Discussions around the 2024 Mr. Olympia contest are heating up, with Jay Cutler being the latest bodybuilding veteran to assess the lineup. In a recent Cutler Cast Podcast, Cutler opened up on Nick Walker’s future, suggesting that he must ‘step up’ to crack the top three at the biggest show of the year.
Nick Walker’s resurgence in the Open class was kickstarted at the 2024 New York Pro, where he battled Martin Fitzwater en route to earning gold. He faced significant obstacles on his way back to the stage after bowing out of the 2023 Olympia contest due to devastating calf and hamstring tears.
Having placed as high as third at the Olympia competition in 2022, many believe he has what it takes to make a bid for the Sandow trophy. However, if he wants to turn his dream into reality, he will have to compete against Olympia winners Derek Lunsford and Hadi Choopan, as well as former Arnold Classic champion Samson Dauda.
Although Jay Cutler has backed Walker to ‘possibly’ win the 2024 Mr. Olympia, he appeared to backstep that idea in his latest conversation with Milos Sarcev. Unless Walker showcases dramatic improvements from New York, Cutler worries he won’t even secure a spot on the podium later this year.
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Jay Cutler Believes Nick Walker Has to ‘Step Up’ at 2024 Mr. Olympia, Says He Won’t Be ‘At the Top’ Threatening Derek Lunsford & Hadi Choopan
According to Cutler, Walker did not show up ‘as expected’ at the 2024 New York Pro.
“He did not show up as expected, okay? We thought he was going to walk in here and absolutely demolish these guys,” said Jay Cutler.
“He still won, yes it was a point decision [at the 2024 New York Pro]. They judge you on, I don’t care what they say, he’s not the normal. Tyler said it, this is not the best version of Nick Walker we’ve seen.”
Cutler believes Walker is ‘under a big pressure’ and has to ‘step up’ if he hopes to reestablish himself as a top threat at the 2024 Mr. Olympia.
“Nick… he’s under a big pressure right now because now he’s qualified, he’s one of the few by the way. We can go over that list but he has a lot of… he has to step up.
Because right now, they talked about him being third in the world, third in the world, even though he missed last year. I think it’s kind of crazy, it’s what have you done for me lately.”
Reflecting on Walker’s latest contest appearance, Cutler argued that he doesn’t have a physique worthy of a ‘third place’ Olympia finish, noting that his waist appears wider.
“He’s not showing the third place physique based on my opinion, the feedback of the contest. He’s getting a lot of criticism because the waist was a little wider but in a sense, it’s like he goes to the Arnold, they tell him you’re too lean, you need to be more powerful like he was when he got third at the Olympia, right? He comes in lean at the Arnold, smaller, whatever, he gets second. Then he misses the Olympia and he comes here,” said Jay Cutler.
Cutler says predictions are already being made and he doesn’t think Walker will be ‘at the top’ to threaten Hadi Choopan or Derek Lunsford.
“They are already making predictions where you watch, this year’s Olympia they are not going to have Nick at the top to threaten Hadi and Derek at this point,” said Cutler.
“We know how hungry he is, right? And he seems to always fix the discrepancies, when you start to doubt Nick Walker, he proves you differently.”
Cutler deemed Walker’s New York Pro victory controversial and recently named his three Open ‘kings’ of the 2024 Mr. Olympia. The esteemed bodybuilding veteran named Derek Lunsford, Hadi Choopan, and Samson Dauda as contenders to watch for later this year.
With time and momentum on his side, many believe ‘The Mutant’ could shore up these ‘discrepancies’ on the horizon. Do you believe Walker will crack the top three at the 2024 Mr. Olympia show?
Watch the full video from the Cutler Cast YouTube channel below:
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