Bodybuilder Nick Walker is entering ‘dark mode’ ahead of the 2025 Pittsburgh Pro. On April 13, 2025, he detailed his headspace four weeks from the event, confident he could ‘beat everyone’ in the lineup.
Nick Walker‘s almost ready to get back onstage. In 2024, he won the New York Pro in a close encounter against Martin Fitzwater. His season fell apart last year when his body stopped responding to preparations. Recalibrated and revamped, he plans to make a statement at the upcoming 2025 Pittsburgh Pro, but has a star-studded lineup to deal with.
Who stands in his way? On paper, Derek Lunsford could be his biggest threat. The former two-division Mr. Olympia is making a splash in Pittsburgh after stealing Samson Dauda’s thunder at the Arnold Classic.
Walker will also have to thwart Fitzwater following his big win in Prague against Chris Bumstead. Meanwhile, with Michal Krizanek, Ugolnikov ‘Goodvito’ Vitalii, William Bonac, and James Hollingshead in the mix, ‘The Mutant’ has his work cut out for him.
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Nick Walker Enters ‘Dark Space’ for 2025 Pittsburgh Pro: “I Don’t Care That Derek Is In It”
In a recent YouTube video, Walker laid out his 2025 bodybuilding goals, which start with a victory at the Pittsburgh Pro before aiming to claim his first Olympia title in October.
“My goal is to be Mr. Olympia. My goal is to win Pittsburgh Pro. Training is where I need the utmost focus.”
He explained that he’s in a better place mentally ahead of his next show.
“I just feel like I’m in a better space as well. I truly feel at peace here. Obviously, I’m still doing my therapy sessions, they are about once a week, once every other week. Of course, we have videos to watch. I do journal. I read,” he shared. “It’s just the small things that end up becoming something better for you down the road. I needed to separate myself and put myself in the best environment. Home was always the best environment.”
Confident he can defeat anyone, Walker doesn’t care that Lunsford, Fitzwater, and ‘Goodvito’ are who he’s up against.
“We’re four weeks out, and I know there’s a lot to go into this. I’m giving this my all. I don’t care. I don’t care who is in it. I don’t care that Derek is in it. I don’t care that Martin is in it. I don’t care that Vito is in it. I don’t care that Bonac is in it.”
“Those guys are great bodybuilders, phenomenal bodybuilders actually. James is in it, all phenomenal, but at the core, in my heart, I know when I bring it, I bring it. And I know I can win this show. I know I can beat everyone.”
He admits he’s entered a ‘dark space’ ahead of Pittsburgh and plans to use that to find success onstage.
“I’m doing everything damn-near possible every single day to make sure that all that happens. It’s routine. You guys know who I am. I’m going back to being that core bodybuilder I used to be. I’m going back to that dark mode.”
“When I go into that dark space, you have to be able to pull yourself out,” he adds.
Walker isn’t the only bodybuilder confident in his abilities to beat Lunsford. Dennis James and Milos Sarcev wouldn’t count him out either, emphasizing that he’s been able to ‘prove us wrong too many times‘ throughout his career.
Walker seems at ease with how his prep has gone thus far. He expects to earn gold in Pittsburgh and make a play for the Mr. Olympia title when the event returns from October 9-12 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Watch the full video from the Nick Walker YouTube channel below:
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