Nick ‘The Mutant’ Walker is used to being the mass monster on stage but this year he is determined to refine his conditioning and combine both size and aesthetics to hone the perfect physique. In a recent Q&A on YouTube, Walker shares how his prep has been going and his plan to earn the 2023 Mr. Olympia title.
Nick Walker’s professional bodybuilding career was kicked into high gear after earning two consecutive wins at the 2021 New York Pro and the Arnold Classic where he then faced his first Mr. Olympia competition taking fifth place.
From there, Nick Walker continued to improve his freakishly large build and took to the Olympia stage for the second time and moved up two spots placing just below reigning champion Hadi Choopan and runner-up Derek Lunsford in third.
In 2023, Walker made an attempt at the Arnold though he was ultimately outsized and beat by Samson Dauda. Now Nick Walker is more determined than ever to earn the first place spot on the Mr. Olympia stage in less than seven weeks. His confidence levels have soared lately, as he recently shared that he has no doubt he will overthrow Hadi Choopan under the bright lights.
“I Will Be Mr. Olympia” Nick Walker Discusses His Strategy To Dominate
Nick Walker isn’t lacking confidence in his contest prep ahead of this November. Sharing in a Q&A on YouTube, Walker believes this year is different than past years and says his conditioning has improved tremendously.
“This year is a lot different, I already said last year was not the best head space for the off-season so I didn’t even think I was going to do that Olympia, to be honest, but luckily things turned around. Me and Matt got back together, and I was able to move up two spots, but even though this off-season was not long by any means I think it was way more productive than last year’s off-season. I think I put on a good amount of size in the right places that I’ve wanted to put on. My quads specifically my chest I think my back got a little bigger and the mindset was you know fine the entire time.”
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“I think right now being seven weeks out I like to feel conditioning-wise I’m a little bit ahead size-wise definitely bigger than I was last year at this time,” added Walker.
While there is pressure for Walker this year, he feels other top contenders are bearing the brunt of the scrutiny. Having always related to the underdog mentality, Walker is using that to his advantage as he eyes the sport’s biggest prize.
“Of course there is pressure, there is always pressure. It’s more internal because I just think that personally for me I just apply too much pressure on myself. I expect perfection out of myself no matter what.”
“I just think that you know the way this preps been going I do feel I’m counted out a little more than normal which for me hasn’t been a bad thing because I’m able to not really worry about what’s being said on social media I kinda just train and do my thing. The attention isn’t so much on me this year that I think anyway it’s more on other people who have way more pressure than I do right now and I’m embracing that.”
“I’ve always been the underdog. I enjoy being the underdog. I enjoy shutting people up. I enjoy proving everyone wrong and I think again this year I’m gonna prove everyone wrong once again.”
Nick Walker accepts it will be a difficult showdown with some of the world’s best but has no reason to believe he will fall short of his ambitions.
“Everyone counts me out. Listen the Olympia is a different ball game you know I was third and my only mindset is to move up two more places. I know who is going to be competitive I know whos training hard and I expect everyone to be 100% but my focus is jumping up another 2 spots and I know Derek and Hadi are bringing their A-game and that’s the main focus for me nothing else.”
With a strong mindset and unwavering confidence, Nick Walker envisions himself becoming a Mr. Olympia champion, underlining that every year he seemingly improves.
“No, you know a lot of people doubt me now because they see people who are taller with more pleasing physiques winning I guess I get it but from the start of my pro career to now even losing the Arnold I’ve done nothing but progress and make improvements regardless and I just don’t think this olympia will be any different for me.”
I really think I can win this one. I normally don’t ever doubt myself, sometimes I get in my head and think I’m not a good competitor, but again when it comes down to believing in my own abilities and believing in myself I’ve said time and time again I know what I’m capable of I know where my mindset is” “I will be Mr. Olympia I’m gonna keep saying it till it happens. Every year I literally get better and that’s the goal you know every year you need to get better and that will pay off and like I said before once I win I’m gonna keep winning until I decide I’m done.”
As far as his physique is concerned, Walker intends to bring both mass and sharp conditioning for an unbeatable look.
“I’m not the most aesthetic, I don’t care. Do I have a wide waist now, it’s debatable.”
“I like to think I’m more aesthetic than I was three years ago or even the year I won the Arnold ya know.” “I know what my strengths are and I’m a mass monster I’m the freak and if I can somehow create an illusion to where I’m just that mass monster but there’s shape and a small waist there I just don’t see how that can be beatable.”
It will be interesting to see how Walker fares at this year’s 2023 Mr. Olympia competition. With the show nearing, bodybuilding veterans have offered their predictions. Two former Mr. Olympia winners Samir Bannout and Ronnie Coleman both believe Derek Lunsford to be the next champion. However, with plenty of surging contenders and familiar faces, we won’t know who stands a shot at gold until they step on stage.
Nick Walker remains one of the biggest frontrunners heading into this year’s 2023 Mr. Olympia. The dedication he has to training, nutrition, and mental strength make him a unique and dangerous force when he takes the stage from November 2-5 in Orlando, Florida.
RELATED: “I Rather Be Doubted and Shock Everyone” — Nick Walker on 2023 Mr. Olympia Ambitions
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