Chris Bumstead is already one of the most accomplished bodybuilders ever. Having won Mr. Olympia five times in a row, Bumstead has cemented his legacy as one of the best to ever do it. However, it appears that he may already be considering calling time on his illustrious career.
Recently, the Canadian bodybuilder overcame numerous injuries and setbacks to clinch his fifth consecutive title. Now one of the greatest in the sport, many have been left wondering as to what comes next for CBum. Previously, Bumstead appeared on the The Truth Podcast with Hany Rambod to share his thoughts on the future.
Speaking on the podcast, Bumstead said, “I know I have at least one more in me. After this year, the same thing. If I’m like, ‘fu** I’m done,’ and I’m getting out of here, then I’m done”. A key thing to remember here is that this was prior to the Mr Olympia 2023 Classic Physique win. Interestingly, some believe that if he were to move to open bodybuilding, Chris could end up being even bigger.
At the same time, the 28-year-old has had to battle a lot of adversity and issues whilst competing. According to Canadian IFBB Pro bodybuilder and YouTuber, Greg Doucette, Chris is likely to pursue open at least once and then take things from there. Whilst the YouTuber believes that Bumstead will likely not win, he may want to give it a go before he completely walks away from competing.
Chris Bumstead is expecting his first child with partner, Courtney King
Notably, Chris Bumstead is said to have suffered a major injury nearly every other year. In the past, Chris won his fourth Mr Olympia title with a torn bicep as well. Thus, in order to compete in the Open, Bumstead would need to first gain a lot more muscle, double or even triple his PED dosage, and naturally, increase his supplement intake as well. For those unaware, this would also astronomically increase the risk of getting injured as well.
Recently, Bumstead took to his social media to share a picture of him undergoing a medical procedure. Claiming that it was only a cell/gene therapy procedure, Chris promised to share more about it in the near future. In the meantime, he also promised fans that he was not injured either.
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For the most part, many believe that Bumstead is truly considering open bodybuilding, and the procedure is meant to help him with it. At the same time, many can’t help but feel that Chris’s recent procedure has nothing to do with his return. Having revealed that he was expecting his firstborn with partner Courtney Alexis King, many expect Chris to fully divert his energy to his fatherhood duties. A retired bodybuilder herself, Courtney has faced many health issues in the past, leading to her retirement in 2018.
As per the former champion, she faced body image issues, low-functioning thyroid, gut problems, and numerous other issues. Currently, she is a fitness YouTuber and has amassed a substantial following of her own. Thus, with such an important event in his life coming up soon, Bumstead is expected to walk away from competing. All things considered, fans are eagerly awaiting to hear from Chris and his decision for the future.