On August 8, 2022, Nick “The Mutant” Walker shared Instagram footage of himself incline dumbbell pressing 200-pound dumbbells for 10 reps. The astounding display of upper body strength is part of Walker’s ongoing training for the upcoming 2022 Mr. Olympia., which is 18 weeks away at the time this video was posted.
View this post on Instagram
[Related: How to Do the Incline Bench Press for Upper-Body Size and Strength]
Walker does need some assistance from his coach, Dominick Mutascio, on his last two reps. Nonetheless, the bodybuilder showed off excellent overall control of the weight, making the large dumbbells appear to weigh a third of what they actually do. The comment section of Walker’s post featured a legend and some peers complimenting the athlete for the set with a round of praise.
Retired four-time Mr. Olympia (2006-2007, 2009-2010), Jay Cutler replied, “That was easy.” An active 212 competitor, Nathan Epler, noted that Walker’s set was “crazy as [expletive].” Finally, a member of the Classic Physique division, Urs Kalecinski, replied simply with a “mind-blown” emoji.
Walker sharing a clip of himself crushing this incline dumbbell bench press comes as a part of his new YouTube series — the “Olympia Prep Series”, wherein he showcases different high-level strength workouts en route to December’s hallowed competition. At the time of this writing, the first couple of episodes feature Walker first putting his chest through the wringer, followed by a focus on a few incline press movements.
This theme stays in line for Walker, who successfully incline-pressed 185-pound dumbbells for 10 reps in late April 2022.
[Related: How to Do the Chin-up for Bigger Arms and a Stronger Back]
In his most recent physique update on Instagram, Walker said he weighed an astonishing 295 pounds in early June 2022. At the time of this article’s publication, the 2021 New York Pro and Arnold Classic Champion’s precise weight is unclear.
Blazing a Path
At only 28 years old, Walker is already one of bodybuilding’s more prominent young stars. A fifth-place Mr. Olympia debut after his respective major competition wins in 2021 gave the sport a glimpse of what the talented Walker is capable of.
To take home his first Olympia title, Walker will have to overcome a loaded field on paper. From two-time defending champion (2020-2021) Mamdouh “Big Ramy” Elssbiay and former winner Brandon Curry (2019) to fellow riser Hunter Labrada, the Las Vegas stage should be brimming with star power galore. It’ll be a tall order for Walker to supplant his well-rounded competitors, but he seems to understand the lofty mission ahead.
The 2022 Mr. Olympia will take place on December 16-18 in Las Vegas, NV.
Featured image: @nick_walker39 on Instagram
