Reigning six-time Classic Physique Olympia champion Chris Bumstead retired from competitive bodybuilding following his 2024 Olympia win and runner-up 2024 Prague Pro Open debut to Martin Fitzwater a month later.
Hany Rambod, who coached Bumstead from 2022 to 2024, graded Bumstead’s heavyweight physique in early April 2025.
You can’t build much muscle in a month, but you can fill out the frame
—Hany Rambod
Bumstead bulked to 252 pounds, roughly 10 pounds over his Classic weight limit via muscle memory and carbohydrate manipulation. At 6 feet one inch, Bumstead’s proportions made up for size discrepancies.
People thought Bumstead won [Prague] because his silhouette is his superpower.
—Hany Rambod
Bumstead’s Knockout Poses
Rambod praised Bumstead’s side chest pose, saying, “This is one of his knockout shots, not just in Classic but also in Open.” Bumstead’s 10-pound weight gain created a drastically fuller aesthetic, made better by his world-class quads.
[Bumstead’s physique] looked pretty and symmetrical.
—Hany Rambod
Bumstead scored perfectly in the front lat spread — a non-mandatory classic pose — with a textbook X-frame characterized by wide, round delts, full pecs, thick arms, expansive lats, a small waist, and well-shaped outer quads.
He’s showing a statue-esque classic bodybuilder with the size of an Open one.
—Hany Rambod
Bumstead’s vacuum, three-quarter twisted back double biceps, and classic front single biceps shots were exceptional.
Areas to Improve
The critique centered on Bumstead’s back double biceps pose, as he lacked the density of seasoned Open bodybuilders. Rambod suggested bent-over row variations to build a thicker back, particularly the spinal erectors and upper back.
Pulldowns and modified rows help build bigger lats. These are only issues if Bumstead decides to compete in the Open in the future.
[Related: The 11 Best Pull Exercises to Forge a Bigger, Stronger Back]
While Bumstead’s legs are a strong point, they’d need to be bigger to compete at heavyweight. “[Bumstead] doesn’t have the best arms,” Rambod added, due to shorter biceps insertions, which impacts their shape, though not necessarily a dealbreaker.
Bumstead’s Physique Rating: 9.1
Rambod rated Bumstead’s Open physique a 9.1 out of 10, noting, “Still room for improvement…but phenomenal for an Open physique.” Rambod thought Bumstead was ahead of Martin at the 2024 Prague Pro, but the scorecards didn’t show that.
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Featured image: @cbum on Instagram
