There is an unwritten tradition in sports to find the “next” version of a great or legend that is coming up. Some say Patrick Mahomes appears to be the next man up in the G.O.A.T. quarterback conversation after Tom Brady. They are still trying to find the next Tiger Woods in golf.
The chat in bodybuilding circles is about the next Ronnie Coleman or Dorian Yates. Another legend that comes up is Jay Cutler, but the man who has appeared to taken that helm is Nick Walker. The man from New Jersey has looked up to the four-time Mr. Olympia and considers him a mentor now, but his clear goal is to not only match or possibly exceed Cutler’s standards.
[Read More: Jay Cutler vs. Nick Walker: A Fantasy Bodybuilding Showdown]
Walker wants fans to have future conversations focused on who the “next Nick Walker” may be. For now, here’s a glimpse at The Mutant to fill you in on how he has reached his current status as a bodybuilding superstar.
Early Life and Bodybuilding Beginning
Walker was born in 1994 and raised in New Jersey, and he discovered bodybuilding as he entered middle school. Cutler was one of the first champions he saw and looked up to. Coincidentally, they even share a birthday — August 3rd.
Standing at a height of 5’7”, Walker started competing in 2012 and gradually worked his way up through the ranks as a teenager. He realized that he could use the support of a coach and ultimately started working with Matt Jansen. After narrowly missing a pro card at the 2019 NPC USA Championships, he achieved IFBB Pro Status by winning the overall title at the 2020 North American Championships.
Contest History
Walker has entered six IFBB Pro League shows in his four years on the circuit. He has two wins, including the prestigious Arnold Classic title that he won in 2021. He also has been on the Olympia stage twice, placing as high as third in 2022.
He was qualified to compete in the 2023 Mr. Olympia but withdrew due to a hamstring injury. Derek Lunsford won the championship. Walker will need to win a show during the 2024 season to earn a return trip to the big stage. His contest history is below, as documented by NPC News Online.
2020
- Chicago Pro — 4th
2021
- New York Pro — 1st
- Arnold Classic — 1st
- Mr. Olympia — 5th
2022
- Mr. Olympia — 3rd
2023
- Arnold Classic — 2nd
[Read More: The Best Upper Chest Exercises for Building Muscle + Full Workouts]
Nick Walker’s Chest and Biceps Workout
Walker is not shy about sharing his training tips and secrets. He developed his initial mass and shape by focusing on heavy, free-weight compound exercises like the incline barbell bench press, barbell squat, and seated dumbbell press. He also performed heavy rows to develop his posterior chain.
Now that he’s one of the top bodybuilders in the world, he has shifted his focus to details and improving his shape. This requires using more machines when possible and sacrificing weight for slower and more methodical reps upwards of the 10 to 15 range.
Walker’s style could be considered more of a high-intensity training approach because he focuses on one or two muscle groups per session. He will only go to failure for one or two sets at the most before moving on to the next exercise. He will also occasionally use methods such as drop sets or rest-pause training. He takes as much rest as he feels is necessary between sets.
This chest and biceps workout that he performed at the Dragon Lair’s Gym in Las Vegas, NV and shared on his YouTube channel is an example of how he approaches his training craft. He instinctively also added shoulders and triceps at the end.
- Incline Smith Machine Press: 1 working set of 8-10 reps, 1 drop set to failure
- Flat Dumbbell Press: 2 working sets of 10-15 reps
- Incline Dumbbell Flye: 1 working set of 10-12 reps
- Cable Crossover: 1 working set of 10-12 reps with partial reps
- Alternate Dumbbell Curl: 1 working set of 10-12 reps plus a rest-pause
- EZ-Bar Curl: 1 working set of 12-15 reps
- Preacher Curl Machine: 1 working set of 12-15 reps
- Seated Lateral Raise Machine: 1 working set of 12-15 reps
- Assisted Dip: 1 working set to 10-12 reps
*Walker will do multiple warm-up sets with each movement until he feels ready for his working set.
[Read More: 21 Best Upper Body Exercises & Workouts, According to a CPT]
Business Ventures and Social Media
Walker did not just want to emulate Cutler onstage. He also developed a business mindset like his iconic mentor and has become very successful in his own right. He has worked with multiple supplement brands and as of February 2024 was a representative of HD Muscle in Canada.
His name, image, and likeness are also connected to and promoted by Celsius, Alphalete Athletics, and Mega Fit Meals. Aside from a discount code that he makes a commission on, he may also be earning a salary with these brands. He also has his own clothing line that he sells on his website.
One reason for Walker’s success in the fitness industry is his success with social media. He is active on most major outlets such as Instagram (1.5 million followers) and TikTok (382,000 followers). He also publishes a lot of content on his YouTube channel, which boasts 287,000 subscribers. Last but not least, he co-hosts the “Mutant and the Mouth” podcast with retired pro bodybuilder Guy Cisternino.
Nick Walker’s 2024 Competition Plans
Walker has been cleared to return to full training and competition as of January 2024. He intends to enter the 2024 New York Pro contest and win in order to qualify for the 2024 Mr. Olympia show in Las Vegas, NV on Oct. 10-13, 2024. As long as he stays healthy, he has plenty of years ahead of him to forge his legacy both onstage and off, just as Cutler did while Walker was watching as a fan in his developmental years.
Featured Image: @nick_walker39 on Instagram
