The Classic Olympia has replaced the traditional event as the biggest draw in bodybuilding in recent years.
Thankfully, fans of the sport have grown tired of the bulky, CGI-looking mass monsters of the 1990s and 2000s in favour of something which resembles the so-called “golden era” of bodybuilding.
Physiques just hit differently back then (1970-1980), didn’t they?
And one of the modern day greats, Chris Bumstead, has been at the centre of this pivot, his expertly sculpted physique racking up no less than four consecutive Classic Olympia titles – an achievement which has led many (including me) to regard him as one of the best athletes to ever grace a bodybuilding stage.
However, we have to draw the line somewhere…
Following his most recent victory, a banging photoshop appeared online which stood Chris Bumstead alongside the legendary Arnold Schwarzenegger, with a caption that encouraged us to pick a side;
“Who is better?”
As you can imagine, the fitness internet fucking melted.
I sat back for two whole days feeling gloriously entertained as guys all around the world started berating and threatening each other over which picture of a man in their underwear looks better.
The real “winner” of course, is Ah-nuld.
Don’t get me wrong, I actually think CBum has a slightly better physique than Arnie overall, it’s just that the differences aren’t so big that they can justify half a century of additional advancements in training, recovery, nutrition, supplementation, sports science, injury prevention and, of course, drugs.
It’s crazy that Schwarzenegger was able to build such an impressive body during the 1960s and 1970s, when solid information was hard to come by, and training setups were as basic as it gets… and it’s even more impressive that his results still hold up against one of today’s top competitors!
Obviously, if we take a step back from a pure physical comparison and look at their overall impact (not just on the sport of bodybuilding), Arnold Schwarzenegger is an absolute unit.
Heck, he inspired as many guys to hit the gym as Rocky (and Rocky’s fictional).
Arnold was the face of fitness; so much so, that then-president George Bush made him Chairman of the President’s Council of Physical Fitness and Sports.
He achieved a level of fame we don’t really see anymore (perhaps only The Rock has come close to it).
That’s why, in my opinion, there will never be another bodybuilder who can top what Arnold Schwarzenegger did – not just in the sport, but for the sport.
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