With the Mr Olympia competition just around the corner, bodybuilding fans are dumbfounded at the decrease in prestige for the Classic Physique Division this year.
This year’s show, which takes place in early October in Las Vegas, will feature with some of the biggest changes the sport has ever seen. Classic Physique has, in recent times, become the biggest draw for fans as it has seen one of the best competitors in its history – Canada’s own. Chris Bumstead – consistently display dominance year after year. The now 30-year-old Bumstead has chosen to retire after placing first six years in a row, spanning from 2019 to 2024.
Meanwhile, other top stars have decided to move up to the Open division as it provides a substantial wage increase for the winner. Usually, the price for winning the Mr Olympia Classic prize is US$60,000 whereas the Open division’s top prize is US$600,000. This high of a difference has destroyed the reputation of classic as this year, the division lays bare in talent with the only prominent competitor being Mike Sommerfeld.
Top previous competitors Ramon Dino, Urs Kalecinski and Keone Pearson have all moved to the Open division causing shock and surprise with fans as they have made the move only a couple months out from the Olympia. This means it is extremely difficult for them to qualify and compete in that short of a time span. However, Kalecinski, also known as “The Miracle Bear”, has since competed twice in Open since his change and has won in both competitions, qualifying for the Olympia and shocking the bodybuilding world. This has never been seen before and has left the fanbase in excitement as he could prove to be a worthy contender for first place.
But the Open division is also welcoming back the reigning champion, Samson Dauda who has revealed his physique one month out and has left many observers stunned with how much size and mass he has put on. The 39-year-old looks to be unstoppable, mirroring the physique of the great Ronnie Coleman with his large size and stature. This leaves a massive gap for the Classic competitors to fill as the two divisions are completely different. The Classic class focuses on aesthetic and symmetry where the competitors convey elegance and balance whereas Open focuses more on size and mass. This is a crucial difference as all of the Classic athletes will face genetic struggles that will hold them back from becoming an imposing threat on the already high-level open bodybuilders.
The show is in a month’s time with the competition gaining arguably the most viewership it has ever received as social media has brought it to new heights. More and more of the younger generation have found a love for the sport which leaves an exciting future for the already prestigious competition. But will Classic division still continue to gain the most attention, or will Open regain its place at the top of the hill?
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