Olympia Judge Terrick El Guindy couldn’t help but take notice of how great Nick Walker looked just three weeks following his hamstring injury. In a YouTube video, El Guindy discussed how ‘The Mutant’ would have fared had he competed at the 2023 Olympia against Derek Lunsford and Hadi Choopan.
Nick Walker has become a formidable force in the bodybuilding community. He established himself as a frontrunner with his freaky physique, complemented by jaw-dropping muscle volume. His impressive size and undeniable stage presence have quickly turned Walker into one of the Open class’ fiercest competitors.
Nick Walker’s bodybuilding career hit new heights after he won the 2021 IFBB New York Pro earning his ticket to the Olympia stage. Soon after that, Nick Walker clinched first place in his debut appearance on the Arnold Classic stage. Not only did Nick Walker call his win at the Arnold he also predicted he’d make the top five on the Olympia stage and did just that.
Since then, Nick Walker has been working his way towards earning the Sandow Trophy and got close in 2022, having turned in a third-place finish behind Lunsford and Choopan. In 2023, it seemed that he was well on his way thanks to a second-place finish to Samson Dauda at the Arnold Classic. However, just three days from taking the stage, news broke that Nick Walker wouldn’t be able to compete due to a hamstring tear.
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Walker’s withdrawal significantly changed the event’s dynamic, as he was a top contender. Despite the injury, he maintained a fast pace. Nick Walker went to physical therapy and was able to guest pose at the 2023 NPC High Roller Royale in Las Vegas.
Terrick El Guindy Weighs In On How Nick Walker Would Have Done at 2023 Mr. Olympia
Hitting the stage just weeks after suffering a partial hamstring tear and a grade 1 calf tear, Nick Walker showed off his incredible resiliency and his nearly flawless physique that didn’t go unnoticed. In a recent YouTube video, Terrick El Guindy and Chris Cormier discussed just how impressive it was that Walker not only commanded the stage but looked so good while doing it.
“I had the opportunity to head judge the event, the NPC High Roller Royale in Las Vegas where Nick Walker guest posed. He wouldn’t be fighting for third. In my personal opinion, he wouldn’t be fighting for second. He would be fighting for the title.”
“He would have been bigger than Derek and Hadi and possibly more conditioned than both of them based on his consistent conditioning of the past.If those things came into play, Nick Walker would have been fighting for the title.”
While it’s mere speculation, El Guindy was convinced Walker could have given Derek Lunsford and Hadi Choopan a run for their money.
“Obviously, we are all speculating here but in my personal opinion, Nick Walker would have been right there. And another thing Tim Wilkins, Nick Walker came up to me and said I heard what Derek Lunsford said on your live and I am going to remind him next year on the Olympia stage” Terrick El Guindy said.
After Terrick El Guindy shared that he thought Nick Walker would have been competing for gold, Chris Cormier revealed that he too believed Walker had what it took to push into title contention:
“Man I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw the footage of him at the show, the High Roller in Las Vegas, Jennifer Dorie had him out there.
I couldn’t believe it. The first thought that came to mind is this guy might have won the Olympia, he might have won it this year. He might have won” said Chris Cormier.
Having talked to Nick Walker personally, Cormier can’t deny the hard work that ‘The Mutant’ has put into recovering and coming back better than before.
“I’ve been in touch with Nick, just giving him some well wishes and everything. He’s been telling me that he’s been going to work on that injury and doing everything he can everyday to get better and as you can see he is doing what he’s got to do” Cormier said.
“You can’t ignore that this guy is looking remarkable and you can’t ignore that he would probably be fighting for the title like you said.”
Since his impressive guest posing, Nick Walker has shared that he is ‘fine-tuning’ his physique during the off-season. Walker is also starting to get back to his old routines in the gym after completing his first leg day since his hamstring tear.
Even if Walker isn’t awarded a special invite to the next Olympia, he has made it clear he will go out and win something. In the meantime, Nick Walker will continue sculpting his physique for the ultimate comeback on the Mr. Olympia stage this October 10-13 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Watch the video below:
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