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Six-time Classic Physique Olympia champion Chris Bumstead is a man that needs no introduction to most bodybuilding fans. Even though he no longer steps onstage as a competitor, he is as popular as ever and has inspired millions of people around the world.
Muscle & Fitness gets a lot of questions about Bumstead, ranging from his training methods to fans asking how they can be as successful as he was. Frank Sepe, who was working with M&F and supplement retailing giant GNC during their coverage the 2025 Arnold Sports Festival, saw CBum in Columbus and went straight to the source to get these questions answered.
Many fans know the man from Canada as Mr. Olympia in recent years, but his passion for bodybuilding dates back to when he was 14.
“I had to get a waiver signed so I could compete,” he recalled. After he started working under the tutelage of his sister’s then boyfriend, now husband, Iain Valliere, Bumstead eventually opted to step onstage for the first time. After he won his first show, the rest was history.
“That drew a little fire in me, and I kept going.”
Fast forward to the 2024 Olympia, and CBum concluded his history-making career with six Classic Physique Olympia titles. Months after he called it a career, fans still ponder why he chose to walk away. Sepe wanted to know as well, and he was clear with his answer.
“It always felt like chasing one more would never be enough,” he explained. “If down the road I continued and endangered my health, sacrificed time with my wife and my daughter for the sake of that, I would have regretted it.”
Recovery Mattered Most
That attention on the big picture may have been what may have set Bumstead apart from many of his contemporaries. His attention to details such as specific form for training, posing onstage, and most importantly, his recovery, was key to his reign as champion.
“I had a lot of nagging injuries from my career,” he told Sepe. That is why he took three months to focus on restructuring his training and overall programming to focus on mobility and isometric holds.
“My goal in the future is to be the guy who can sprint, jump, play basketball with my kids, but still be jacked.”
Nutrition and supplementation are a big part of Bumstead’s overall plan. Whole foods remain the priority, but as someone who has taken supplements throughout his career, and now is part owner of RAW Nutrition, he sees the value in adding supplements to his plan.
“The most basic one everyone can utilize is protein powder,” said Bumstead. “If you are a bodybuilder and you’re training, there is no point in not taking it.”
A variety of RAW’s products, including their protein powder, are available at GNC locations nationwide, as well as on their website. Don’t forget to follow @gnclivewell on Instagram to get the latest updates on sales and news, and @muscleandfitness to see more of our exclusive coverage from Columbus.
