Nick Walker is marching toward his highly awaited comeback on the 2024 Mr. Olympia stage. In a recent Mutant and the Mouth Podcast shared on September 2, 2024, Walker opened up on his preparations, how he has modified his training since injuring his hamstring and broke down why he’s re-included deadlifts back into his workout regimen.
Nick Walker is moving through his preparations for the 2024 Mr. Olympia like a freight train. He recently enjoyed a successful bounce-back, having claimed his second title at Steve Weinberger’s 2024 New York Pro, where he narrowly defeated Martin Fitzwater to snag gold.
Walker’s journey back to the biggest event of the year has been filled with hurdles. Just days before he had the chance to compete for the Sandow trophy in 2023, Walker was forced to bow out of the competition due to a devastating hamstring and calf tear, which ultimately prevented him from walking temporarily.
He watched his rival, former 212 Olympia Derek Lunsford succeed in becoming the first bodybuilder to also win the Open Mr. Olympia title. It was a bitter pill for Walker to swallow, especially since he looked more than ready to win mere days out from having the opportunity to compete.
Nick Walker Discusses Hamstring Training Since Injury, Gives 2024 Mr. Olympia Prep Update
Walker was tasked with adjusting his training carefully in order to stay healthy for his next competition. And while some have suggested that his waist has become wider as of late, ‘The Mutant’ is doing everything within his control to bring an improved and revamped package to Las Vegas, Nevada, ahead of the organization’s unprecedented 60th anniversary, set to invade the entertainment capital of the world from October 10-13 next month.
Recently, Nick Walker revealed that his waist is already looking better than it did while at the 2024 New York Pro, speculating that digestive issues may have been to blame at the time.
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“I honestly feel probably better. First of all, I’m still relatively heavy and a lot leaner at this weight. I was 271 this morning. And I do feel like my waist is a lot tighter than what it was at New York.”
“I did have digestion problems a little bit in New York. I don’t know if that was from a combination of some orals, some food sources that I was having at the time because after the show, literally as soon as the show was done, I eliminated a lot of shit and my stomach was completely fine.”
After suffering a calf and hamstring tear last year, Nick Walker is finally getting back to doing deadlifts.
“Sometimes you just can’t forget what you used to do and sometimes you just got to have fun with it and do it and deadlifting was always one of my favorite exercises and just to get back under a bar like that, it just feels good.”
Walker explained how he approached training after his injury, starting with just seated/lying leg curls before being able to work his way up to other movements.
“It took me a while, like when I started to train hamstrings again after the injury, I only did lying leg curls and seated leg curl. And everyone thinks I injured it doing a stiff-legged, that’s not at all. I wasn’t even training legs when I did it.”
“But because I know the risk of the exercise, I also didn’t want to jump right back into it immediately.”
He also revealed that he isn’t letting fear get in his way of enjoying himself and training how he sees fit.
“I didn’t injure it this way, I don’t even know how I did it and I’m not going to let something in my mind take away from something I love. So, I just said fuck it. And I think, in my opinion, you can correct me if you think I’m wrong, but I personally think a stiff-legged deadlift is a lot more dangerous for the hamstrings than an actual direct deadlift.”
Walker admitted he used to avoid deadlifts because he feared it could create a wider waist, however, now he is more accepting of his physique and structure.
“I was also a firm believer as well that [deadlifts] would make your waist wider. For years, I steered away because I was already known for that. Well fuck, I don’t want to do shit that’s going to make it wider but I also came to terms like this is my structure.”
Walker will face a murderer’s row of contenders if he hopes to walk away as the 19th man to earn the Sandow trophy. He’ll have to get through the near-flawless back double biceps pose of reigning champion Derek Lunsford but will also be tasked with overcoming Hadi Choopan, who has been on a tear this season. ‘The Persian Wolf’ picked up two consecutive victories at the 2024 Arnold Classic Ohio and UK shows.
In addition, mass monster Samson Dauda is closing in on his preparations ahead of his big return to the stage. He took silver behind Choopan at both Arnold Classic events, which has only added to the chip on his shoulder ahead of the biggest contest of the year.
Soon, we will once again witness Nick Walker attempt to earn gold on the prestigious Mr. Olympia stage. Don’t miss the historic event, set to light up Sin City next month. Where do you think Nick Walker will place this year?
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