Irish journalist: Nick Walker, an American bodybuilder, is a top contender for the 2023 Mr. Olympia competition after placing third in the previous event. He recently shared a video on YouTube, discussing changes to his training structure, the science behind his training, and the role of drugs in bodybuilding. Walker gained attention for his impressive muscle mass and conditioning levels in the IFBB Pro League Men’s Open division, winning the 2021 New York Pro and the 2021 Arnold Sports Festival. He finished his rookie year with a fifth-place finish in his Olympia debut. At the 2022 Mr. Olympia, he presented an improved package with a narrower waistline, placing third behind runner-up Derek Lunsford and champ Hadi Choopan.
Walker aimed for the 2023 Arnold Classic title, going into the show as the betting favorite and the highest-ranked Olympian. He came in second place as Samson Dauda won the title. Many believed that Walker performed well enough to win, and he admitted it was a tough reality to accept for him as he came into the show brimming with confidence. Former Mr. Olympia Samir Bannout sided with Walker in the matter in his analysis of the competition. IFBB Pro League athletes’ representative Bob Cicherillo argued against their stance and laid out a comprehensive guide on judging a freaky physique against a more aesthetic one.
Two months ago, Walker revealed that he was a hyper-responder to steroids while detailing the evolution of his cycles over time. Although he doesn’t push gear as hard as he used to, he indicated plans to dial in on his nutrition for the current season. Olympia judge Terrick El Guindy and Hall of Famer Chris Cormier praised Walker’s potential and backed him as a potential champion if he worked on his legs. Cormier highlighted the intense rivalry Walker developed with Lunsford, which has fans even more enthusiastic about their next meeting.
Walker made his way to Canada for a guest posing appearance at the 2023 Pure Muscle Championships last month. A week later, he voiced his disapproval of his defeat to Dauda at the Arnold Classic. Although he’s not resentful of the outcome, he believes he had the better package and vowed to leave no stone unturned in his preparations for the Olympia. He’s confident he could dethrone Choopan based on his track record of coming in better shape.
In a recent YouTube appearance, Walker shared the structure of his training sessions. He emphasized the importance of the first or second movement, stating that it’s usually for the connection. For legs, he starts with the leg press to connect better with his squat movements. He also discussed the changes he made after the 2023 Arnold Classic, focusing on learning the biomechanics and working on more volume without taking a lot more sense to failure to get more round fullness. He enjoyed the low intensity high training and high volume, but he believes that targeting the muscle is crucial. Training with Jared, he learned to go all the way down, which worked for him.
Walker believed that he should have defeated Lunsford for second place at the 2022 Mr. Olympia. He knew it was going to be between him, Hadi, and Derek just from prejudging. He didn’t think he was going to win because he was never directly in the middle, but he believed he was going to be at least second. He acknowledged that Derek has one of, if not the best shape on the stage, but he felt that there was so much more to it.
Nick Walker is a force to be reckoned with in the bodybuilding world, and his dedication to improving his training and nutrition is admirable. With his impressive track record and potential, he is a top contender for the Sandow trophy at the upcoming 2023 Mr. Olympia competition.
