Nick Walker hasn’t slept since becoming only the 20th man to earn the prestigious Sandow trophy. In a September 27 video, the Men’s Open star revealed that he’s paying off his parents’ debt and set his sights on the 2027 Arnold Classic.
Walker brought a lights-out package to the 2026 Mr. Olympia prejudging and held on to it for the finals. His sharp conditioning and fullness gave him the edge against his rivals despite being counted out in the lead-up to the contest. To win Olympia gold, Walker took out a strong lineup, including Andrew Jacked, former two-time champ Derek Lunsford, and Samson Dauda.
During the Champions Seminar on Sunday, Walker took his victory lap and a dig at Lunsford. Letting the victory sink in, the 32-year-old opened up about how he’s using the prize money and why one Sandow and Arnold Classic title isn’t enough.
“The Future is Bright” – Nick Walker Opens Up About What’s Next
In the video, Walker emphasized that his goal moving forward is to win as many Arnold Classic and Mr. Olympia titles as possible.
“The future is bright. Next is to win as many Arnolds and Olympias as I possibly can now, and that’s the goal moving forward.”
When asked outright if he’s competing at the 2027 Arnold Classic, Walker said this:
“You heard it here first, buddy,” said Walker.
Before ending the interview, Walker shared that he’s paying off his parents’ debt in a heartfelt moment on camera.
“Everyone says I should do this for me, do this for me, do this for me, it’s impossible to do that for me with parents that I have. Winning this Olympia is allowing me to give back. So, I want you both to know, I am paying off all your debt. I’m going to make sure you guys can breathe in peace from now on.”
The 2026 Olympia results significantly shook up the Men’s Open landscape. Lunsford, no longer champion, recently offered an explanation as to what went wrong in Vegas. The former two-time titleholder explained that he felt off and not at his best. He made no excuses and congratulated Walker on the milestone triumph.
The top of the Men’s Open class has a new face. Time will tell if Nick Walker confirms his participation for the upcoming 2027 Arnold Classic, scheduled for March 4-7 in Columbus, Ohio.
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Watch the full video from the Beyond the Stage TV YouTube channel below:
Follow the 2026 Arnold Classic live – prejudging breakdowns, event recaps, expert analysis, and complete results as they happen. Get full coverage at our Arnold Classic hub: FitnessVolt.com/arnold-classic
