{"id":23529,"date":"2026-06-29T22:17:00","date_gmt":"2026-06-29T22:17:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/worldbodybuildingnews.com\/?p=23529"},"modified":"2026-06-29T22:17:00","modified_gmt":"2026-06-29T22:17:00","slug":"steve-weinberger-believes-chris-bumstead-can-crack-the-top-5-in-mens-open-at-2026-mr-olympia-fitness-volt","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/worldbodybuildingnews.com\/?p=23529","title":{"rendered":"Steve Weinberger Believes Chris Bumstead Can Crack the Top 5 in Men’s Open at 2026 Mr. Olympia \u2013 Fitness Volt"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Head judge Steve Weinberger still thinks Chris Bumstead would have done damage in the Men\u2019s Open class. In a June 29 Instagram post, he argued that with more size and training, \u2018Cbum\u2019 could reach the top five at the 2026 Mr. Olympia. <\/strong><\/p>\n

In 2024, Bumstead retired on top after securing his sixth and final Classic Physique Olympia<\/a> title. En route to gold, he bested a crop of elite contenders, including Mike Sommerfeld<\/a>, Wesley Vissers<\/a>, and Ramon Queiroz<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Before calling it a career, Bumstead tested himself in the Men\u2019s Open for a one-off contest. He briefly prepared for the 2024 Prague Pro<\/a>\u00a0and made his highly anticipated debut. He managed to push Martin Fitzwater<\/a> to claim second place. Though the Canadian native opted to retire, Weinberger believes he could hold his own against the world\u2019s biggest and best.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Steve Weinberger Says With More Size, Chris Bumstead Would Finish Top 5 at 2026 Mr. Olympia\u00a0<\/h2>\n

In the Instagram post, Weinberger answered \u201cabsolutely\u201d when asked if \u2018Cbum\u2019 could crack the top five at the 2026 Mr. Olympia.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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\u201cYou think Cbum can make top five in the Open?\u201d asks Frank Sepe.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cAbsolutely,\u201d replied<\/a> Steve Weinberger.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cIn the current Open that it is now?\u201d said Sepe.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

He added that Bumstead would need to put on size to boost his odds of success in the Open.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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\u201cIf he put the size on that needed to be, then absolutely. Look, he did great when we were over in Prague. He almost won in Prague. He competed [prepped] for that show for four months. Could you imagine if he put a year together, what he would look like?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

With a year of hardcore training, Weinberger shared that Bumstead could break into the top five against names like Derek Lunsford and Chinedu Andrew \u2018Jacked\u2019 Obiekea.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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\u201cSo you got Cbum in the top five in the Open Olympia, the current lineup, with Derek, Andrew?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWith over a year of hardcore training, I would, yes.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Though he reached incredible heights as an IFBB Pro, Bumstead admits his career came at a cost<\/a>. He recently opened up about damage to his body from competing as a young adult, which he said nudged him to retire from the sport.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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\u201cThere\u2019s definitely is some damage that happened to my health, and that was another huge reason why it was easy for me to retire because I wasn\u2019t willing to make that sacrifice anymore. I was very conscious that bodybuilding is not good for your health.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Despite these challenges, Steve Weinberger still considers Bumstead a top-tier bodybuilding threat. With a year of dedicated training, he could see \u2018Cbum\u2019 fighting for a top-five spot at the Open Mr. Olympia.\u00a0<\/p>\n

RELATED:\u00a0<\/strong>Chris Bumstead Opens Up on Pressures of Being Dominant: \u201cI\u2019m Afraid That I\u2019m Going to Lose\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n\n