2021 Arnold Classic Champion Nick Walker is considered by many to be the future of bodybuilding. His fifth place finish at the 2021 Mr. Olympia has qualified him for the 2022 Olympia and many fans see him as the present of the sport. His following and support have been compared to the rise of Jay Cutler two decades earlier.
One would think that a professional with Walker's level of success would want to protect their images and not reveal much about their past. However, the New Jersey native went the opposite way and shares his life with his fans, including his most vulnerable moments, such as being a survivor of child sexual abuse. He told Fit Rockstar Show's Isabelle Turell that he wanted to use his position to make a difference by sharing his story, but it wasn't an overnight process.
"For years I was very embarrassed to talk about it," Walker said. "I figured where I'm going in the industry, since people also use me as a source of motivation, I thought it would be good to tell my story."
The 2021 New York Pro winner recognized that there were many people who were also victims of child sexual abuse, and perhaps telling his story could create an indirect connection with them that would help them move forward.
"I think people can relate to my story to a certain extent," he explained. “You can see how I overcame it and didn't let him control me. I actually grew from it.”
Turell praised Walker for his openness and willingness to share his story. She also acknowledged that he doesn't hide much about his private life at all. He has shared some of his daily life with his 868,000 followers on Instagram. Walker knows his fans invest in him, and he appreciates it.
"They want to know more about you than you do about your training, and I think when you become relatable and people see that you're not just some bodybuilder who lifts weights and you actually have a personality, you're more relatable too, and I think people enjoy that.”
Walker talks about his parents' support, his introduction to bodybuilding, his life weighing 300 pounds and more. Watch all Fit Rockstar Show episodes at www.wingsofstrength.net and don't forget to follow @fitrockstarshow on Instagram.
