Aiming to silence the doubters, Open Bodybuilding star Nick Walker is training with a chip on his shoulder. In a recent Instagram post and Mutant and the Mouth Podcast shared on August 19, 2024, he gave his thoughts on being counted out, embracing the underdog mentality ahead of the highly anticipated Mr. Olympia contest.
Walker was considered a massive favorite to win the 2023 Mr. Olympia show but was dealt a devastating blow inside the training room. He tore his calf and hamstring, which forced him to bow out of the biggest event of the year. Trapped in a wheelchair temporarily, he had to watch Derek Lunsford from the front row solidify his legacy after becoming a two-division Mr. Olympia champion.
The injuries wouldn’t kill Walker’s dreams of being the number one bodybuilder in the world. He got back on the saddle, committing to the 2024 New York Pro instead of holding out for a special invite to Olympia. In May, he went toe-to-toe with Martin Fitzwater on his way to capturing gold. Now, he intends to pick up from where he left off two years ago, but some are doubtful about his ability to follow through with becoming the 19th man to win the Sandow trophy.
“Keep Counting Me Out, I Love It” – Nick Walker Ready to Prove Doubters Wrong at 2024 Mr. Olympia
According to ‘The Mutant,’ he’s been overlooked, insisting that he’s been ‘counted out’ from everybody’s predictions.
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“I guess being eight weeks out, one thing I find funny, it seems to be I’m counted out from everybody’s prediction. I’m not in the top five or I’m fifth. And I get it. I didn’t do the Olympia last year so I don’t know how it was going to stack up. But obviously, according to the world, my New York Pro package was underwhelming.”
Although he understands why he’s being counted out, Walker doesn’t mind being the underdog ahead of the 2024 Mr. Olympia.
“So I get it. But, I don’t know how many times I got to continue to prove myself. I mean, I’ve already solidified that but I don’t mind being the underdog. I don’t mind being counted out. Again, that’s where I thrive the most. So, come stage, come eight weeks, I guess everyone will see once again,” Walker shared.
“Keep counting me out, I love it”
As for why he’s been left out of predictions, Walker argues that it’s due to social media and his unwillingness to post photos under the best lighting and/or with filters.
“It’s social media. I don’t post photoshopped, filtered, best-lighting photos that everyone does. My photos that I post are in some shit lighting right out of bed, how it normally, how it really looks.
So, when you put my photos against people that have this huge pump, the best lighting going on in this area, a little shadow with this good lighting popping down on this nipple over here… it’s like oh my god look at him but then when they see me on the stage they are like holy shit! You would think people would take that into some consideration here but they don’t.”
He has proved naysayers wrong in the past and boasts unwavering confidence in his ability to win the 2024 Mr. Olympia.
“I just think it’s funny that I always just shut everyone up time and time again and for me bro, this year will be no different. I’ll get a lot of shit for saying this too but I don’t give a fuck if I was in the Olympia last year it would have been a different outcome 1,000 percent. This year I’m going in with the same mindset.”
He prefers to share unfiltered and ‘raw’ pictures on social media instead of using favorable lighting.
“I don’t do that, that’s just not me. I’d rather post some real fucking raw shit,” says Walker. “Yeah, I don’t give a fuck. I don’t go around looking for the best lighting, if it’s okay lighting then yeah, it works, cool.”
Concerning check-in pictures with his coach Matt Jansen, Walker said that’s the only time he chooses an area with good lighting.
“We have found this spot in the Raw gym it’s in the corner somewhere and the lighting does directly hit, that’s where I’ll send him [Matt Jansen] the check-in photos every morning for the most part. If he sees me in person, we go to that same spot and he’ll look at me in person right in that same spot.”
If Walker intends to win gold this October at the 2024 Mr. Olympia, he’ll have to get through two bodybuilders he’s yet to defeat on stage — Derek Lunsford and Hadi Choopan. Lunsford continues to make strides in prep for his title defense, adding detail to his chest and furthering the separation in his abs. Choopan, meanwhile, picked up two consecutive victories this season at the 2024 Arnold Classic Ohio and UK shows, making him all the more dangerous heading into Las Vegas, Nevada.
If history is an indicator of the future, Nick Walker has only moved up on the Mr. Olympia stage since starting his career. Don’t miss live 2024 Mr. Olympia coverage at Fitness Volt this October 10-13 for the organization’s 60th anniversary.
Watch the full video from the Mutant and the Mouth YouTube channel below:
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