🏋️ oleksii novikov 🇺🇦 makes his resurgence

Author

Robert Zeglinski
May 27, 2022

Greetings! It's the Friday afternoon before a holiday weekend, and this week hasn't been short on humans lifting massive weight.

The 2022 World's Strongest Man has been rocking through the Qualifying Round in Sacramento, CA.

In the latest in a series of personal shifts, bodybuilder Nick "The Mutant" Walker provided a major update on his physique and general size.

Plus, what's the difference between mobility and flexibility? And how can you improve both?

While we sit in the calm of a strongman storm, let's reflect on the week that was.

Strongman

A Fantastic Finals Awaits the 2022 World's Strongest Man

Mitchell Hooper during the 2022 WSM's Deadlift Ladder.

Image: Joe Martinez/World's Strongest Man

There was an unexpected obstacle through the Qualifying Round of the 2022 World's Strongest Man (WSM). In addition to the usual staggering amounts of weight, the strongmen had to battle 100-plus degree temperatures in Sacramento, CA all week. And we thought the heat of competition would be the only main concern.

With this being the premier showcase in strongman, they soldiered on despite the adverse conditions. Now we have plenty of seeds for a few compelling storylines while the competition shifts to the Finals this weekend:

  • There's newcomer Mitchell Hooper who made his WSM debut earlier this week. His inexperience didn't seem to matter as he notched an outright victory in Qualifying Group 2 before the final day of the initial round even started.

  • Don't discount former WSM Champion (2020) Oleksii Novikov. The veteran blazed through this Qualifying process. He certainly looks the part of a potential two-time champ, and he'd become only the 10th person ever to do so.

  • Last but not least, there's reigning WSM champion Tom Stoltman. In the least surprising development, Stoltman saw no issues securing a place in his second-consecutive Finals. We could soon be talking about the next part of an incredible career in the works.

The 2022 WSM Finals are this Saturday and Sunday. Make sure you're up to date with the current leaderboard and essential tidbits for all the festivities.

Bodybuilding

Nick Walker Reveals Another Big Change

Nick Walker shows off his physique in May 2022

Image: @nickwalker_39 on Instagram

At 27-years-old, some might say bodybuilder Nick Walker is nearing the physical prime of his young career. The 2021 New York Pro and Arnold Classic Champion recently shared how he's trying to stay on top of his game. It all appears to be a part of a push for a better-than-ever finish in mid-December's Mr. Olympia.

The change? The bodybuilder now boasts a weight of 294.6 pounds. For context, Walker has usually hovered around 260 pounds in recent years. Not that you would have to, but simply doing the basic math on your hand should tell you this is a significant shift during the off-season.

It's been an eventful time off for Walker. This current step up in size follows an amicable departure with his long-time coach Matt Jansen. The size pivot could be part of the plan of his new coach and another former bodybuilder Dominick Mutascio.

Training

Mobility Vs. Flexibility: What You Should Know

An athlete stretches before his workout

Image: LightField Studios

You're probably fixated on maxing out your strength, endurance, or a combo of the two. You could be leaving a crucial portion out of that equation, potentially putting yourself behind the eight-ball with an unforced error.

We're talking about working on your mobility and flexibility. But before you try and improve your squat range of motion or stretch your arms, it's vital to know the difference between the two concepts. It might save you a lot of time and effort in your workouts.

Here's a comprehensive explainer on mobility and flexibility, and how you can better implement both into your training.

Everything Else

Wrecking All Comers

Mark Felix during the Wrecking Ball Hold at the 2022 WSM

Image: Joe Martinez/World's Strongest Man