{"id":15872,"date":"2026-03-21T00:54:00","date_gmt":"2026-03-21T00:54:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/worldbodybuildingnews.com\/?p=15872"},"modified":"2026-03-21T00:54:00","modified_gmt":"2026-03-21T00:54:00","slug":"lee-priest-says-classic-physique-should-be-amateur-only-hints-that-nick-walker-could-skip-2026-mr-olympia-fitness-volt","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/worldbodybuildingnews.com\/?p=15872","title":{"rendered":"Lee Priest says Classic Physique Should Be Amateur Only, Hints That Nick Walker Could Skip 2026 Mr. Olympia \u2013 Fitness Volt"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Lee Priest<\/a> is taking a close look at the current bodybuilding landscape in 2026. On March 20, he took to YouTube and called for the Classic Physique division to be moved to the amateur ranks. He also expressed doubt about Nick Walker competing at the 2026 Mr. Olympia.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

The 2026 Arnold Classic completely shook up the Men\u2019s Open class. Although Hadi Choopan<\/a> entered as the favorite, he ended up in third place. Instead, the finals featured a mass monster showdown between Walker and Chinedu Andrew \u2018Jacked\u2019 Obiekea<\/a>. By just five points, Jacked made history and won, securing the $750,000 winner\u2019s purse.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Despite his silver medal finish, Walker left Columbus feeling like a winner<\/a>. Chatter online has quickly turned to his next contest. However, he\u2019s made it clear that he\u2019s in no rush, prompting Priest to discuss what lies ahead for the Open star.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Lee Priest Calls for Classic Physique to Be Amateur Only, Reveals If Nick Walker Will Skip 2026 Mr. Olympia\u00a0<\/h2>\n

In the video, Priest first called for Classic Physique and 212 to move to the amateur ranks. He believes the \u2018big leagues\u2019 should be reserved for the best of the Men\u2019s Open division.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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\u201cI did say it\u2019s time to get rid of Classic and 212. Let\u2019s just go back to the one class, and the cream of the crop rise to the top,\u201d said Priest. \u201cI think it\u2019s come time now to keep the Classic and 212 all down there in the amateur divisions, but when you\u2019re going for the Pro cards coming into the big leagues, it\u2019s just one class again.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Priest acknowledged that Walker could have won the 2026 Arnold Classic with better midsection control.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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\u201cThat was probably one of the best Nicks we\u2019ve seen. Apart from when he relaxed his stomach onstage, but when he held it tight, it looked great, just that maybe during transitions or walking on the stage, he let it sort of go. If he controls that, he could have probably won the Arnold.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

He was critical of Walker\u2019s decision not to compete at the Detroit Pro<\/a>, which could have led to an early Olympia qualification:\u00a0<\/p>\n

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\u201cIf the Detroit Pro was just that following week, it\u2019s like, any you got your qualification, now you can take all that time off for Olympia prep. But like you said, he\u2019s going to have to do a show somewhere,\u201d he said. \u201cWhether he wants to put it close to the Olympia and hopefully qualify close to the Olympia so it\u2019s not too far apart,\u201d Lee Priest shared<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

When Priest was asked if Walker could skip the 2026 Olympia, he said it was a definite possibility.<\/p>\n

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\u201cYeah, I think so. The Olympia is still the Olympia, but I don\u2019t know, some people say it hasn\u2019t got that prestige it used to have when the Weiders were here, now it\u2019s just a Mr. Olympia-type thing. A lot of the prestige and mystique of it is gone, so the Arnold is really right up there with it.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Priest isn\u2019t the only voice of bodybuilding sharing his thoughts on Walker\u2019s future. Head judge Steve Weinberger recently broke down his Arnold performance. He emphasized that Walker needs to improve his posing transitions<\/a> and add size to the front of his legs.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Time will tell if fans see Nick Walker back on the Mr. Olympia stage in 2026. The event is set for September 24-27 in Las Vegas, Nevada.\u00a0<\/p>\n

RELATED:<\/strong>\u00a0Guy Cisternino Says Nick Walker Used \u2018A Lot Lower\u2019 PEDs and Diuretics for the 2026 Arnold Classic<\/a><\/p>\n

Watch the full video from the IFBB AMA YouTube channel below:\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/h4>\n