The Men’s Open lineup continues to take shape for the biggest event of the IFBB Pro League calendar. In a recent podcast with Jay Cutler, Sergio Oliva Jr. previewed top contenders heading to the 2024 Mr. Olympia, and opened up on Nick Walker’s chances of moving up the ranks.
Olympia peak week last year was filled with surprising twists and turns, making it even more challenging to predict who would walk away with the Sandow trophy. Days before having the chance to compete, Nick Walker injured his calf and hamstring, which prevented him from participating in Orlando, Florida. In his absence, Derek Lunsford emerged as a two-division Mr. Olympia winner against his teammate Hadi Choopan.
After patiently healing on the sidelines, Walker set his sights on the 2024 New York Pro. Despite being tested by a new and improved Martin Fitzwater, Walker came out on top with refined shape and hard conditioning. Questions have ensued about ‘The Mutant’s’ chances on the grand stage, sparking discussions from mainstays of the category like Oliva Jr.
Sergio Oliva Jr. Says 2024 Mr. Olympia ‘Year of the Short Guys,’ Believes Nick Walker ‘Doing Everything Right’
According to Oliva Jr., a six-time or eight-time Mr. Olympia winner ‘is never going to happen.’ He believes 2024 is the ‘year of the short guys,’ mentioning that anyone with stature, size, and fullness, should win against Olympia contenders ’10 out of 10 times.’
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“Right now, there’s no way [a six-time or eight-time Mr. Olympia] it’s never going to happen. And two, right now, people get upset, but it’s the year of the short guys. If you are with any decent height whatsoever and nail your condition and come in with size, fullness, you should beat them 10 out of 10 times.”
Considering Samson Dauda came up short against Hadi Choopan twice this season, Oliva Jr. believes his coaching changes were justified.
“No matter what, he [Samson Dauda] is trying. No matter what, he’s not going to do the same thing over and over again and people want to attack that. Whatever, they don’t understand. When someone is trying to do something different, it obviously shows they are not okay with doing the same thing over and over.”
“Look, he’s collecting probably the same prize Derek won at Olympia as he is in guest posing. It’s not like he’s losing money. He’s doing this because he really wants to make a difference. I think the reason too I get a lot of shit is I’m like an old-school guy. I feel like I have old blood in me but I’m competing with these guys today,” shares Sergio Oliva Jr.
As an ‘ambassador for the freaks,’ Oliva Jr. weighed Nick Walker’s chances at the 2024 Mr. Olympia.
“Nick is the ambassador for the freaks. That’s something that a lot of people who are really into aesthetics into bodybuilding, you forget, everyone’s opinion in bodybuilding is important. You can want to be like Markus Ruhl that doesn’t mean your opinion is wrong, that’s what you prefer. Nick is that freak factor, which who else do we have for the freaks anymore?”
Oliva Jr. believes Walker is ‘doing everything right’ but will face a challenging road ahead if he wishes to improve his rank on the 2024 Mr. Olympia stage — even if his legs come up.
“I mean him embracing it, calling himself The Mutant, he is doing everything right, said Oliva Jr. “The other thing you have to ask if where can he improve.
He can make his legs bigger of course and that might even out his upper body a little bit. I feel like if he was going to do that, it would have been a huge change already in the last couple of years. I always say, where can he go from here? I think what they want from Nick, it’s going to be really tough.”
Bodybuilding veterans have been highly intrigued by the nearing showdown slated for the 2024 Mr. Olympia stage. As of late, Jay Cutler offered his ‘three kings’ of the Men’s Open at the prestigious competition, labeling Derek Lunsford, Hadi Choopan, and Samson Dauda as names to watch out for.
With Walker being absent at the 2023 Olympia, this year’s competition promises to be historic. If he pulls off the victory, he will redefine the standards atop the Men’s Open class, currently held by Olympia champion Derek Lunsford.
RELATED: Jay Cutler Doubtful of Nick Walker Making Top 3 at 2024 Mr. Olympia: ‘He Has to Step Up’
Watch the full video from the Cutler Cast YouTube channel:
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