Chris Bumstead opened up about his torn bicep and mental toll it took during the 2022 Olympia.
Chris Bumstead is just a few weeks out of winning his fourth consecutive Classic Physique Olympia title. He was able to overcome all obstacles and build yet another championship physique to present on stage. This time around, there was another hurdle to get over.
Bumstead revealed that he tore his bicep leading up to the competition and had to deal with it on Saturday during his performance. This was a topic that others have been discussing so Bumstead wanted to tell his side of the story.
“I tore my bicep. I really don’t know how it happened. Everyone’s always asking ‘did it pop? Did you feel it? What’d you do?’ I really don’t know how it happened. Sometimes, I had it happen to me before. I think with my other bicep when I was younger.”
Bumstead took to Instagram to make a video sharing information with his fans. It began with the bodybuilder taking viewers through his prep and what it was like to deal with the issue.
“To go back to the beginning, on Wednesday I noticed a little bit of pain. The day of my weigh-in, three days out from the Olympia, I was pulling water, trying to make weight that night at 8pm. Super depleted and lean, obviously, your body is more susceptible to injury and I felt some pain. The next day, I felt some more pain and it hurt when I was posing. I tried not to push it. Then, Friday it hurt a whole bunch so I tried not to pose.”
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Chris Bumstead Discusses Lead Up To 2022 Olympia
Once Chris Bumstead discovered that his bicep might be torn, it took a mental toll on him. He mentions in the video that he likes to discuss the mental side of bodybuilding and opened up about his experience.
“I went to bed, woke up the next day, and it was a little bit more swollen…It got in my head and it stressed me out so I wanted to talk more about the mental side that I battled through.”
“Prejudging, get tan, try not to think about it. Looking at myself, I could just see it and I could just feel it and it was just kind of in my head. So we went on stage for prejudging and I still felt pretty good. I still felt confident. My physique was great but I still kept thinking ‘here is this great physique I’ve built. Probably the greatest package I ever brought to stage but my arm.’ Everybody is gonna be critiquing me and thinking ‘why does his arm not look right?’ I couldn’t get that out of my head.”
After some self reflection and discussions with his coach, Hany Rambod, Bumstead was able to take the stage and put on another great performance.
“I was able to wash the shit out of my brain and put it aside. Obviously, getting first callout, I could think ‘okay, I look good.’ I have time backstage to process these things. I went back on stage for prejudging and was able to be more present and enjoy that.”
“From that moment and from posing, my arm got more swollen and you can see it in the night show, especially in my routine that is was more swollen at night. I got a headache and the adrenaline dump from the morning. It wasn’t where I like being before getting on stage at night. Hany came to give me another pep talk to get my head where it needed to be.”
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Chris Bumstead: “I Can Just Turn The World Off And Be On Stage”
After going through prejudging, Chris Bumstead noticed more swelling but was able to perform during the final at night. He admitted to winging his routine a bit and changing the music just a few days before. this did not impact his overall performance.
“We went out there, had fun, crushed it and it’s just a proud moment of myself…It’s why you see that clip of me getting off stage and just balling my eyes out. It’s all the pressure, stress, getting on stage, all of the ups and downs all day then I’m able to get on stage and be there. Enjoying it and bringing home the win.”
Once he finished taking viewers through the experience, Bumstead gave an update on his bicep now. It will not require surgery but he will have to take some time off in the gym.
“My bicep now update. It’s just partially torn. It’s in the muscle belly so it’s really not that bad. They said six to eight weeks to recover. I’m stubborn so I’m going to say five to six weeks that one. I haven’t trained back or biceps. I really haven’t trained at all in four weeks. I’m just letting it heal, letting it recover. Just keeping inflammation down right now.”
Despite recent rumors and discussions about Bumstead retiring from the sport, he seems as dedicated and motivated as ever. He has overcome many obstacles over the course of his career and this adds to the list. Chris Bumstead believes there is no feeling like winning the event and loves to compete each year.
“I built the skill to be present and really in the moment at the Olympia. That’s why I love the Olympia so much because I can just turn off the world and be on the stage and just focus on the competitors and the fans watching. It’s a feeling of just absolute presence that I can’t even explain that I’m just very grateful to experience every year.”
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