Nick Walker will not be entering Mr. Olympia 2024!

Nick Walker has decided not to compete at Mr. Olympia 2024, which he announced on 5 October 2024 via a video on his YouTube channel. The move came after a difficult preparation where his body did not respond to training as expected. Walker and his coach Matt Jansen explained that his body needed rest and was not in the condition they wanted him to perform on stage. Jansen stressed that it wasn't about fear of failure, but about protecting Walker's long-term career.

This is the second year in a row that Walker has had to miss this prestigious competition. He also had to withdraw last year due to a hamstring injury. Despite qualifying by winning the New York Pro this year, he decided not to strengthen the Mr. Olympia starting field so he could fully recover and prepare for the upcoming season.

Others who will ultimately not attend the Olympics include Tonio Burton, Brandon Hendrickson, Nathan De Asha and Behrooz Tabani.

Although the 2024 Mr. Olympia is one of those with fewer participants, this trend is not entirely unique in the history of the competition. This year, 15 bodybuilders will compete in the Open category, the result of several key withdrawals - including Tonio Burton, Nathan De Asha and Behrooz Tabani.

History shows that Mr. Olympia has seen smaller turnouts. The first edition in 1965 had only three competitors, and even in 1966 only four men participated in the contest. In the 1960s and 1970s, the number of competitors often hovered around low numbers, reflecting the early phase of the competition when bodybuilding had not yet reached such popularity.

Since 2000, the number of competitors in the Open category at Mr. Olympia has never dropped below 16 competitors. This year's 2024 edition with 15 participants is therefore the lowest in more than 20 years. Typically in the last two decades the number of competitors has been between 16 and 20, making this year's participation exceptional.

Today, however, it is common for between 15 and 20 bodybuilders to compete at Mr. Olympia, which puts this year's number in the lower range. Still, the 2024 starting field is loaded with favorites like Derek Lunsford, Hadi Choopan and Samson Dauda, which promises to be a very exciting spectacle.

Thus, despite the smaller number of competitors, this year's edition loses none of its significance, and bodybuilding fans can expect a thrilling battle for the top title.

Source: Mr. Olympia, BarBend, Fitness Volt