Cutler is a big fan of Walker’s prospects this 12 months.
Nick Walker has spent the higher a part of the roughly final two years turning heads. The younger bodybuilder gained the 2021 Arnold Basic, took dwelling a top-five debut end result on the 2021 Mr. Olympia, and adopted that efficiency with a podium end behind Derek Lunsford (second) and Hadi Choopan (first) on the 2022 Olympia. As the subsequent chapter of his already productive profession unfolds, Walker will first sort out the 2023 Arnold Basic (AC) in March. It’s there the place a longtime legend thinks the athlete must be the favourite.
On Jan. 26, 2023, throughout a podcast episode of The Cutler Solid, four-time Mr. Olympia champion (2006-2007, 2009-2010) Jay Cutler and esteemed coach Miloš Šarčev mentioned storylines and potential comparisons for the upcoming AC. One of many Cutler’s details was that he believes Walker has a pole place for the Columbus, OH, contest on Mar. 2-5, 2023. It’s fairly the endorsement for Walker from a revered competitor who, himself, is one in every of solely 4 athletes to win the AC thrice — Cutler captured the title in 2002-2004.
Whereas the ultimate full roster for the 2023 AC hasn’t been confirmed on the time of this writing, Cutler expressed to Šarčev that he thinks the opposite athletes aren’t on par with Walker’s general construct. Notably, a number of the early confirmed rivals embrace former two-time winner William Bonac (2018, 2020), Samson Dauda, Kamal Elgargni, and Akim Williams.
“Are the massive dudes going to have sufficient mixture to push Nick [Walker] to the facet?” Cutler mentioned rhetorically. “I’ve a tough time believing that.”
The one peer Cutler appears to imagine can really push Walker is former two-time Mr. Olympia (2020-2021), Mamdouh “Huge Ramy” Elssbiay. The Egyptian athlete had beforehand revealed he would compete on the 2023 AC in his second profession look on the contest, having positioned third in 2020. To Cutler, even with a disappointing fifth-place end on the 2022 Mr. Olympia, if Elssbiay exhibits up in high kind, it may morph into fairly a battle.
“Ramy [Elssbiay] wasn’t full [at the 2022 Mr. Olympia],” Cutler mentioned. “Ramy wanted to be Ramy. His pores and skin would have been tighter. His look, there would have been extra roundness to all the things. Pay attention, Ramy, we talked about it. If Ramy is one hundred pc, he beats everyone. He’s nonetheless Huge Ramy.”
That mentioned, Cutler appears to sense one thing particular and innate in Walker’s aggressive mindset. He alluded to the purpose that Walker gained’t let himself fall quick so simply now that he’s established celebrity in bodybuilding. Consequently, for Cutler, a second AC title is clearly within the works for Walker.
“ … I simply know Nick’s [Walker] mindset,” Cutler defined. “I do know his imaginative and prescient. I do know each evening earlier than he goes to mattress, he’s visualizing successful this competitors. And generally, you may’t overtake somebody’s willpower. He believes greater than anybody else on this planet. We will speak in regards to the confidence of those individuals main into these exhibits … I simply don’t suppose there’s anybody extra devoted than Nick Walker. I feel ultimately, he’ll be a two-time champ.”
From the time of Cutler’s prediction, the 2023 AC continues to be a methods off. Loads can change within the coming weeks earlier than Walker and the opposite respective athletes take the stage in Columbus. It’s doable that one other top-tier challenger who can duke it out with Walker on stage would possibly emerge. Till then, Walker appears to have Cutler’s wholehearted seal of approval, and that’s no small factor.
Featured picture: @nick_walker39 on Instagram
