Who Is Nick Walker and Why Did He Back Out of 2023 Mr. Olympia at the 11th Hour?

Nick Walker is among the most popular bodybuilders today who are actively competing. After a successful amateur career, Walker has blazed through the professional scene. Within three years, the 29-year-old bodybuilder went from wearing his pro card to placing third at the Mr. Olympia. Despite his young age, Walker is competing against bodybuilders over a decade older and giving experienced veterans a run for their money.

However, his youth and potential aren’t the only things that helped Nick Walker stand out. The 29-year-old bodybuilder earned the nickname “The Mutant” thanks to his astonishing physique. Despite being 5’7″, the IFBB Pro tips the scale at nearly 295 lbs during the off-season. After placing third at the 2022 Mr. Olympia, Nick Walker was among the favorites to win the 2023 Mr. Olympia. However, earlier, the bodybuilding icon made a devastating announcement, pulling out from the contest. Here’s an in-depth look at why Nick Walker’s withdrawal is a significant development.

How Nick Walker got into bodybuilding

Nick Walker is among the most popular bodybuilders today. The Mutant has hundreds of thousands of fans across social media. However, the fan-favorite bodybuilder had a dark past. In an interview with his rivals, Hadi Choopan, and Derek Lunsford’s coach, Hany Rambod, Walker opened up about his troubled childhood. “When I was a child, I was molested,” said Walker.

“So, growing up, I tended to isolate myself quite often, and training was more of the scapegoat for me to take my anger out and be alone,” Walker told the multiple-time Olympia-winning coach. The Arnold Classic winner also turned to alcohol and drugs to deal with the trauma. However, realizing he was going down a dark path, Walker utilized his love for training and began bodybuilding. While he played other sports, bodybuilding ignited a passion that The Mutant turned into his profession. 

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Nick Walker was constantly improving

Walker began competing shortly after graduating high school. In 2013, the Mr. Olympia bronze medalist participated in his first sanctioned contest. Walker placed seventh in the Men’s Novice Light Heavyweight category at the 2013 NPC Eastern USA Championships. After cracking the top 10 at his first show, Walker felt a sense of purpose and set a goal to reach the Olympia stage.

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For the following six years, the bodybuilder became a prolific amateur competitor, making vast improvements to his physique. However, it wasn’t until 2020 that The Mutant earned his Pro card. Walker turned pro after winning the 2020 North American Championships. However, after turning pro, Nick Walker scorched the competition. He won the Arnold Classic in 2021 and cracked the top 5 as a newcomer at the 2021 Mr. Olympia. In 2022, he cracked the top three, and many fans believed he would grab the top spot this year.

What happened to the Mr. Olympia hopeful?

Unfortunately, barely a day before the Olympia week kicks off, The Mutant shocked the world with an announcement. While Walker is quite active on social media and often posts physique updates, the video he uploaded wasn’t a physique update. Instead, the bodybuilding icon announced he wouldn’t compete because he sustained a severe hamstring injury. Walker informed fans that the injury happened “right before we actually came here (Orlando).”

Despite the injury, Walker wasn’t ready to give up. The bodybuilding icon traveled to Orlando and did everything in his power to compete. “I tried to push through it. I tried to do whatever I could get all the treatment that I could,” said the bodybuilder. However, the former Arnold Classic champion’s injury was too severe. “There was just no shot of us placing top three at this point,” confessed Walker with tears in his eyes in the announcement video. His absence will undoubtedly change the outcome of the entire competition.

Nick Walker’s absence affects the 2023 Mr. Olympia

Nick Walker has constantly improved his physique. The bodybuilder has listened to judges throughout his career and, with time, turned weakness into strength. In 2021, Walker was criticized for his blocky midsection. However, in 2022, the 29-year-old transformed his midsection. He developed tighter abs while maintaining his size. After controversially losing to Samson Dauda at the 2023 Arnold Classic, Walker looked to bring a perfect mix of size, aesthetics, and muscularity at the 2023 Mr. Olympia.

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The Mutant’s impressive physique updates in the past few months had convinced his fans about his chances of winning it all this year. However, the unfortunate accident resulting in his withdrawal has changed the entire outcome of this year’s Olympia. Walker occupied one of the top spots in the predictions of several experts and fans. Many believed at worst, Walker would retain his third spot. 

However, his withdrawal has left the top five at this year’s Olympia wide open. Bodybuilders like 2023 Arnold Classic bronze medalist Andrew Jacked and other prospects like Michael Krizo might end up placing higher than they would have. Taking Nick Walker out of the picture also narrows down the favorites to reigning champion Hadi Choppan and challengers Derek Lunsford and Samson Dauda. There is little doubt that the 2023 Mr. Olympia lost one of its best participants at the 11th hour.