Bodybuilding standout Nick Walker opened up about his best-ever onstage looks, his recent coaching split, and his decision to take full control of his training as Self-Coaching. The move follows years of coaching changes and a season that left him determined to rely on his own instincts moving forward.

Nick Walker has shifted coaching partnerships several times during his pro career. For years, he trained under Matt Jansen, but their long-time relationship ended after his withdrawal from the 2024 Mr. Olympia. Walker later teamed up with Kyle Wilkes, working together through the 2025 Mr. Olympia. Despite strong expectations, he placed sixth, and the result sparked tension and reflection.

Wilkes later accepted responsibility for the underwhelming performance, saying Walker’s look didn’t represent his best potential. Shortly after, Walker confirmed their split and announced that he’s now self-coaching.

“So now, obviously, the cat is out of the bag a little bit… diet-wise, I’m obviously doing my own thing right now, which I’m actually enjoying and having fun. It’s a lot of, I’ll just say this: it’s a nice weight lifted off the shoulders.”

Walker said the change has brought a new sense of freedom and enjoyment to his training process.

 

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Nick Walker Reveals His All-Time Best Onstage Looks, Explains Why He’s Self-Coaching: “It’s a Nice Weight Lifted Off the Shoulders”

Looking back on his career, Walker identified three shows as his all-time best physiques.

“When it comes to looks for shows, I truly believe my favorite look, which I think are my best looks, were the 2021 Arnold Classic. I just thought for me, that was my number one. I was dry, hard, very grainy, and full. As soon as I walked out for that show, it was lights out, game over.”

He ranked his 2022 Mr. Olympia package second for its fullness and balance:

“I don’t think I was as conditioned, per se, as the 2021 Arnold, but I was so f***ing full. It was an undeniable type of full but still very dry.”

He also praised his 2023 Arnold Classic runner-up showing, calling it one of his leanest and driest performances:

“I was still pretty full, but I was so f***ing lean for that it was insanity.”

 

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By contrast, his 2025 Pittsburgh Pro appearance — where he lost a tiebreaker to Derek Lunsford — fell short of his personal expectations.

“That look was good, don’t get me wrong, but I could have been leaner, I could have been drier, I could have been harder. I also could have been a little fuller… That’s not what I like to bring to the stage.”

After their split, Walker took issue with how Wilkes addressed the breakup publicly, calling his comments “disrespectful.”

“I just think he did it in a very disrespectful, degrading way that I would never do to somebody.”

Walker said Wilkes’ methods didn’t align with his philosophy:

“I just did not like the way his methods were. It didn’t align with what I do… and it was just best that I started to do my own thing.”

The bodybuilding community reacted quickly. Samir Bannout said Walker’s waistline issues were “fixable” and suggested that coaching decisions may have impacted his look at the Olympia. Meanwhile, Shawn Ray and Bob Cicherillo advised him to take time off before competing again, focusing on refinement and recovery.

Timeline: Coaching Shifts vs. Contest Results

With no coach guiding his plan, Nick Walker is now handling his own training, nutrition, and peaking strategy. He said the shift has reignited his excitement for bodybuilding.

“It’s just fun again. That’s the biggest difference. It’s not stressful. I know what I want to do, and I know how to get there.”

Watch The Truth About My Best Looks | LEG DAY | QUADS HAMS GLUTES At Nick Walker Youtube Channel Below:

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Nick Walker has reached a new turning point in his bodybuilding career. By stepping away from traditional coaching and relying on his own experience, he’s reclaiming control over his process and rediscovering what makes the sport rewarding. Drawing from his peak performances at the 2021 Arnold Classic and 2022 Mr. Olympia, Walker aims to refine that same balance of fullness, conditioning, and confidence. Now self-coached and mentally refreshed, he’s focused on returning to the stage on his own terms — stronger, sharper, and freer than ever before.

Featured Image – Nick Walker Reveals His All-Time Best Onstage Looks, Explains Why He’s Self-Coaching: “It’s a Nice Weight Lifted Off the Shoulders” –  Credit: @Nick_walker39 (Instagram & Youtube)