Nick Walker Parts Ways With Coach, Quinton Eriya Says Matt Jansen Told 11 Different Athletes They Used ‘Fake Gear’ to Cover Up Botched Preps

After Nick Walker‘s sudden withdrawal from the 2024 Mr. Olympia, questions about what happened are still lingering within the bodybuilding community. Walker confirmed that he is no longer working with his long-time coach Matt Jansen. To shed light on the matter, Quinton Eriya took to YouTube on October 20, 2024, to discuss Walker’s situation, accusing Matt Jansen of covering up botched preps by telling clients that they used fake steroids. 

“This is the truth,” said Eriya. “If it’s fake gear, you’re telling me it took you fucking over 10 weeks to realize he might be using fake gear? No. That’s a coaching issue to me.” 

Matt Jansen’s coaching abilities have been a topic of concern for Quinton Eriya since they stopped working together. After a lengthy off-season, Eriya returned at the 2024 New York Pro in sixth place, appearing smaller and flat despite taking all of 2023 away from the stage to make improvements to his physique. Shortly after the event, Eriya fired Jansen as his coach. 

Jansen and Walker also have a storied history. In February 2022, Jansen and Walker split up following a legendary rookie season that saw ‘The Mutant’ win the 2021 New York Pro, Arnold Classic, and place in the top five at Olympia. Just 12 weeks before the 2022 Mr. Olympia, they reunited with Walker taking third place on the prestigious stage. 

However, over the last two years, Walker has been unable to compete on the Mr. Olympia stage. Last year, he tore his hamstring, which led to a withdrawal. And in 2024, Walker again bowed out of the competition, as he and Jansen explained that his body wasn’t responding to the rigors of preparations. But if you ask Quinton Eriya, Walker didn’t get to compete on the blockbuster stage due to the coaching malpractice of Jansen. 

Nick Walker Parts Ways W/ His Coach, Quinton Eriya Fires Shots at Matt Jansen About ‘Fake Gear’ Rumors  

Find Walker’s brief statement on parting ways with Matt Jansen below: 

“I no longer work with Matt.”

“Best day of the week. New week. New beginnings. Same goal. Thriving in chaos,” shared Nick Walker. 

According to Quinton Eriya, Jansen told him he used fake gear which contributed to his lackluster performance in New York. 

“I thought it was just a me thing [with Matt Jansen] and I definitely took it a little bit personal because he gaslit me after it and said that my gear was fake. Yes, guys.

He told me my gear was fake. It wasn’t the two hours of fucking cardio that I was doing because you were afraid I wasn’t going to show up in shape. It wasn’t the two hours of cardio it was that my gear was fake.”

Eriya doesn’t understand why it took Jansen so long to realize that Walker’s body wasn’t responding during preparations for the 2024 Mr. Olympia. 

“I’m making this video because Nick did not make it to the Olympia. Nick didn’t make it to the Olympia guys. People are going to criticize him as you know, I was criticized heavily too for my appearance at the show. People are criticizing Nick. Listen, we’re public figures so criticism is fair. However, you’re telling me his coach didn’t realize something was off? Oh, his body is not responding? You just realized his body wasn’t responding?”

“You just realized his body wasn’t responding? His body wasn’t responding at 14 weeks out, 12 weeks out, 10 weeks out, at what point do you realize, oh shit this isn’t going to work? That’s the thing.” 

He revealed that Walker’s physique was off and that he made the right decision withdrawing from Olympia. 

“From people that I know that saw what he looked like, they said that he was better off pulling out. They said that’s how bad he looked that he made the best decision by pulling out.

To me, if you have a high-level athlete and you can’t even bring them into a show because of whatever the fuck you put them through or you failed to notice something, especially when the guy moved to your fucking state, to your city.” 

Quinton Eriya confirmed that Jansen told 11 different athletes that they were all using fake steroids ‘because things didn’t turn out the way they should have.’ 

“Listen, I haven’t asked Nick what the actual problem was. I just know what everyone else knows. I know the rumors of fake gear.

I’m telling you he [Matt Jansen] has told this shit — I can confirm, I’m not going to throw names under the bus because I’m not trying to bring people in like that, but I can confirm 11 other people that he’s told have fake gear because things didn’t turn out the way they should have.” 

In addition, he highlighted that Shaun Clarida was misguided by Jansen, and that led to him looking flat against Keone Pearson at the 2024 Mr. Olympia. It’s also been revealed that Clarida and Brett Wilkin have stopped working with Jansen. 

“Shaun Clarida, he made an excuse after prejudging. Matt made an excuse about Shaun saying the judges asked for that. No. No. No. The judges didn’t ask for the guy to be fucking flat. They didn’t ask for him to show up flat. They wanted him to be a bit tighter and come in a little more with a controlled abdomen. I think that versus the look that they brought are not the same thing.” 

“A lot of these coaches are not what you think they are,” adds Eriya. 

Coaching changes have taken center stage within the bodybuilding community as of late. Samson Dauda, who recently became the 19th man to win the Mr. Olympia, decided to stop working with Milos Sarcev before his title-winning performance. Instead, Dauda tapped his wife to coach him, which has seemingly paid off. 

In time, fans hope to hear the entire story from Nick Walker, who is no longer working alongside Jansen. Quinton Eriya believes Walker is just one of many athletes who have been accused by Jansen of using fake gear to cover up their unsatisfactory contest outcomes. 

RELATED: Samir Bannout Takes Shot at Bodybuilding ‘Gurus’: ‘Understand Nutrition, Don’t Rely On Drugs’

Watch the full video from the Quinton Eriya YouTube channel below: 

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