Nick Walker’s Coach Addresses 6th Place Finish at 2025 Mr. Olympia

[MuscleMecca Crew]

The 2025 Mr. Olympia weekend delivered its share of shocks, and one of the biggest was Nick Walker’s unexpected fall to sixth place. His coach, Kyle Wilkes, broke his silence on October 14, explaining that their final peak was mistimed, a decision that may have cost Walker a higher finish.

Nick Walker’s 2025 Olympia: From Momentum to Missed Timing​

Nick Walker entered the Olympia as one of the sport’s hottest names. He pushed Derek Lunsford to the edge in a tie-breaker at the Pittsburgh Pro and captured his third New York Pro title, setting up what many expected to be a top-three battle in Las Vegas.

Yet despite his strong season, several bodybuilding analysts — including Shawn Ray and Bob Cicherillo — predicted that “The Mutant” might land between fifth and eighth. When the final scores placed him sixth, it confirmed that something had gone off track.

Kyle Wilkes Takes Responsibility: “We Mistimed the Peak”​

Coach Kyle Wilkes used Instagram to take full ownership of the outcome.

“It was clearly not the best Nick we’ve seen. The peak was mistimed, and that falls on me.”

Wilkes explained that Walker looked flat and slightly off on Friday’s prejudging, an error they couldn’t recover from once the scores were set. By Saturday’s finals, the improvements were visible, but the damage was already done.

“He presented a much cleaner, Nick-like look on Saturday. But the punch we took on Friday was one we couldn’t recover from in judging.”

The Challenge of Prejudging at Night​

Wilkes revealed that timing issues were tied to the Olympia schedule. Prejudging happened at night instead of the morning, disrupting their usual process. He called it a learning curve in managing a physique at the elite level.

“This was my first Olympia as a coach. Timing at that level is something you can’t learn until you experience it. But we corrected fast, and it won’t happen again.”

Nick Walker’s Response: Professional, Composed, and Determined​

Wilkes praised Walker’s professionalism in the face of disappointment.

“Nick took this one on the chin. He asked what needed to change and executed right away. You can’t ask for a better athlete.”

The team made rapid adjustments between rounds, producing one of the most noticeable overnight transformations.

“Pictures don’t even do it justice. The improvement from Friday to Saturday was massive.”

Lessons Learned and the Road Ahead​

Wilkes closed his message by reaffirming his commitment to precision.

“I take ownership for what’s under my control. We’ll be back, smarter and sharper.”

Fans are now waiting to see whether Walker competes at the 2026 Arnold Classic, which will offer a record-breaking $750,000 purse to the Men’s Open champion. A win there would be the ideal comeback story.

Bodybuilding Community Reacts​

The bodybuilding world has responded with mixed emotions — admiration for Walker’s sportsmanship, and respect for Wilkes’ honesty. Veteran pros emphasized that even small timing errors can create massive differences under Olympia lights.

With his work ethic, conditioning pedigree, and competitive mindset, few doubt that Nick Walker will return stronger than ever in 2026.