The 2026 Mr. Olympia is less than seven weeks away, and the roster just got a huge addition. In an August 7 YouTube video, Jay Cutler broke down why he believes Nick Walker can win when he returns to Las Vegas.
Nick Walker faced an uphill battle heading into the current bodybuilding season. He was fresh off a sixth-place finish at the 2025 Mr. Olympia, a career low. Despite being counted out, he bounced back successfully at the 2026 Arnold Classic. He pushed Andrew Jacked (Chinedu Andrew Obiekea) en route to earning a silver medal.
At the 2026 Tampa Pro, Walker brought a lights-out package and secured his Mr. Olympia qualification. Bodybuilding veterans largely agree that most competitors would have to be off for Walker to win, but “The Mutant” believes he has the tools regardless of what he’s up against. Looking ahead, Cutler likes his chances at the biggest show of the year.
Jay Cutler on Nick Walker at the 2026 Mr. Olympia: “He Can Win It”
In the video, Cutler said Walker has a shot at winning the 2026 Mr. Olympia but warned that he’s up against a strong lineup:
“That was a pretty hyped show. I’m sure that’s kind of a big buildup to have Nick now as a guy that people are going to talk about for the Olympia. Can he win it? Yeah, he can win it. Listen, I think there’s an opportunity for you know… You have all these Mr. Olympia formers. Derek is defending; Derek is fresh. Samson is fresh.”
The four-time Mr. Olympia also expects some big surprises when competitors finally clash:
“All these other guys have competed, but can they pull it off? That’s the big question. You have a good group of guys that are going to fight for that top five, six, and there’s going to be some surprises in there. That’s what makes the Olympia so exciting. The hype starts now because it’s in seven or eight weeks now,” said Jay Cutler.
Walker’s Tampa Pro domination has the bodybuilding community talking. Head judge Steve Weinberger recently broke down his chances at the Mr. Olympia. He sees Walker as a top-five threat and explained that more chest striations and a harder back could push him up the Men’s Open ladder.
Cutler continues to offer insight into the Men’s Open class he once ruled. The 2026 Mr. Olympia will take place from September 24-27 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
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