Nick Walker is revamping his physique, training, and diet to bring his best in 2026. On Nov. 6, 2025, via YouTube, judge Terrick El Guindy urged him to qualify for the 2026 Mr. Olympia early.
Walker stamped his ticket to the Mr. Olympia after winning the 2025 New York Pro. Despite overwhelming hype (mostly from social media), he missed the mark in Vegas and dropped to sixth place. Afterward, Kyle Wilkes, his former head coach, explained that they mistimed the peak.
Days following the event, Walker parted ways with Wilkes and became a free agent. He plans to navigate his career solo in the meantime. The sudden move has fans of the sport wondering when and where he’ll compete next.
Terrick El Guindy Urges Nick Walker to Secure Early Qualification for 2026 Mr. Olympia
In the video, El Guindy recapped Walker’s performance in Vegas. He believes “The Mutant” boasts the biggest upper body of anyone in the Men’s Open.
“As soon as I saw Nick Walker walking towards the box, I noticed man, the upper body is humongous. He has the biggest upper body in bodybuilding. I’ll say this: bigger than Derek, bigger than Good Vito, bigger than Neckzilla, there’s not a guy that has more muscle on that upper body than Nick Walker.”
Given Walker’s structural limitations, like his long torso and wide waist, El Guindy emphasized that ‘everything changes’ when Walker is not at 100%.
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“I said he can fight for the Olympia title, but then, when he started posing in the box, I said, this is not as good as Pittsburgh,” said El Guindy. “Everything changes for Nick Walker if he’s not 100%.”
To ensure ample time for preparations, he suggested Walker qualify for the 2026 Mr. Olympia early.
“He needs to pick a show, maybe in the beginning of the year, win that show, earn his early qualification, take some time, and just focus on the Olympia.
I think this year was a great year for him, three shows, two, one he won, one head-to-head against Derek, but man, it was stressful, everybody was like you better show up to the Olympia or no one will believe in you anymore.”
The 2026 Arnold Classic stands out as a possibility for Walker. He won the contest back in 2021, and this year, the stakes have never been higher. Arnold Schwarzenegger confirmed that the Men’s Open winner will rake in a massive $750,000 prize purse, the highest in bodybuilding history.
Should Walker jump into the Arnold Classic, it won’t be an easy victory. Chris Aceto confirmed Olympia bronze finisher Andrew Jacked will compete in Ohio. El Guindy has also mentioned that reigning Mr. Olympia Derek Lunsford intends to defend his AC title in 2026 as well.
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Watch the full video from the OlympiaTV YouTube channel below:
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