Priest believes that Nick Walker has plenty more to give if he is well conditioned.
The 2026 Arnold Classic rosters are officially set and Nick Walker is in the field. After his 2025 season, there are many questions surrounding Walker and what he could bring in the new year. Lee Priest attempted to answer some of these questions. During a recent conversation with John Livia on Serious and Silliness Bodybuilding, Priest targeted conditioning as an important factor for Walker.
[RELATED: Nick Walker Shares Plans To Coach Himself In 2026]
Priest has been up to date on Walker’s physique updates recently. He believes that if Walker comes in conditioned, he will make some noise, including a potential victory over Hadi Choopan during the Arnold.
“If they are not photoshopped a lot, if Nick can somehow get that conditioning onstage, his days aren’t behind him. Nick, if you listen, not that you listen to me, but I’ve said this a million times to everyone — when you look that good, do not do peak week.”
Walker has decided to coach himself for the 2026 season. He announced this decision after working with Kyle Wilkes for the Olympia. Walker put together a successful year with a victory during the 2025 New York Pro and second-place finish at the 2025 Pittsburgh Pro, where he finished as the runner-up to Derek Lunsford. But his performance at the Olympia did not reach his own standards, which was the reason for the change.
| Full Name: Nick Walker (Men’s Open Bodybuilder) | ||
| Weight | Height | Date Of Birth |
| 270-295lbs | 5’7″ | 08/03/1994 |
| Division | Era | Nationality |
| Bodybuilding | 2020 | American |
Lee Priest Talks Nick Walker’s Potential At Arnold Classic
The Arnold Classic is expected to be a loaded show. Despite Lunsford announcing that he will not compete, two of the top three finishers at the Olympia will be present. Choopan will take the stage with Andrew Jacked competing as well. Lee Priest noted that Choopan has been the most consistent competitor over the last few years but could be taken out if all goes right for Walker.
“I could probably still see Nick taking Hadi out if they are both in great condition.
Hadi is the only one I’d say who is either 100 or 98 percent. He’s never that far, whereas Andrew, we’ve seen him in Texas then he went to the Olympia. We’ve seen Martin hit and miss. Generally, until this Olympia, Nick has never been really that far off.”
Walker was forced to miss the 2023 Olympia after suffering a hamstring tear. He returned to the stage during the 2024 New York Pro and was victorious, punching his ticket to the biggest show of the year once again. Walker received criticism following his victory and would later announce that he decided to sit out of the Olympia once again.
Now, he is attempting to bring his best consistently and Lee Priest shared advice on how to do so.
“If you look like that Nick two weeks out, like those photos you posted, all you should do is keep eating the same, training the same, slowly decrease your water. Don’t cut it out completely, just decrease it a little bit. You’ll look like you look in those photos and you could still win big shows.”
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