“The Mutant” is hungry for an extra Arnold Primary title.
Written by Robert Zeglinski Closing updated on January 13, 2023
Nick “The Mutant” Walker wasn’t on a regular basis a hulking phenom — actually one in all modern bodybuilding’s prime rivals. Then he acquired the 2021 Arnold Primary (AC) all through his Worldwide Federation of Bodybuilding and Well being (IFBB) Skilled League rookie yr, and he’s seemingly solely turn into further extreme profile by the day ever since. A fifth-place consequence on the 2021 Mr. Olympia was a changing into cherry on prime for an athlete who appeared like the following big issue inside the sport. Now, after a podium effectivity on the 2022 Mr. Olympia, Walker is perhaps dropping no time getting once more on the mass warpath. He’ll return to some of his roots to do it.
On Jan. 12, 2023, the Arnold Sports activities actions Competitors revealed that Walker would compete on the 2023 model of the Arnold Primary. The competitors is in the intervening time scheduled for Mar. 2-5, 2023, in Columbus, OH, the place, unsurprisingly, quite a lot of totally different established superstars already plan to assemble. A stacked space in all probability acquired’t intimidate Walker, who seems to be on a determined mission to make it two vaunted AC titles in three years.
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Walker’s AC return announcement acquired right here shortly after the Arnold Sports activities actions Competitors launched that this yr’s first-place prize money may be upped to $300,000 for the Males’s Open winner. That compensation is almost 3 instances Walker’s victory winnings of $130,000 in 2021, partly signifying the massive speedy progress of the opponents and its significance.
In a quick publish on his Instagram, Walker tersely nevertheless successfully elaborated on the knowledge of his return to the AC. He shared a picture from his profitable effectivity on the 2021 iteration with a caption of “run it once more,” with obvious intentions of overcoming his elite buddies on the Columbus, OH, stage as soon as extra.
Walker will face no shortage of worthy challengers to etch his establish as a result of the Arnold Primary winner for the second time in three years.
For example, two-time winner William Bonac will search his third career AC crown (2018, 2022), a feat solely 4 totally different bodybuilders have achieved inside the contest’s 33-year historic previous. On the similar time, a newer ascending star like Samson Dauda will even be vying for the momentous championship. Completely different notable confirmed names thus far embody Kamal Elgargni and Akim Williams.
Notably, a bunch of relative newcomers in Derek Lunsford, Blessing Awodibu, and Michal “Križo” Križánek launched plans to skip the tentpole contest. Each of the three athletes made a distinction that they’d wish to get some leisure sooner than focusing most of their efforts on an improved effectivity on the 2023 Olympia in November. Lunsford, significantly, as a result of the 2022 runner-up in his Males’s Open debut, would possibly want basically probably the most sensible probability of reaching these lofty targets.
On the time of this textual content’s publication, it’s unclear if one different two-time AC victor (2019, 2022) and the reigning champion, Brandon Curry, will come once more to defend his title.
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The 2023 Arnold Primary is already shaping as a lot as be a battlefield if bulletins like Walker’s anticipated look indicate one thing. With the model new yr up and rolling, March’s opponents will in all probability be a memorable addition to bodybuilding lore.
Featured image: @nick_walker39 on Instagram
