| Samson Dauda | |
|---|---|
| professional bodybuilder | |
| Personal info | |
| Nickname | The Nigerian Lion |
| Born | 11 March 1986 Lagos, Nigeria |
| Best statistics | |
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (180 cm) [1] |
| Weight | 275 lb (125 kg)–330 lb (150 kg) [1] |
| Professional (Pro) career | |
| Pro-debut |
|
| Best win | |
| Predecessor | Derek Lunsford |
Samson Dauda (born 11 March 1986 [2] ) is a Nigerian-British professional bodybuilder who competes in the men's open bodybuilding division in the IFBB Pro League. He is the current Mr. Olympia, having won the title in the 2024 Mr. Olympia competition. [3]
Samson Dauda was born in Lagos, Nigeria, on 11 March 1986. [2] He moved to the United Kingdom during his teenage years, where he initially focused on playing rugby. 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. [4] 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. [5]
Samson 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. [6] 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 a qualification for the 2022 Mr. Olympia competition, where he made his debut and finished 6th. In 2023, he won the Arnold Classic US and later improved his standing at the Mr. Olympia, finishing 3rd. In 2024, Samson Dauda won the Mr. Olympia by surpassing Hadi Choopan and Derek Lunsford, and also claimed the People's Champion title. [7] He became the first bodybuilder of Nigerian descent to win the Mr. Olympia competition. [8] [9]
Samson Dauda worked with Miloš Šarčev as his coach for 13 professional shows before parting ways in March 2024. [10] His wife, Marlena Gustowska, took over as Dauda's coach, becoming the first woman to coach a Mr. Olympia winner. [9]