Matt Jansen’s coaching has become a topic of controversy in the bodybuilding community as of late with notable athletes revealing they are no longer working with him. In a recent Instagram post on October 22, 2024, Jansen decided to shed light on the situation, sharing that his focus has shifted from bodybuilding to family. Fans also took to his comment section, reacting to his statement.
Just days before the 2024 Mr. Olympia, Nick Walker, alongside coach Matt Jansen, revealed that he was bowing out of the competition. Their decision to withdraw from the event came down to Walker’s physique not being stage-ready. Walker also shared that his body needed a break after the stress of prep for the past two years.
Shortly after announcing he wouldn’t be participating in the Mr. Olympia for the second year in a row, Nick Walker shared that he and Matt Jansen parted ways. This new development has since led to Matt Jansen’s coaching coming under fire, specifically from Quinton Eriya.
Eriya fired Jansen earlier this year after appearing small and flat at the 2024 New York Pro. Quinton Eriya has accused Matt Jansen of telling 11 separate athletes that they were using fake gear, instead of taking responsibility for his misdirection. In addition, it was discovered that Shaun Clarida and Brett Wilkin also no longer work with Jansen.
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Bodybuilding Coach Matt Jansen Addresses Athlete Fallout
Following the backlash he has received, Matt Jansen took to Instagram to release a statement. He acknowledged that while his focus has shifted from bodybuilding to spending more time with his family, he never abandoned his clients.
“I want to take a moment to address the current situation.”
“Over the past year, it has become clear to me that my passion for bodybuilding has shifted. However, my dedication and love for the guys I had the opportunity to help remained unwavering, making this year a mental challenge for me. I recognized the need for change, but I didn’t want my team to feel abandoned or think I was above them, so I continued to honor my commitments.”
“I’ve increasingly embraced my roles as a dad and husband. Spending quality time with my wife and boys has become my top priority as they grow, and I truly want to be present for them. Additionally, I’ve discovered a passion for endurance sports, both for personal health and business opportunities, and I’ve invested myself deeply in this area over the past year.”
He gave a sincere apology to anyone affected by his actions.
“I acknowledge that my focus may not have always been where it should have been with my team, and I sincerely apologize for any negative feelings this may have caused” Jansen stated.
Jansen emphasized how successful both Brett Wilkin and Shaun Clarida have been, feeling that the attention he has received as of late is unfair.
“On a personal note, I feel that the way I’m being treated currently is unfair to me and the career I have had. In my last two competitions, Brett delivered an incredible performance, arguably at his best, and Shaun placed second in the world at 42.
This isn’t just about me; it’s about acknowledging that Shaun is still one of the top bodybuilders in the world. The perception that we fell short is disappointing, especially when what he continues to achieve is so incredible.”
Ultimately, Matt Jansen took responsibility for what had transpired.
“Above all, I wanted to take responsibility for any shortcomings over the past year and just say that I am sorry to anyone I might have hurt along the way, as that was not my intention.”
The bodybuilding community flooded the comment section with their response to Jansen’s post and you can check out what they had to say below.
This isn’t the first time that Nick Walker and Matt Jansen have split. In 2022, Nick Walker announced that he’d no longer be working with Jansen despite a successful rookie year in 2021, having earned first place at the Arnold Classic and New York Pro before placing in the top five at the Mr. Olympia. However, the two reunited just 12 weeks before the 2022 Mr. Olympia, where Walker placed third at the event.
After Nick Walker and Matt Jansen’s most recent split, Martin Fitzwater shared his thoughts on the situation. Fitzwater believes there should be a fine after not fulfilling the contract signed with the Olympia. Additionally, Martin Fitzwater thinks both the athlete and coach are to blame for Walker not being ready in time for the event.
Until Nick Walker gives more details regarding the situation, fans can only speculate what happened behind the scenes. While Quinton Eriya has made allegations that include other athletes, without their side of the story, it remains hearsay. As for Shaun Clarida and Brett Wilkin no longer working with Matt Jansen, there is no indication yet that it had anything to do with the shortcomings of his coaching. Fans will have to stay tuned to see how the storyline unfolds.
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