Nick Walker is taking time to reflect after finishing sixth at the 2025 Mr. Olympia. In a recent YouTube video released on October 17, he broke down what went wrong, how he felt on stage, and what his next moves might be. Although Walker confirmed he will not compete again in 2025, he hinted that he could return early next year—possibly at the 2026 Arnold Classic. His tone throughout the discussion was a blend of disappointment, honesty, and determination.

At the start of the video, Walker described the exact moment he realized something wasn’t right with his physique. He said that while preparing backstage, he performed his usual lat flare before walking to the stage but instantly noticed a problem.

“The moment I kind of was like oh shit … I start flaring my lats out … I felt nothing. I didn’t feel the skin stretch. I didn’t feel my lats fucking move. I’m like ohh …”

He said that at that moment, he knew his peak had gone wrong. Later, after reviewing photos from the contest, he confirmed what he already suspected.

“I didn’t know what it was going to look like obviously, but I knew it was not going to be my best. I didn’t know how far off it was going to be. … To me, it was way off.”

He admitted the outcome left him deeply frustrated.

“It was just disappointing for me.”

However, Walker noted that he looked much better at the Saturday night finals compared to Friday’s prejudging. He believed that if he had brought that improved look earlier, his placement could have been much higher.

“I do feel like if I looked Friday the way I looked Saturday, I could have probably been in the top four, in my opinion. … Top three [with my Pittsburgh package] for me, I do believe that.”

 

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Nick Walker Hints at 2026 Arnold Classic Return

As the conversation continued, Walker made it clear he has no plans to compete again for the rest of the year. He said his focus now is on recovery and preparation for what comes next.

“No, no, no [no late shows in 2025]. I’m done for October, November, December.”

Still, he didn’t rule out competing at the 2026 Arnold Classic, suggesting he might use that show to earn his Olympia qualification early.

“We’ll see [about the Arnold Classic]. My goal is to hit an earlier show for sure.”

After discussing his own performance, Walker shared his thoughts on the top competitors at the 2025 Olympia. He praised Hadi Choopan’s sharper, more conditioned look and said the Iranian champion’s physique was nearly flawless.

“I liked his sharper look. I like a full, hard, conditioned look. I liked his Arnold look the best. … I think if Hadi won nobody would have said a word. I don’t think anybody would have complained.”

Then, he turned his attention to Samson Dauda, suggesting that Dauda’s carb-up may have been mishandled and left him looking flatter than expected.

“They misjudged his carb-up. … but because he was on the flatter side of things, it didn’t pan out for him. I think even though Hadi was a little on the smaller side, he was still full, very full.”

In contrast, Walker praised Andrew Jacked, saying he brought one of his best physiques yet to the Olympia stage.

“I think Andrew looked incredible. … It is [the side shots kill him] but for him, that was an epic looking Andrew, 100 percent.”

Throughout the video, Walker maintained respect for his peers but also acknowledged his own need to improve. He said his goal for 2026 is to qualify early for the Olympia and take control of his preparation rather than chasing late-season points. By doing so, he believes he can show up sharper and fuller next year.

 

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2026 Arnold Classic Return

The 2026 Arnold Classic, scheduled for March, could be his perfect return point. With a record $750,000 prize for the Men’s Open champion, the event would provide a major platform for redemption. For Walker, though, the motivation seems to go beyond money—it’s about proving he can deliver the physique fans expect from “The Mutant.”

In the end, Walker sounded more focused than frustrated. He acknowledged that his 2025 Olympia performance fell short of expectations, but his analysis showed self-awareness and a clear plan to fix his mistakes. He intends to take the rest of the year off, rebuild, and return to the stage with the conditioning and fullness that once made him a top threat in the division.

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Nick Walker admitted his Olympia showing was far from his best and described the exact moment he realized it. Furthermore, he said he plans to skip late shows and focus entirely on 2026, where he hopes to compete early—possibly at the Arnold Classic. Moreover, he praised Hadi Choopan’s sharper conditioning, critiqued Samson Dauda’s carb-up, and applauded Andrew Jacked’s improvements. He also emphasized that readiness will determine whether he competes in March. Ultimately, Walker’s message combined honesty, accountability, and determination to return better than ever next season.

Featured Image – Nick Walker Hints at 2026 Arnold Classic Return – Credit: @mrolympiallc, @Flex_magazine, @nick_walker39 (Instagram)