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Samson Dauda

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Samson Dauda
Professional bodybuilder
Personal info
NicknameThe Nigerian Lion
Born (1986-03-11) 11 March 1986 (age 40)
Kaduna, Nigeria
Best statistics
Height5 ft 11 in (180 cm)[1]
Weight275–330 lb (125–150 kg)[1]
Professional (Pro) career
Pro-debut
  • EVLS Prague Showdown
  • 2018
Best win
PredecessorDerek Lunsford
SuccessorDerek Lunsford
Medal record
Men's bodybuilding
IFBB Mr. Olympia
5th 2022 Mr. OlympiaMen's Open
3rd 2023 Mr. OlympiaMen's Open
1st 2024 Mr. OlympiaMen's Open
4th 2025 Mr. OlympiaMen's Open
2nd 2026 Mr. OlympiaMen's Open
Other IFBB Pro contests
2nd 2021 IFBB Romania Muscle Fest Pro
1st 2021 IFBB EVLS Prague Pro
2nd 2022 Arnold Classis UK
1st 2023 Arnold Classis US
1st 2023 IFBB Romania Muscle Fest Pro
1st 2023 IFBB EVLS Prague Pro
2nd 2024 Arnold Classis US
2nd 2024 Arnold Classis US
1st 2024 IFBB Tsunami France Pro
2nd 2025 Arnold Classis US
2nd 2025 IFBB EVLS Prague Pro
1st 2026 IFBB Europa Pro

Samson Dauda (born 11 March 1986) is a British-Nigerian professional bodybuilder who competes in the men's open bodybuilding division in the IFBB Pro League. He won the 2024 Mr. Olympia and the Arnold Classic in 2023.

Biography

[edit]

Samson Dauda was born in Kaduna, Nigeria, on 11 March 1986.[2] He moved to the United Kingdom during his teenage years from Kaduna, where he initially focused on playing rugby. Dauda holds both British and French citizenship. His introduction to bodybuilding came through encouragement from his rugby teammates and a gym owner, Chris Jones. After witnessing Phil Heath at the 2013 Mr. Olympia, Dauda shifted his focus to competitive bodybuilding and entered his first bodybuilding competition in April 2014.[3] Before committing to bodybuilding full-time, Dauda worked in construction and as a care home maintenance worker, eventually deciding to leave his job in 2020 during a show in South Korea to focus entirely on his bodybuilding career.[4]

Dauda earned his IFBB Pro card in 2017 after winning the overall title at the IFBB Amateur Diamond Cup Rome, marking a turning point in his bodybuilding career.[5] The following year, he made his professional debut at the EVLS Prague Showdown in 2018, placing 5th. His first victory as an IFBB Pro athlete came in 2021 at the EVLS Prague Pro, which earned him qualification for the 2022 Mr. Olympia, where he made his debut and finished 6th. In 2023, he won the Arnold Classic US and later improved his standing at the 2023 Mr. Olympia, finishing 3rd. In 2024, Dauda won the 2024 Mr. Olympia by surpassing Hadi Choopan and Derek Lunsford, and also claimed the People's Champion title.[6][7] He became the first bodybuilder of Nigerian descent to win the Mr. Olympia competition.[8][9]

In March 2025, Dauda finished second at the Arnold Classic, behind Derek Lunsford and ahead of Andrew Jacked.[10] He returned to the 2025 Mr. Olympia as the defending champion but finished fourth behind Lunsford, Hadi Choopan and Andrew Jacked.[11] Later that month, he placed second to Martin Fitzwater at the EVLS Prague Pro.[12]

In September 2026, Dauda won the Europa Pro in Offenbach, Germany, finishing ahead of Regan Grimes and John Jewett.[13] Two weeks later, he competed at the 2026 Mr. Olympia and finished second behind Nick Walker, with Derek Lunsford placing third.[14]

Dauda was initially coached by his wife, Marlena Gustowska, who gave up her own bodybuilding career to focus on Dauda's career. Miloš Šarčev was Dauda's coach for 13 professional shows and departed in 2024; Dauda's wife again assumed the role of his coach.[9][15]

Competitive history

[edit]
  • 2014 WABBA World Championships – 2nd (Tall)[16]
  • 2015 IFBB Amateur Olympia UK – 8th (Over 100 kg)[17]
  • 2015 IFBB British Championships – 3rd (Super heavyweight)[16]
  • 2016 IFBB British Championships – 4th (Super heavyweight)[16]
  • 2017 IFBB Amateur Arnold Classic Europe – 5th (Over 100 kg)[16]
  • 2017 IFBB Amateur Diamond Cup Rome – 1st (Over 90 kg and overall)[5]
  • 2018 EVLS Prague Showdown – 5th[18]
  • 2018 George Farah Classic Pro Italy – 9th[18]
  • 2018 IFBB Prague Pro – 5th[18]
  • 2018 IFBB Romania Muscle Fest Pro – 11th[19]
  • 2019 IFBB British Grand Prix – 2nd[20]
  • 2019 IFBB Chicago Pro – 7th[21]
  • 2019 IFBB Portugal Pro – 5th[22]
  • 2019 IFBB Vancouver Pro – 8th[23]
  • 2020 IFBB British Grand Prix – 6th[24]
  • 2020 IFBB Europa Dallas Pro – 5th[25]
  • 2020 IFBB Monsterzym Pro – 2nd[26]
  • 2021 IFBB Romania Muscle Fest Pro – 2nd[27]
  • 2021 IFBB EVLS Prague Pro – 1st[28]
  • 2021 IFBB KO Egypt Pro – 3rd[29]
  • 2021 IFBB Yamamoto Cup Pro – 3rd[30]
  • 2022 IFBB Arnold Classic US – 4th[31]
  • 2021 IFBB Arnold Classic UK – 2nd[32]
  • 2022 IFBB Boston Pro – 4th[33]
  • 2022 IFBB Mr. Olympia – 6th[34]
  • 2023 IFBB Arnold Classic US – 1st[35]
  • 2023 IFBB Mr. Olympia – 3rd[36]
  • 2023 IFBB Romania Muscle Fest Pro – 1st[37]
  • 2023 IFBB EVLS Prague Pro – 1st[38]
  • 2024 IFBB Arnold Classic US – 2nd[39]
  • 2024 IFBB Arnold Classic UK – 2nd[40]
  • 2024 IFBB Tsunami France Pro – 1st[41]
  • 2024 IFBB Mr. Olympia – 1st[42]
  • 2025 IFBB Arnold Classic US – 2nd[43]
  • 2025 IFBB Mr. Olympia – 4th[44]
  • 2026 IFBB Europa Pro – 1st[45]
  • 2026 IFBB Mr. Olympia – 2nd[14]

References

[edit]
  1. 1 2 "Samson Dauda Profile and Workout Routine – Fitness Volt". fitnessvolt.com.
  2. ↑ "Samson DAUDA". company-information.service.gov.uk. Companies House. 27 Oct 2020. Retrieved 17 Oct 2024.
  3. ↑ Wolf, Dylan (2024-07-08). "Samson Dauda Profile & Stats". Generation Iron Fitness & Strength Sports Network. Retrieved 2024-10-13.
  4. ↑ Olujobi, Bethel (2024-10-14). "Road to Gold: Samson Dauda's journey to Mr. Olympia 2024". BusinessDay. Lagos, Nigeria. Retrieved 2024-10-16.
  5. 1 2 "IFBB Diamond Cup Rome discovered new pro elite athletes". IFBB. 2017-10-30. Retrieved 2024-10-14.
  6. ↑ Apanpa, Olaniyi (2024-10-13). "Nigerian-born Dauda wins 2024 Mr Olympia, takes home $600,000". The Punch. Retrieved 2024-10-13.
  7. ↑ Beaston, Erik. "Mr. Olympia 2024 Results: Final Info for Samson Dauda, Hadi Choopan, and Top Stars". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 2024-10-13.
  8. ↑ Lockridge, Roger "Rock" (2024-10-13). "Samson Dauda Is the New 2024 Mr. Olympia". Muscle & Fitness. Retrieved 2024-10-14.
  9. 1 2 Ejairu, Hope (2024-10-14). "Meet Samson Dauda, first Nigerian athlete to win Mr Olympia". Vanguard. Lagos, Nigeria. Retrieved 2024-10-16.
  10. ↑ "2025 Arnold Classic Men's Open Bodybuilding – Full Results". Fitness Volt. Retrieved 2026-09-27.
  11. ↑ "2025 Mr. Olympia". Wikipedia. Retrieved 2026-09-27.
  12. ↑ "Samson Dauda — Contest Results & Placings". Bodybuilding Picks. Retrieved 2026-09-27.
  13. ↑ Miller, Tom (2026-09-18). "2026 Europa Pro Show Results: Samson Dauda Wins Men's Open". Fitness Volt. Retrieved 2026-09-27.
  14. 1 2 Saleeby, Rick (2026-09-27). "2026 Mr. Olympia Results For All Divisions". Generation Iron. Retrieved 2026-09-27.
  15. ↑ Blechman, Phil (2024-03-07). "Samson Dauda and Coach Milos Sarcev Part Ways". BarBend. Retrieved 2024-10-16.
  16. 1 2 3 4 "Dauda, Samson". www.musclememory.com. Retrieved 2024-10-14.
  17. ↑ "Complete Results of the 2015 Mr. Olympia Amateur UK! - Rising Muscle". risingmuscle.com. 2015-11-04. Retrieved 2024-10-14.[permanent dead link]
  18. 1 2 3 "Samson Dauda Profile and Workout Routine". Fitness Volt. 2023-02-02. Retrieved 2024-10-14.
  19. ↑ "Contests | IFBB Romania Muscle Fest Pro". NPC News Online. Retrieved 2024-10-14.
  20. ↑ "IFBB 2019 British Grand Prix Results". Fitness Volt. 2019-06-30. Retrieved 2024-10-14.
  21. ↑ "Contests | IFBB Wings of Strength Chicago Pro". NPC News Online. Retrieved 2024-10-14.
  22. ↑ "IFBB Portugal Pro 2019 Results". Fitness Volt. 2019-07-22. Retrieved 2024-10-14.
  23. ↑ "Contests | IFBB Vancouver Pro". NPC News Online. Retrieved 2024-10-13.
  24. ↑ "Contests | IFBB British Grand Prix". NPC News Online. Retrieved 2024-10-14.
  25. ↑ "Contests | IFBB Europa Pro Championships". NPC News Online. Retrieved 2024-10-14.
  26. ↑ "Contests | IFBB Monsterzym Pro". NPC News Online. Retrieved 2024-10-14.
  27. ↑ "Contests | IFBB Romania Muscle Fest Pro". NPC News Online. Retrieved 2024-10-13.
  28. ↑ "2021 EVLS Prague Pro Results". Fitness Volt. 2021-11-06. Retrieved 2024-10-13.
  29. ↑ Patuto, Greg (2021-10-31). "2021 KO Pro Egypt Results". Generation Iron Fitness & Strength Sports Network. Retrieved 2024-10-13.
  30. ↑ "Contests | IFBB Yamamoto Cup Pro". NPC News Online. Retrieved 2024-10-13.
  31. ↑ Gethin, Kris (2022-03-07). "Arnold Classic: 2022 Final Results". Bodybuilding.com. Retrieved 2024-10-13.
  32. ↑ "Contests | IFBB Arnold Classic United Kingdom". NPC News Online. Retrieved 2024-10-13.
  33. ↑ "Contests | IFBB Boston Pro". NPC News Online. Retrieved 2024-10-13.
  34. ↑ "2022 Mr. Olympia Results — Complete Official Scorecards". BarBend. 2022-12-19. Retrieved 2024-10-13.
  35. ↑ Lockridge, Roger. "2023 Arnold Classic Men's Open Results — Samson Dauda Triumphant". BarBend. Retrieved 2026-09-27.
  36. ↑ "Results | Olympia Weekend". mrolympia.com. Retrieved 2024-10-14.
  37. ↑ "Contests | IFBB Romania Muscle Fest Pro". barbend.com. Retrieved 2024-10-15.
  38. ↑ Murray, Doug (2023-11-18). "2023 EVLS Prague Pro Results — Samson Dauda Wins". Fitness Volt. Retrieved 2024-10-13.
  39. ↑ "Hadi Choopan Wins the 2024 Arnold Classic". BarBend. 2024-03-02. Retrieved 2024-10-13.
  40. ↑ "Hadi Choopan wins 2024 Arnold Classic UK". Tehran Times. 2024-03-17. Retrieved 2024-10-13.
  41. ↑ "Samson Dauda WINS 2024 Tsunami France Pro". fitnessvolt. Retrieved 2024-10-15.
  42. ↑ "2024 Mr. Olympia Bodybuilding Results & Prize Money — Samson Dauda Wins". Fitness Volt. 2024-10-13. Retrieved 2024-10-13.
  43. ↑ "2025 Arnold Classic Results". BarBend. 2025-03-01. Retrieved 2025-03-02.
  44. ↑ "2025 Joe Weider's Olympia Fitness & Performance Weekend". IFBB Pro League. Retrieved 2026-09-27.
  45. ↑ "2026 Europa Pro Show". IFBB Pro League. Retrieved 2026-09-27.
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Samson_Dauda&oldid=1377422013"