Wesley Vissers Aims to Dethrone Chris Bumstead at 2024 Olympia
The world of bodybuilding is abuzz with anticipation as Wesley Vissers, the 2024 Arnold Classic Physique champion, gears up to challenge the reigning five-time Classic Physique Olympia champion, Chris Bumstead, at the upcoming 2024 Olympia on Oct. 10-13, 2024. While Bumstead’s impeccable physique has made him unbeatable for the past five years, Vissers has been diligently working on enhancing his lower body to present a formidable challenge to the reigning champion.
On Sept. 8, 2024, Vissers shared his leg training techniques as he prepared for the Olympia, aiming to preserve muscle mass and improve conditioning while in a calorie deficit. The Dutch bodybuilder’s leg workout regimen includes a variety of exercises aimed at targeting different muscle groups and optimizing muscle growth.
Leg Training Techniques of Wesley Vissers
Vissers begins his leg workout with seated calf raises, followed by standing calf raises. While Vissers performed the seated calf raises before the standing variation, he acknowledges that this sequence may not be suitable for everyone. The former exercise targets the soleus muscle, while the latter focuses on the gastrocnemius. Vissers emphasizes the importance of a deep stretch and partial range of motion during calf exercises to maximize gains, aligning with research findings that training calves at longer muscle lengths can enhance hypertrophy.
Prioritizing eccentric loading, Vissers incorporates Nordic curls into his routine. This exercise, not commonly seen in Olympian training routines, allows for a deep hamstring stretch. Vissers utilizes an assisted machine with a chest pad for support and safety, ensuring proper form and maximizing the effectiveness of the exercise.
Unilateral Work and Compound Movements
Vissers alternates between hamstring and quad exercises to minimize downtime and actively engage different muscle groups. He incorporates unilateral leg extensions to optimize hip-knee alignment and enhance the mind-muscle connection by tapping his quads during the exercise.
Following isolation exercises, Vissers transitions to compound movements such as power squats and leg presses. He emphasizes a full range of motion and proper form, ensuring optimal muscle activation while avoiding strain on joints and tendons. Vissers recommends ‘ass-to-grass’ reps for optimal glute fiber activation and emphasizes the importance of engaging the adductors during the eccentric phase of the leg press.
Isolation Exercises and Olympia Contenders
Vissers concludes his leg training with hamstring isolation exercises, focusing on peak contractions during lying hamstring curls. As Vissers prepares to challenge Bumstead at the 2024 Olympia, other top contenders such as two-time Olympia champion Breon Ansley, Ramon Rocha Queiroz, and Urs Kalecinski are also diligently working on improving their physiques. With Ansley transitioning to the 212 division after this Olympia, he is expected to bring his best package yet to the stage.
As the bodybuilding community eagerly awaits the showdown between Vissers and Bumstead at the 2024 Olympia, the dedication and hard work of these athletes serve as inspiration for aspiring competitors and fans alike. The Olympia stage is set for an epic battle, with each contender vying for the coveted title of Classic Physique champion.
With meticulous training regimens, strategic exercise selection, and a relentless pursuit of excellence, Wesley Vissers and his fellow competitors are poised to make the 2024 Olympia a spectacle to remember. As the date of the competition draws near, the anticipation and excitement continue to build, setting the stage for a showdown of epic proportions in the world of bodybuilding.