Jamaican bodybuilder Dwayne Walker has signed a one-year deal with Betancourt Nutrition that he has described as a major boost to his career even as he navigates a challenging environment caused by the Coronavirus pandemic.

The 2018 Mr Olympia Amateur champion has been training in Florida at BBL Fitness for the past 18 months, improving on his physique, which has seen him placing well in a number of competitions. However, the pandemic has set him back somewhat. Signing with Betancourt Nutrition, he said, will help fuel further progress.

“This deal will help with my development as it helps with my exposure and networking. It will also help with financial stability as I will be paid monthly,” Walker said of the one-year deal.

“Partnering with a company that supports my goals and has the resources to do so will help me on and off the stage. My training and diet will be better supplemented and I will have the ability to create beneficial and applicable content to my followers.”

Under the agreement, Walker will be required to create organic content that he will on his Instagram page for his thousands of followers. He will also be required to participate in and support company events, participate in photo shoots and advertisement for the company. “I'm also provided with a discount code which allows my followers to get 50 per cent discounts on purchases when they use the code,” he said.

The early months of the pandemic proved to be challenging for Walker. He was forced to shut his training down which stalled his physical development and created some anxiety.

“I missed an entire two months of training and work. It set me back in terms of muscle development and physical growth,” he said.

“It created some uncertainties as to whether there would be the cancellation of shows, do I continue to train and prepare for a show that I'm not sure will be held, do I make all this sacrifice to my health and finances not knowing what's about to happen,” he added.

However, despite the challenges, Walker has been pleased with his progress. He believes he is a much better athlete now than he was when he won the Mr Olympia title in late 2018.

“I am a lot bigger physically. I am easily 250 lbs here while in Jamaica my maximum weight was 220,” he said.

“Mentally, I am better as I'm am learning and gaining the knowledge and information about the industry both in the bodybuilding world and the health and fitness world in general. I am much more exposed to a vast world, seeing how much more is out there than what I was accustomed to being in Jamaica. So altogether, I have elevated my mind and approach.”