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Torn hamstring takes prime contender out of the combo.
Even “The Mutant” is human.
Sadly for Nick Walker, his Olympia journey has already come to an finish resulting from a hamstring tear he suffered whereas coaching for an important bodybuilding present of the yr. Regardless of his finest efforts, the third-place finisher on the 2022 Mr. Olympia couldn’t overcome an harm that occurred on the worst doable time.
With the 2023 Olympia weekend about to get underway in Orlando, FL, from Nov. 2-5, Walker introduced his choice to bow out of the competition by way of an Instagram publish on Oct. 31, 2023.
Though he seemed stage-ready on the floor, the 2021 Arnold Basic winner revealed his hamstring stays a serious situation.
“I attempted to push via it. I attempted to do no matter I may and get no matter therapy I may, nevertheless it simply step by step bought worse,” Walker defined. “It didn’t progress in any manner, form, or kind. Me and my staff thought it was finest that we simply pulled out as a result of we knew there was simply no shot of us putting top-three at this level, or greater. And we don’t need to drop putting.”
In fact, recent changes to the Olympia Qualifying System stipulate that solely the highest three finishers within the 2023 Mr. Olympia mechanically safe a spot within the 2024 contest. Although Walker completed behind solely Hadi Choopan and Derek Lunsford within the Males’s Open division a yr in the past, he absolutely would have confronted an uphill battle to fend off the likes of 2023 Arnold Classic champion Samson Dauda and 2019 Mr. Olympia winner Brandon Curry for third place on one totally wholesome leg.
After delivering the information to promoters and officers, the 2021 Arnold Basic winner mentioned he acquired nothing however assist from IFBB Professional League president Jim Manion and Olympia proprietor Jake Wooden.
“They requested me if I ever wanted something and that simply makes me proud to be a part of this group,” Walker mentioned.
Shifting ahead, there are main ramifications for everybody concerned. Walker faces a tricky activity to get better from a torn hamstring and remind everybody why he was thought of one of many prime contenders to take residence the Mr. Olympia crown in 2023. In the meantime, his absence opens the door even wider for somebody like Dauda, Curry, and even Hunter Labrada, who took residence the 2023 Tampa Pro Men’s Open title in August, to punch their ticket to subsequent yr’s present with a top-three end.
In spite of everything, with Walker, two-time Mr. Olympia champion Mamdouh “Big Ramy” Elssbiay, 2022 Bigman Weekend Professional winner Brett “The Butcher” Wilkin, and 2023 Toronto Pro Supershow winner Ian Valliere all withdrawing for numerous causes, the stage received’t be fairly so crowded (or aggressive) with a number of huge names lacking.
Though it might be straightforward for Walker to view his setback negatively, he confirmed spectacular resolve and inside energy when talking about what’s subsequent.
“If I discovered something from that is that something can occur at any given second,” he defined. “But it surely’s the way you deal with it; it’s what you try this defines who you’re and the character you’ll turn into.”
Featured Picture: nick_walker39 / Instagram
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