Unlike the 90s era of bodybuilding, ‘The Mutant’ Nick Walker believes competitors today are too emotional and lack comradery. In a recent Prime Time Muscle Podcast, he discussed why athletes don’t train together as often as they used to before examining the ‘fuc**ng’ crazy physique of Chris Cormier.
Few names have reached the heights of Nick Walker, who has already realized unbelievable success in the IFBB Pro League. The Open class mass monster has led a storied career since embarking on his journey. While he hoped to secure his first Sandow trophy at the 2023 Olympia last year, he was sidelined due to a disastrous hamstring and calf tear.
Undeterred by the setback, Walker’s redemption tour started in New York back in May, where he outlasted Martin Fitzwater to become a two-time New York Pro champion. Now, with his eyes locked on the Mr. Olympia in October, he took a breather from training to look back on 90s bodybuilding — specifically, the comradery, which he says has fallen by the wayside today.
Nick Walker Discusses Chris Cormier’s Physique, Believes Bodybuilders Today Are Sensitive & Lack Comradery
According to Walker, the social media landscape has made it difficult for competitors to work together for the shared goal of becoming the best bodybuilder in the world.
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“Everyone is against each other, bro, that’s why,” said Walker. “That was fine then. Now, I just feel like because of social media, there’s more animosity between competitors now because god forbid I made a comment about a competitor. He took it personal. Guess what? He’s not going to like me now.”
He explained that during Chris Cormier’s era in the 90s if someone talked poorly about a competitor, no one would hear about it unless by word of mouth.
“Back in the early 90s, you wouldn’t hear any of this. You know what I mean? I feel like that’s what created a lot of separation between competitors. Even if I say I’m going to beat this motherfucker next weekend on stage, guest what, that motherfucker just took it sensitive and now he don’t want to talk to me.”
“If you say you’re going to beat somebody or say you’re going to win a show, nobody likes you now.”
Even though Chris ‘The Real Deal’ Cormier never laid claim to the prestigious Mr. Olympia title, Walker credited him for a ‘fuc**ng crazy’ physique. Walker mentioned that if Cormier trained alongside Dorian Yates sooner, he would have had a more fruitful career.
“Now that me and Chris are I’d say a lot more friends than what we were years ago. I now pay more attention to him. I really went back and looked at his physique, he had a fucking crazy physique.”
“He didn’t have a striated butt, though,” said Walker. “You know what he’s told me and he’s said it on the internet too. He said if he trained with Dorian more he would have had a better career.”
Walker can appreciate the methodology behind Yates’ training practices. He also believes intensity to be the most important factor for growth while training at the gym, not the number of sets or reps.
“It’s not about how much you can lift, it’s not about how much volume you can do, it’s about what you can do with one set and how intense you can be. I firmly believe that. Let’s be honest, if volume was key we’d be doing a million sets in the gym. Intensity is the end all be all to me. If you can kill it in one set, why do more, what’s the point?”
“I think Dorian, Dorian is very specific, and I think Dorian was somebody that can bring the animal out of you. I think that’s kind of what he did for him,” adds Walker.
While Walker is firmly committed to winning the 2024 Mr. Olympia later this year, he’s been open about retirement as well. He shared that the only two ways he would consider leaving the sport was if his body told him to or if he lacked the mental drive to continue.
With less than 13 weeks until the sport’s greatest event takes place, Walker is leaving no stone unturned in his quest to become the best bodybuilder in the world. Don’t miss him take on the Open lineup at the 2024 Mr. Olympia in Las Vegas, Nevada!
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