It’s all business for Men’s Open bodybuilding star Nick Walker. In an August 13 Instagram post, he shared a massive physique update six weeks out from hitting the stage, sending a warning shot to his competition.
At last year’s Olympia, Walker mistimed his peak and fell to sixth place. It didn’t take long for fans to start counting him out. Despite the setback, “The Mutant” competed at the 2026 Arnold Classic without a coach by his side. Ultimately, the risky decision paid off; Walker took a close second place behind Andrew Jacked (Chinedu Andrew Obiekea).
Even though Walker missed out on the $750,000 grand prize, he considered the outing a success. It was the first time in his career that he beat former 2022 Olympia Hadi Choopan. He briefly considered skipping the Olympia in favor of a year-long break but changed his mind.
Walker hired Prabh Dhaliwal as his new coach, and the second pair of eyes has already worked in his favor. He dominated the 2026 Tampa Pro and secured his Olympia qualification. Now, the surging Men’s Open pro is offering a sneak peek of his progress before preparations reach a new level of intensity.
“I’m Here to Prove I Can Win” – Nick Walker’s Monstrous 2026 Mr. Olympia Physique Update
In the recent Instagram post, Walker emphasized that his sights are set on gold looking ahead:
“6 weeks out, Im not here to prove I belong, done that already, im here to prove I can win this thing,” said Nick Walker.
Who is Standing in Walker’s Way?
Five contenders placed ahead of Walker at last year’s Olympia:
- Derek Lunsford
- Hadi Choopan
- Andrew Jacked
- Samson Dauda
- Martin Fitzwater
Jacked and Dauda stand out as two of the tallest Men’s Open competitors on the roster. “The Nigerian Lion” aims for redemption after dropping to fourth at the Olympia last year. Meanwhile, it will be interesting to see if Choopan’s mission for added size pays off against Walker in Vegas.
Fans haven’t forgotten about Fitzwater either. When he nails his peak, his bubbly muscle volume strengthens his mandatory poses. Above all else, Walker’s biggest threat is reigning two-time champ Derek Lunsford. Thus far, Walker has defeated every name on this list with the exception of Lunsford.
Walker looks on track to bring a wildly different package from last year. The 2026 Mr. Olympia takes place from September 24-27 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
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