acquire the Mr. Olympia brand in 2020. Despite the deal falling through, Bet David contends that the brand’s decision to choose Jake Wood over Johnson was a mistake.
Echoing sentiments expressed by Arnold Schwarzenegger, Bet David advocated for a significant shift in the recognition of Classic Physique champions. He suggested that the champion in this category should also be bestowed with the Men’s Open Mr. Olympia title. This proposal challenges conventional norms in the bodybuilding world.
Bet David didn’t stop at discussing ownership and titles; he called for unprecedented changes in the judging criteria for bodybuilding competitions. His suggestion involved introducing a data-driven approach to evaluate and determine competitors’ balanced and symmetrical physique features. This departure from traditional subjective judging could mark a transformative moment in the sport.
Looking ahead, with Chris Bumstead expecting a baby in 2024, the future chapters of his life remain uncertain. Fans, however, hold hope for witnessing his return to the bodybuilding stage at least once before any potential retirement plans materialize. The full and engaging conversation is available for viewing on the PBD Podcast YouTube channel.
Explore the Complete Video on the PBD Podcast YouTube Channel:
Overview
Chris Bumstead, a five-time Classic Physique Olympia champion, discussed bodybuilding with Patrick Bet David on a recent podcast. They talked about Bumstead’s hair transplant and his favorite 1990s bodybuilders. Furthermore, Bumstead evaluated athletes, noting challenges for Shawn Ray in today’s Classic Physique due to the weight limit. Moreover, the discussion included Kevin Levrone, Sergio Oliva, Hadi Choopan, Serge Nubret, and Flex Wheeler. Bet David suggested significant changes, proposing a data-driven judging approach. Bumstead anticipates fatherhood in 2024, and fans hope for his stage return. The podcast also shared insights into attempts to acquire the Mr. Olympia brand in 2020.
Featured Image @CBum, @wingsofstrength (Instagram)
