Bodybuilding veteran Shawn Ray has always believed size doesn’t determine your fate in the IFBB Pro League. On February 1, 2025, he discussed the health implications of Nick Walker reaching 300 pounds. In addition, he gave his opinion on the prime Lee Priest versus Keone Pearson match-up and trans athletes competing in the sport.
Nick Walker’s run in the Men’s Open class has been filled with twists and turns. Although he was a favorite heading into the 2023 Olympia contest, his dreams were shot down after he injured his hamstring and calf, which forced him out of the competition.
A year later, he was slated to compete at the ‘Super Bowl of Bodybuilding’ again, but couldn’t make it on stage after his body wouldn’t respond to preparations. He intends to return at the nearing 2025 Pittsburgh Pro and is currently tipping the scales at a monstrous 300 pounds. However, Ray articulated that he could be putting his health in jeopardy in pursuit of a bigger look.
Shawn Ray Says Nick Walker Hitting 300 Lbs Could Cause Heart Problems, Talks Keone Pearson vs Lee Priest & Trans Bodybuilders
When asked if there’s any magic to hitting the 300-pound mark, Ray emphasized that it could cause significant damage, especially to heart health.
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“Yeah, a lot of damage. While everything else gets bigger, the one muscle that doesn’t is your heart. The one thing that has to work harder in the internal system is the heart and it’s a very short run for a lot of those 300-pound bodybuilders because it’s diminishing returns.”
Ray underlined that even Jay Cutler, who competed against Ronnie Coleman, didn’t eclipse 300 pounds and he was taller than Walker.
“Most of the big guys on the way up are impressive but it’s very hard to sustain that upward growth. At some point, you have to get into the refinement area. Now, Nick at all of 5’7″ at 300 pounds, I think he’s probably one of the first.
I don’t even know, Jay Cutler was flirting with 300 pounds but he’s 5’9”. Nick Walker was already kind of boxy and short so I don’t know how that’s going to be distributed. He is not the next Victor Richards.”
He believes Walker would benefit from high-rep and high-intensity workouts to bring his weight down.
“I hope he’s doing some high-rep, high-intensity workouts to try to bring that weight down,” adds Ray.
Switching gears, Ray argued a prime Lee Priest would have struggled from the back with Keone Pearson. He emphasized the discrepancy between the two athletes, stating it’s a case of ‘a man against boys.’
“Let’s find out who’s better Keone or Lee Priest. I’d love to see that, I think all of us would because I saw some comments where people were saying Lee Priest at his peak would be better than Keone. I don’t know what they are looking at. As soon as they turn around to the rear, which most of the contests are won and lost from, it’s over.
Keone’s chest, Keone’s shoulder-to-waist differential, it’s a man against boys from where I sit. Keone is a top Olympian in today’s bodybuilding right now. I don’t know if you can say the same thing about Lee Priest.”
Ray also tackled trans bodybuilders competing in the sport, as was the case recently at the 2025 NPC Musclecontest Challenge.
“Some people thought it was not fair. I think there was only two people and she got second. I never heard her say I’m a man, nor was she pretending to be a man. She put on Classic Physique shorts and put some pasties on and walked out on stage and got judged. She got second out of two,” explains Ray.
“If that’s a gateway to bigger issues, then the federation has to clarify what divisions you are allowed to compete in as a man and what divisions you are allowed to compete in as a female. President Trump mentioned we have two genders and that’s going to be the rule of law going forward. If you’re going to let a woman compete in a man’s competition, it’s not going to be too long before we see a man jump into a woman’s division.”
Having tested himself against the best, Shawn Ray’s opinions carry considerable weight. He believes trans athletes competing in the NPC/IFBB Pro League could open the door to bigger issues. Additionally, he warns that Nick Walker should tread carefully at 300 pounds, given the potential long-term health risks.
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