Pro bodybuilder and Celsius athlete Nick Walker still has fans talking about how he looked and performed in Teaneck, NJ, at the 2024 New York Pro on May 18. It was his second New York Pro title and third career win since turning pro in 2020.
Now, Walker and coach Matt Jansen have their sights set on the 2024 Mr. Olympia at Resorts World in Las Vegas, NV, on the weekend of Oct. 10-13. The 2021 Arnold Classic champion exudes confidence and has a legion of fans backing him up. He even practices his championship speech because he feels it is his destiny.
In BarBend‘s exclusive interview with Walker, he spoke about his experience in Teaneck, having to watch the 2023 Olympia from the sidelines due to his hamstring injury, his personal expectations at the 2024 Olympia, and why he feels he will defeat rivals Samson Dauda, Hadi Choopan, and reigning Mr. Olympia Derek Lunsford.
[Related: Best Dumbbell Exercises]
BarBend (BB): How do you feel about your New York Pro victory compared to your first win in 2021?
Nick Walker (NW): The prep for the first one was in Florida after I got my Pro card. After the 2020 Chicago Pro, I had time for an off-season to dial in. That one was fun, but this one, not so much.
I had a lot going on at once. Of course, I had the injury, but also a couple of deaths and other things as well. It was great to come home and prepare, but it was mentally challenging. I did not really feel like myself until four weeks out, but that made the victory that much sweeter when it was over.
BB: Now qualified for the 2024 Olympia, what are your prep plans?
NW: I will go to Florida to prepare with Matt (Jansen, his coach). We are both excited about that.
BB: Derek Lunsford, Hadi Choopan, and Samson Dauda battled for Mr. Olympia in 2023. How do you feel you compare to them?
NW: Being in the crowd watching them pissed me off because I thought I would have won. Some people hate hearing me say that, but I truly believe with the way I looked — and where my and Matt’s confidence was — it would have been one of the hardest battles.
BB: When analyzing their physiques, how do you compare favorably to them?
NW: Derek has one of the best back double biceps poses in the game. When you get everything from the upper back down to the lower back, the glutes, the adductors, and the hamstrings, I think I would have won the entire shot.
[Related: Powerbuilding Workout Routine]
I also think I would have won the rear lat spread. You can give Lunsford the front double biceps and the front flat spread. The side triceps, side chest, and Most Muscular are mine.
BB: What about Hadi Choopan and Samson Dauda?
NW: Hadi was very hard from the front but not so much from the back. I think I was hard with every muscle group from all angles. All we had to do was fill out a bit, and it would have been game over. I don’t think Samson would have been in the top three if I was in there.
BB: What does your current training look like for prep?
NW: Matt has me doing a push, pull, and legs split right now. For the New York Pro prep, he had me doing a Dorian Yates-like split: Monday was shoulders and triceps, Tuesday was back, Wednesday was off, Thursday was chest and biceps, and Friday was legs.
We took weekends off and repeated the next week. We think that was great, but now Matt wants me to get more frequency in. So, we will do push, pull, off, legs, off, and keep repeating that.
BB: Do you prefer that training split?
NW: I really like it. We have done it before, and it allows me to get more rest and optimize my training.
BB: You have several business commitments during prep, including with Celsius. How do those commitments and your relocation to Florida affect prep?
NW: I am prepared for it. Life is not easy. There will be trials and tribulations. Last year was a really big one for me.
I found out how human I am, but I am a big believer that everything happens for a reason. Bad things can happen for better things to align. I am happy with where things are going.
BB: 2024 is the 60th Mr. Olympia. If you win, you will be the 19th Mr. Olympia. How do you mentally prepare?
NW: I visualize myself holding that trophy every single year. That is the end goal, and I envision myself doing that every year. I even practice the speech I would give.
If you want to be Mr. Olympia, you need to conduct yourself like you are Mr. Olympia all year, and I feel like I do that. I believe that should be the case in all aspects of life. If you want to be something, you should act like you already are what it is you want to be before it happens.
2024 Mr. Olympia
Since Walker did not compete at the 2023 Olympia, he needed to win a pro show during the 2024 season to qualify for the 2024 Olympia. He achieved that with his New York Pro win and is not expected to compete again before taking the 2024 Mr. Olympia stage in Las Vegas on Oct. 10-13, 2024. His best Olympia finish to date is third in 2022.
Featured Image: @nick_walker39 on Instagram
