In the bodybuilding world, achieving greatness on stage is often the culmination of years of hard work, dedication, and sacrifice. For Chris Bumstead, winning his first Classic Physique Mr. Olympia title in 2019 was a dream come true. However, behind the glitz and glamour of victory, Bumstead reveals a deeper truth about the emotional journey he embarked on.

Similar to Jay Cutler’s story, growing up, Bumstead found solace at the gym. It was a place where he could escape the stresses of life and focus solely on pushing his physical limits. But what did he actually feel after winning his first title?

Chris Bumstead masters emotions beyond bodybuilding success

In a YouTube video shared by RAW Nutrition, a brand owned by the 29-year-old, he shared, “I fell in love with being in the gym so much because it was a place where I could go to and just push aside and avoid feeling anything stressful or hard going on in my life.” But as he climbed the ranks in bodybuilding and achieved success on stage, Bumstead realized that his reliance on the gym was an emotional crutch.

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Moreover, winning his first Olympia title was not as joyous as he thought it would be. He admits in the video, “I didn’t feel the joy that I thought I might have from accomplishing this goal I worked so hard to achieve.” Winning the Olympia title should have been a moment of pure elation, but for CBum, it was overshadowed by a sense of relief. It was a wake-up call that led him to a profound realization: “If you numb the bad, you numb the good.”

In his journey to find balance and fulfillment, Bumstead learned to embrace both the highs and lows of life. This journey didn’t just teach him the lessons. Winning instilled confidence to build tools and community, enabling the processing of both good and bad emotions. Owing to this he even realized that he had his own definitions of success.

For CBum, success was not just about winning

In addition, beyond the trophies and accolades, Bumstead redefined his definition of success. “Champions make their own rules and they have their own definitions of success,” he asserts. For him, success is not just about winning on stage, but about being the best version of himself in every aspect of his life.

READ MORE: Bodybuilding Beast Chris Bumstead Almost Failed His Last Rep With a 150 Lbs Dumbbell Press Until He Remembered Who He Was: “Ain’t Being a Skinny B*tch Today”

As he looks to the future, Bumstead is grateful for the lessons he’s learned along the way. He also expresses gratitude toward his training, crediting it for all the good things that have happened, including winning the Olympia, meeting the love of his life, and soon-to-be mother of his baby girl, Courtney King. He acknowledges, “All this beauty of my life, all these lessons that I continue to learn, they’re all thanks to training.”

Chris Bumstead’s journey to winning his first Classic Physique Olympia title was not just about physical prowess, but about emotional growth and self-discovery. Through his honesty and vulnerability, he reminds us that true success lies in finding joy and fulfillment beyond the gym.

READ MORE: Currently in Offseason, 5x Mr. Olympia Chris Bumstead Feels “Pale and Skinny” Next to His Rivals