Chris Bumstead and Calum Von Moger
Both emerged as two of the most recognizable figures in modern bodybuilding within the last 10 years or so. Both men have striking similarities in terms of physique, influence, and social media presence around the sport, but they have taken distinctly different paths in their careers. Let’s dive into their origins, their impact on the fitness world, the obstacles they faced, and where they stand today.
How They Both Got Started
Chris Bumstead: The Champion’s Early Years
Chris Bumstead, a Canadian native, began his bodybuilding journey at the age of 14 after being introduced to weightlifting by his sister’s boyfriend, Iain Valliere, who later became his coach as well as an Olympia competitor in the men’s open division. Bumstead’s talent was very apparent early on, and after competing in regional shows, he quickly rose through the ranks to make a name for himself in the Classic Physique division. By 2017, he earned his Pro Card, and only two years later, in 2019, Bumstead secured his first Mr. Olympia Classic Physique title, a title he has dominated since!
Chris’ classic golden-era look, with a small waist and broad shoulders, caught the attention of fans who were yearning for an aesthetic alternative to the mass monsters of Open Bodybuilding. His rise was rapid, and his consistency in maintaining his physique and winning titles solidified him as a top figure in modern bodybuilding.
Calum Von Moger: A Movie Star and Fitness Influencer in the Making
Calum Von Moger, hailing from Australia, became famous for his striking resemblance to a young Arnold Schwarzenegger, earning him the nickname “Arnold 2.0.” He was initially drawn to bodybuilding at a young age, much like Bumstead. Calum’s symmetrical physique and charismatic personality gained him recognition in the early 2010s, and he started winning local and regional bodybuilding competitions, eventually turning pro.
Beyond the stage, Calum tapped into his social media presence, quickly gaining a massive following on Instagram and YouTube. He became a fitness influencer, releasing training programs and supplements while also venturing into acting, notably in Generation Iron 2 and by portraying Arnold Schwarzenegger in the movie Bigger. Calum’s blend of old-school charisma and modern-day fitness influence helped him stand out, even if he wasn’t pursuing Mr. Olympia titles.
Impact on Fitness/Bodybuilding
Chris Bumstead: Modern Classic Physique Icon
Chris Bumstead has redefined what it means to be a modern bodybuilder, particularly within the Classic Physique division. The Classic physique division had perfect timing with CBum as his rise to fame has influenced a resurgence in the classic, aesthetic bodybuilding look, shifting the focus from sheer mass to balance, symmetry, and proportions reminiscent of the golden era. Bumstead’s popularity also exploded through social media, where his transparent approach—sharing his training struggles, mental health battles, and personal stories—made him highly relatable.
Many fans feel that the classic physique division is a more attainable physique compared to the open division. A lot of people strive to look aesthetic with more muscle mass. This is why so many of the older bodybuildings from the Golden Era, 80s, and some in the 90’s are popular among fans today. Not many people are going to be able to look like Nick Walker or Big Ramy who have incredible physiques in their own right.
Bumstead’s influence extends beyond his competition wins, as he represents a broader movement that prioritizes health, longevity, and aesthetics over extreme mass. His authenticity and humility have made him a fan favorite and an ambassador for the sport.
Calum Von Moger: A Global Fitness Icon
While Chris focused on bodybuilding titles, Calum Von Moger leveraged his fame to build a brand that extended far beyond the stage. His social media empire grew rapidly, with millions of followers consuming his training videos, fitness programs, and life updates. He also launched his own clothing line and supplement brand, becoming a one-man business empire.
Calum was one of the first athletes to truly capitalize on the fitness-influencer model, and his global reach allowed him to bring bodybuilding to mainstream audiences. He had aspirations of roles in movies, such as his portrayal of Arnold Schwarzenegger and on Generation Iron 2, he was attempting to work on his acting skills in order to cement his status as a crossover star who was able to blend entertainment with fitness.
The Incident (Injuries and Setbacks)
Chris Bumstead: Navigating Autoimmune Disease
Chris Bumstead has faced challenges of his own, particularly with his health. Bumstead suffers from IgA nephropathy, an autoimmune kidney disease that has affected his health and performance. Most notably, during the prep for the 2018 Olympia. Despite these setbacks, Bumstead has managed to stay at the top of his division, carefully managing his diet, training, and health to continue competing at the highest level.
Chris’ battle with a chronic illness along with a few injuries over the years including bicep, lats, and quad muscle tears highlights his perseverance, dedication and ability to overcome adversity. His openness about his health struggles has further endeared him to fans, showing that even champions have their personal challenges.
Calum Von Moger: Injuries and the Downfall
In contrast, Calum Von Moger’s journey has been marred by significant injuries. In 2018, he suffered a devastating bicep tear while trying to perform a risky two-person bicep curl. Coincidentally, that exercise was done with CBum. Shortly after, he suffered another injury, tearing his quadriceps during a cliff-jumping accident. These injuries severely hampered his bodybuilding career and required extensive surgeries and rehabilitation.
The injuries led to a downward spiral in Calum’s career, including battles with mental health issues. He openly struggled with the pressure of his public persona and the stress of rehabilitation. Unfortunately, in 2022, his personal life took a darker turn with legal issues and another injury that occurred in a window-jumping accident, further derailing his career.
The Disastrous Bicep Curl
Leading up to the Chris Bumstead and Calum Von Moger now infamous bicep curl, Calum had the bigger following of the two on IG and on Youtube. I wasn’t able to find any specific stats on their respective channels on a 10 year basis (2014-2024, I was going to make a nice graph for you guys!). Many people were still learning about CBum and what he was all about. Clearly, CBum had some success up to that point. However, Von Moger was getting the attention through his personality/charisma, movie star looks, and comparison to Arnold. His future was bright and it appeared that he was destined to be the next great bodybuilding/influencer star!
The tandem bicep curl actually tore Calum’s bicep. Chris fortunately was not injured. This moment could be considered the exact moment when two careers crossed each other like on a graph like a Point Of Intersection (POI). In the video below, the POI is 18:14 which looking back is a career moment that changed the course of these two lives.
Calum was near the top and Chris was working his way up. After the incident, Chris continued to have success as mentioned previously and has continued to dominate the fitness industry unlike anything we’ve ever seen. Unfortunately, Calum’s career took a nosedive as he has had a series of setbacks. Some of these by his own decisions, unlucky health issues, and multiple unfortunate tragedies have all played a role in his decline over the years.
Where Are They Today?
Chris Bumstead: Reigning Champion
As of today, Chris Bumstead remains at the pinnacle of his career. He is the reigning Mr. Olympia Classic Physique champion (2019–2023) and is widely considered the face of the division. Bumstead has expanded his business ventures, launching his own supplement line, CBum Fitness, and maintaining a strong presence on YouTube and Instagram, where he shares his life, training tips, and nutrition advice.
Bumstead’s focus is still on his bodybuilding career, but he has become a powerful figure in the fitness industry beyond just his competition success. His influence continues to grow, and many consider him to be the modern face of Classic Physique bodybuilding. He is undoubtedly one of the most popular bodybuilders and fitness athletes alive today.
Calum Von Moger: A Career in Flux
Calum Von Moger, on the other hand, was once poised for mainstream stardom, but has been derailed by his injuries and personal struggles. However, Calum has recently returned to Youtube and Instagram, sharing updates on his recovery and hinting at a potential comeback in some form, though it may not necessarily be in competitive bodybuilding.
While he may never return to his former heights as a competitive bodybuilder. The Olympia is most likely not a realistic dream today but that’s ok! Calum’s brand as a fitness influencer and actor still holds potential along with other avenues that he could explore. His story is one of redemption and overcoming adversity, and there are many loyal fans and friends who still root for him to bounce back. I’m not sure what his future holds but he is in control of his destiny and fans are pulling for him!
What if: The bicep tear never occurred?
Let’s go back in time and replay the tandem curl and let’s pretend that we’re in some other alternate universe where no one gets hurt here. I think there would’ve been a strong possibility that Calum and Chris could’ve had a nice friendly rivalry in the classic physique division. I still believe that CBum goes on to do CBum things and win his Olympia’s but I’d like to think that Calum could’ve been a strong competitor in the division but I know others say he was better as a fitness influencer more so than as a competitor. I’m not sure he’d win, especially compared to some of the other guys such as Terrance Ruffin and Breon Ansley but if he had focused on bodybuilding then he’s in the mix. Thinking top 6 at the Olympia in at least a 1 or 2 year stretch.
If Calum had avoided the injuries and somehow avoided major setbacks that he had faced then I think that this could have been a decent sequel to Pumping Iron in today’s culture. Both of these guys are very popular within the industry. If there’s ever another Pumping Iron (or similar film with a different name) then it needs to be done with the right competitors and hopefully while Arnold is still alive. I think having Arnold onboard would elevate the film and bring another perspective to the rivalry.
It seems pretty clear to me that Chris Bumstead is this generation’s Arnold Schwarzenegger. I’m not saying he’s going to be a huge movie star or run in politics (I guess he could try!) but as far as what Chris has done for the industry and for bodybuilding as a whole he has consistently been that guy since he won his first Olympia! Once he retires from competition then it’ll be interesting to see where he goes in his career as well as his life!
Conclusion: Two Different Paths to Greatness
Chris Bumstead and Calum Von Moger represent two very different paths within the world of bodybuilding. Bumstead’s story is one of consistent success, hard work, and focus on competition, while Calum’s journey has been marked by fame, adversity, and personal struggles. Both men have left an indelible mark on modern bodybuilding—Bumstead as the reigning champion of Classic Physique, and Von Moger as a fitness influencer and actor whose career transcended the sport. Hopefully, he can overcame his past struggles and work towards his passions and achieves his goals in life (in or outside of fitness).
In the end, their careers highlight the diversity of paths that athletes can take in the fitness world, and the different kinds of impact they can have on the sport, its fans, and the industry as a whole.
