“The Mutant” must overcome multiple injuries to make his return.
Coming off a third-place finish on the 2022 Mr. Olympia, Nick Walker looked certain for a podium finish on the 2023 Mr. Olympia. Unfortunately for the gifted bodybuilder, his quest to capture the 2023 Mr. Olympia crown got here to a premature and painful end before the competition began.
Forced to withdraw from the most important competition of the season due to a torn hamstring, Walker recently revealed he suffered much more damage than initially thought. In a video posted on his Instagram page on Nov. 6, 2023, “The Mutant” delivered an update about his injury status and his mindset as he embarks on the road to recovery.
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After congratulating Derek Lunsford for becoming the 18th Mr. Olympia and the primary two-division champion, Walker divulged more details about his health status. Not only did Walker suffer a serious hamstring injury within the leadup to the Olympia, but he also hurt his calf.
“I believe it was Friday, we went and got the MRI done and it got here back that I do have a partial hamstring tear and a grade 1 strain, little tear in my calf as well,” Walker said. “Nothing crazy, nothing too significant that might require surgery, in order that’s great news. I’m very joyful, literally very joyful about that.”
Luckily for Walker, a grade 1 strain includes mild damage to individual muscle fibers that typically causes a small lack of strength and motion. Then again, a grade 3 strain involves a whole rupture of a muscle or tendon and frequently requires surgery to reattach the damaged structure. So, although Walker’s Olympia dream changed into a little bit of a nightmare, he avoided the worst-case scenario.
The 2021 Arnold Classic winner noted that his doctors were “very impressed” with how quickly his body began the healing process. Despite coping with a serious setback at probably the most inopportune time, Walker displayed maturity and humility when discussing his injury.
“I’m a firm believer that things occur for a reason, and I can’t seem to seek out what reason this,” Walker explained. “This was presupposed to be a very special moment. I’m just holding on to that saying, things occur for a reason, for greater things to occur, in order that’s what we’re going to do.”
[Related: 2023 Amateur Olympia Results]
Although Walker can’t crush a leg workout anytime soon, he won’t let that stop him from preparing to compete again in 2024. Focused on training his upper body and testing his limits as he recovers, he vowed to return stronger for next 12 months’s Olympia.
Nevertheless, whether Walker may have a possibility to take part in the game’s tentpole contest is way less certain than his conviction about making a comeback. Because of changes to the Olympia Qualifying System, only the highest three finishers from the Mr. Olympia contest mechanically qualify for next 12 months’s event.
With Walker already ruling himself out of the 2024 Arnold Classic, he may have to win an IFBB Pro League show to secure a spot within the Men’s Open lineup for the 2024 Olympia. Nevertheless, perhaps promoters will grant “The Mutant” his request to receive a special invite to share the stage with the newly crowned champion and the remainder of the Olympia hopefuls.
Featured Image: nick_walker39 / Instagram