Is the Mr. Olympia’s Open division more popular or the Classic Physique division? This debate continues to divide the bodybuilding world. The five-time Mr. Olympia Classic Physique winner Chris Bumstead has been vocal about his aversion to the Open division, challenging the stereotype that the Men’s Open is the most popular division in competitive bodybuilding.
One of America’s most popular bodybuilders today, Chris Bumstead has an impressive 22.3M followers on Instagram, surpassing many bodybuilding legends of the past. Recent controversy has emerged regarding the legitimacy of his followers, with IFBB Pro coach Greg Doucette addressing criticisms from a veteran bodybuilder.
Bodybuilding veteran Dave Palumbo recently highlighted Chris Bumstead’s massive 22M following, sparking discussions about the popularity of Classic Physique contestants compared to Open Division bodybuilders like Derek Lunsford and Samson Dauda. Greg Doucette also pointed out that even teenage bodybuilder Sam Sulek, who hasn’t even competed yet, has amassed over 4M followers. The number of followers, Doucette argues, is not determined by the division or the number of Mr. Olympia titles won, citing Chris Bumstead’s incredible following compared to bodybuilding legends like Jay Cutler, Ronnie Coleman, and Phil Heath combined.
There is ongoing debate about the relative popularity and reputation of the Open Division and Classic Physique, with even 4x Mr. Olympia winner Jay Cutler weighing in on the subject. In a recent episode of Cutler Cast, Cutler and Manager Matt expressed their views on Classic Physique and dismissed the division’s titles as not equivalent to those of the Open Division.
Ultimately, the priority of the Open division over Classic Physique does not necessarily determine a bodybuilder’s popularity. The ongoing debate rages on while social media followers continue to soar for Chris Bumstead, sparking discussions and controversies in the bodybuilding world.
