Bodybuilding veteran Samir Bannout is taking a closer look at the Men’s Open division in 2024. Taking to YouTube on October 27, 2024, Bannout discussed Nick Walker’s coaching controversy with Matt Jansen and gave advice to Andrew Jacked after he took fifth place at the 2024 Mr. Olympia contest.
Bodybuilder Nick Walker has been on the receiving end of some bad luck as of late. In 2023, he was forced to withdraw from the Mr. Olympia competition due to a devastating hamstring and calf tear. It was a long road to recovery but he rallied back with a win at the 2024 New York Pro against rising Open star Martin Fitzwater.
When it was time to test his resolve on the Mr. Olympia stage, Walker pulled out from the show days before competing. This time, he and his ex-coach Matt Jansen explained that his body wasn’t responding and that he needed time to rest. Things became even more complicated as he and Jansen split. In addition, all of Jansen’s clients stopped working with him, including Justin Shier, Brett Wilkin, and Shaun Clarida.
Meanwhile, the potential of Andrew Jacked has been another major story in bodybuilding. He won the 2024 Texas Pro and was considered a massive favorite to win the Mr. Olympia. However, he ended up in fifth place. Unpacking the new Open landscape, Samir Bannout discussed what’s to come in the popular division.
Samir Bannout Talks Nick Walker, Matt Jansen Coaching Controversy, Gives Advice to Andrew Jacked to Win 2025 Arnold Classic
According to Samir Bannout, there are one too many chefs in the kitchen for Andrew Jacked. He believes he needs to choose either Chris Aceto or Chris Lewis to help him peak for contests.
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“He needs to fill up properly. Again, he needs to have one chef in the kitchen. I think the fact that he has Chris Aceto and Chris Lewis together… I think that’s not very intelligent. One of them should take over that department when it comes to peak management.”
He adds that Jacked would benefit greatly by learning how to ‘fill up’ for competitions.
“You’re not going to get bad. You can fill up a little bit of water. It’s simple to get rid of. Fill up all the way. Go put your money in the piggybank, put your money in the bank, and then go shopping.”
“Load up, at the very worst-case scenario if you load with water it’s easy to deal with intelligently. He needs to come back and show the world that he’s much better than he was at the Olympia. Andrew is still dangerous. He has to re-peak.”
As long as his health is in check, Samir Bannout believes Andrew Jacked could upset Samson Dauda at the 2025 Arnold Classic.
“Between him and Chris and Chris, checking the health part of it, and if he’s healthy enough, why not? I mean, he could [defeat Samson Dauda at the 2025 Arnold Classic], he could,” adds Bannout.
Although there are questions arising about the quality of Matt Jansen’s coaching abilities (mainly due to Quinton Eriya), Bannout backed him up as a credible trainer.
“Matt Jansen has proved himself over and over as a coach that delivered and brought athletes in top condition. Really, I cannot judge him about his style of coaching. All I know he did a good job coaching some of those great guys.”
“I feel bad for Nick Walker because I really felt Nick Walker should have been on stage because he hadn’t competed for a year! For God’s sake, why not? I don’t know if it’s Matt Jansen’s fault. Some people told me it’s Matt Jansen that made the decision for Nick Walker.”
He feels bad for Nick Walker, who hasn’t had the chance to compete at the Mr. Olympia for two consecutive years.
“I felt bad for Nick because I know Nick would have been, especially at the Olympia, his condition comes in, he always comes in great condition, he would have done very well.”
Bannout doesn’t fully understand why ‘The Mutant’s’ body wasn’t ready for the Mr. Olympia considering that was the show he was preparing for.
“What you mean he wasn’t ready? Well, you need to get ready. What do you mean? That’s no excuse. Why are you not ready? You’re training for the Olympia, you got to be ready for the Olympia. Don’t say I’m not ready, why? He wasn’t competing.”
“I know his spirit. I know he is eager to come back. I saw him last year sitting in a wheelchair and I said hi, but I know Nick is eager to compete and I would have loved to see him up there doing the best he could. There’s no reason to say he’s not ready. What the hell? Why is he not ready?”
Bannout speculated that Walker might have had a health issue that prevented him from competing.
“Maybe he had some health issue that is not a good thing for his health,” wonders Bannout.
Attention in bodybuilding has quickly turned to the upcoming 2025 Arnold Classic. Bodybuilding legend Arnold Schwarzenegger has guaranteed that the Open winner will earn an unprecedented $500,000 purse. Samson Dauda, Andrew Jacked, and Nathan De Asha have all mentioned that they plan to enter the second biggest show of the season.
The future is uncertain for Nick Walker, but fans expect him to make a commanding bid to qualify for the next Mr. Olympia, though we don’t know when yet. As for Andrew Jacked, Bannout suggests he refine his peaking process if he hopes to stand a shot at winning in Columbus, Ohio on the horizon.
To watch the full video, click the link below:
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