On Jan. 20, 2023, Bannout appeared in an episode of The Muscle Maturity podcast. While breaking down some of the latest news in the bodybuilding world, Bannout touched on the status of one Chris Bumstead. Fresh off a fourth consecutive Classic Physique Olympia title, where the athlete competed with a partially torn biceps, Bannout believes Bumstead should be making the jump to the Men’s Open division at the upcoming 2023 Arnold Classic (AC). It could be an interesting prospect for one of the sport’s current figureheads.

Bannout was evidently aware of the adversity Bumstead had to overcome to continue his Classic Physique reign. That didn’t seem to stop him from maintaining Bumstead should still be working to shine at the 2023 AC in Columbus, OH.

“Talking about Bumstead, he pulled his biceps muscle, and was in pain,” Bannout said. “In my opinion, Bumstead could be competing in the [2023] Arnold Classic in the Open. He should. Why not? Bumstead: do it.”

At the same time, Bannout understood that Bumstead would want to take time off to recuperate after such a significant ailment. After all, jumping right back into training and ideal competition nutrition might not be the best idea until Bumstead is fully healed after his health setback.

Such an immediate decision, division change or not, could translate to longer-term issues in Bumstead’s overall career if the competitor isn’t careful. While he stood by his initial Open sentiment for the young athlete, Bannout didn’t take it a step further.

“I think in Bumstead’s case, he had a partial tear,” Bannout noted. “It would be smart to pull down, it don’t matter a little bit, pull it down completely, because it might serve his career better. He knows. Him and his doctors know. But yeah, clearly it was visible to me something was going on with that bicep.”

In late September 2022, Bumstead had alluded to a potential place in the Men’s Open division in the future while speaking on a Muscular Development podcast. However, Bumstead maintained that 2023 wouldn’t be the right time for a shift. Factor in the current recovery from his biceps tear, and it appears improbable Bumstead will go full throttle with any ideas to enter the 2023 AC on Mar. 3-5, 2023.

While some of his potential peers in the Open division, such as Nick Walker and Mamdouh “Big Ramy” Elssbiay, gear up for the monumental AC, Bumstead will likely stay on the sidelines for the time being. Even with a new lucrative cash prize and Bannout’s initial suggestion in the account, asking an elite competitor to shift divisions as he heals might not be feasible in such a short amount of time.

Nonetheless, Bumstead’s progress in and outside the gym will assuredly be something noteworthy to track in the coming months.

Featured image: @cbum on Instagram

The post Bodybuilding Legend Samir Bannout Wants Chris Bumstead to Compete in Open Division at 2023 Arnold Classic appeared first on Breaking Muscle.

During a Jan. 3, 2023, episode of The Muscle Maturity Podcast, Bannout broke down his current thoughts on bodybuilding as a sport and where he feels the flagship Mr. Olympia must evolve. Among the more notable bullet points was the former fitness titan stressing that the qualification process for the contest should be more rigid.

Perhaps the most significant change to the IFBB’s Olympia qualification system in 2023 was that there would no longer be a points system. Only the top-five finishers in the 2022 Mr. Olympia, the top three athletes in every other 2022 Olympia division, and the respective contest winners of every IFBB Pro League competition in 2023 will qualify for November’s festivities in Florida.

In a spanning discussion, this is a change that Bannout welcomed and said doesn’t go far enough. The 2022 Mr. Olympia stage held a field of 30 competitors vying for the title, which was too vast a field in Bannout’s experienced opinion.

“The Olympia should never be more than 20 contestants. Never. That should be the limit. The cream of the crop should get on that stage,” Bannout said. “If you don’t make the top ten, it’s over. I think the top five should qualify again.”

Regarding prize money, the Men’s Open category, with champion Hadi Choopan, eclipsed every other participating Olympia division by far in the 2022 edition of the Olympia. This is a discrepancy Bannout doesn’t appreciate. Like Arnold Schwarzenegger, Bannout believes the Classic Physique division deserves more respect.

“A guy like Chris Bumstead, honestly, he was the most conditioned and the most professional at the Olympia weekend, and his check was $50,000.” Bannout started. “And the third-place winner (in the Men’s Open) took home $100,000. How [expletive] do you explain that?”

As for improving the Olympia’s general presentation, Bannout noted he thinks the contest’s organizers should be making more of an earnest effort to highlight past victors. To this former Olympia champion, his suggested plan is to continue building the sport’s mystique while catering to loyal spectators by honoring Olympia winners from previous years.

“It [would be] really cool every decade, at least or every 5-6 years, bring all the Mr. Olympias on stage for just two minutes,” Bannout proposed. “And that’s gonna bring a more happy atmosphere and celebration. Like Arnold does [at the Arnold Classic contest], he brings all the former Arnold Classic champions.”

Whether the IFBB and the Olympia’s organizers will take Bannout’s suggestions and apply them in the future remains to be seen. For now, he’s just the latest legend of the sport who seems to want better for those athletes that have come after him.

Featured image: @officialsamirbannout on Instagram

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