Bodybuilder Nick Walker appears optimistic about his career despite some notable setbacks. In a recent YouTube video shared on November 13, 2024, he discussed his latest coaching and training changes.
Walker was forced out of the 2023 Olympia after injuring his calf and hamstring. He rallied back at the 2024 New York Pro, laying claim to gold against Martin Fitzwater in a highly contested battle. While he appeared on track to shake up the Olympia lineup in 2024, he pulled out of the competition. He and his ex-coach Matt Jansen explained that his body wasn’t responding to preparations.
Having been absent on the sport’s most prestigious stage for two years, questions about Nick Walker‘s future have been raised by fans. He announced Kyle Wilkes as his new head coach with RP Strength’s Jared Feather set to serve as his trainer. This comes after parting ways with his longtime coach Matt Jansen.
Nick Walker Plans to ‘Create Something Very Special’ at Future Contests With New Coaching and Training Changes
Walker admitted that Kyle Wilkes has helped with his career before being tapped as his new head coach.
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“He got to see what my diet was, what my supplements were, how I trained, and he saw how my body would respond to certain things. He also came to 2019 USAs with me when Matt couldn’t. He’s pretty much the in-person for Matt, so they would communicate back and forth and I just thought it was really cool.”
Wilkes has coached influencers like the Tren Twins and Jesse James West. Walker credits him for having a ‘calming effect’ on him.
“Obviously, he coaches a lot of influencers right? And people say that and want to make a comment, blah, blah, blah. But I think Kyle is very smart. Kyle also always had that calming effect on me which I think is good for a client to have for a coach.”
They are both ready for the new challenge and Walker feels optimistic about his future, revealing his current weight of 284 pounds.
“We both know what’s at stake here. He’s ready to take on the challenge. I’m ready to take on the challenge. He knows me very very well and he knows I don’t like change very much. He knows I’m not adaptive to a lot of things. I’m in my structure and my routine and I don’t like to go out of it.”
“Overall, I woke up this morning around 284. I feel really good. Strength is really good. Body feels good. We’re doing no cardio right now. We’re just doing a lot of hard training,” he adds. “Me and Kyle have a good thing going right now and I’m very excited. I feel like I’m getting my groove back again. I’m enjoying the love of training again.”
Instead of adopting a Dorian Yates style of training as he did in 2024, Walker plans to return to RP Strength training, led by Jared Feather.
“2024, I did prep for New York, I kind of steered away from that [RP Strength-style training] a little bit. I went back to a Dorian Yates-style approach for that New York Pro prep. I think it was good, it was successful. I wasn’t a fan of my look as an overall, to be honest. I know it wasn’t my best whatsoever.”
Moving forward, he wants to implement a similar strategy he used in 2023, before pulling out of the Olympia due to injury.
“It was a good look, enough to get the win but it wasn’t me. I just wasn’t happy with it. I didn’t like the way things ended with that. Obviously now, moving forward, I didn’t do the Olympia. It is what it is. I want to go back to what I thought would have won me if not battled me very hard to win the Olympia title in 2023.”
He plans to create something ‘very special’ on stage with the help of his new coach and trainer.
“I wanted to go back to the RP-style training so I hit up Jared. I said look bro, I got my friend Kyle he’s going to run the diet, nutrition, supplements, etc, I said to him I want you in charge of training. I think both of you get on the same page, both geniuses here in different ways. I think if we all collab we can create something very special here.”
Although Walker has yet to announce his next bodybuilding show, fan speculation suggests he’s eying the 2025 Pittsburgh Pro, which will feature the Men’s Open division for the first time. In addition, the Open winner is poised to earn $100,000. We will keep you updated on his next competition should he make a formal announcement.
Watch the full video from the Nick Walker YouTube channel below:
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