Samson Dauda, born on March 11, 1986, is a professional bodybuilder from Nigeria and Britain. He competes in the men’s open bodybuilding category in the IFBB Pro League. In the 2024 Mr. Olympia contest, he emerged victorious as the current Mr. Olympia.
Profile Summary
| Full Name: | Samson Dauda |
| Date Of Birth: | March 11, 1992 |
| Place Of Birth: | Lagos, Nigeria |
| Nickname: | The Nigerian Lion |
| Nationality: | Nigerian |
| Spouse: | Marlena Dauda |
| Height: | 180 cm |
| Occupation: | Body builder, athlete |
| Net Worth: | $500,000 – $2 million |
Early Beginning
Samson Dauda was born in Nigeria on March 11, 1992, before later moving to the US after spending time in the UK. Initially involved in rugby, he switched to bodybuilding with the encouragement of his rugby friends.
Career
His career started in the UK in 2013 with rugby but shifted to bodybuilding by 2014. He displayed his impressive physique in a local contest, signaling the start of his successful career in the sport.
Early on, Dauda found success in amateur competitions, and despite facing challenges in 2015, his determination only increased in the years that followed.
In 2017, a big moment came for Dauda when he secured 5th place at the Arnold Classic Europe. This success motivated him to continue achieving great things, like coming 2nd at the British Championships and winning 1st place twice at the Diamond Cup Rome, which led to him earning his IFBB pro card.
In late 2021, Samson Dauda faced challenges as he became a professional bodybuilder. However, his hard work paid off when he won at EVLS Prague. During 2022, Samson gained confidence and achieved 6th place at the Mr. Olympia competition.
He continued his success in 2023 by winning the Arnold Classic and coming in third place at Mr. Olympia 2023, as well as winning at the EVLS Prague Pro and Romanian Pro. These victories earned him the nickname ‘Nigerian Lion’.
In 2024, Samson Dauda made history by winning the prestigious title of 2024 Mr. Olympia at the Resorts World Theatre in Las Vegas. This achievement was the highlight of the 2024 Olympia weekend.
Competing against fifteen top athletes, Samson, currently living in the UK, emerged as the winner. Hadi Choopan came in second place, and the 2023 champion Derek Lunsford secured third place.
Samson Dauda is a successful bodybuilder who has achieved great success in the field. He won the prestigious Mr. Olympia title and was also named the People’s Champion, receiving a record-breaking prize of $600,000. This made him stand out in the history of bodybuilding competitions.
Personal Life
In his personal life, Samson is married to Marlena, who also has experience in professional bodybuilding. Their strong relationship is an important part of Samson’s fitness journey. Although they do not have children yet, their partnership is crucial and supportive.
Samson Dauda Net Worth
As of 2024, Samson Dauda’s estimated net worth is between $500,000 and $2 million, earned through his competitions and modeling work. At just 32 years old, he has become a successful figure in the fitness industry, showcasing both financial success and physical accomplishments.
Awards And Achievements
- 2014 WABBA World Championships – 2nd place in the Tall category
- 2015 IFBB Amateur Olympia UK – 8th place in the Over 100 kg category
- 2015 IFBB British Championships – 3rd place in the Super heavyweight category
- 2016 IFBB British Championships – 4th place in the Super heavyweight category
- 2017 IFBB Amateur Arnold Classic Europe – 5th place in the Over 100 kg category
- 2017 IFBB Amateur Diamond Cup Rome – 1st place in the Over 90 kg and overall categories
- 2018 EVLS Prague Showdown – 5th place
- 2018 George Farah Classic Pro Italy – 9th place
- 2018 IFBB Prague Pro – 5th place
- 2018 IFBB Romania Muscle Fest Pro – 11th place
- 2019 IFBB British Grand Prix – 2nd place
- 2019 IFBB Chicago Pro – 7th place
- 2019 IFBB Portugal Pro – 5th place
- 2019 IFBB Vancouver Pro – 8th place
- 2020 IFBB British Grand Prix – 6th place
- 2020 IFBB Europa Dallas Pro – 5th place
- 2020 IFBB Monsterzym Pro – 2nd place
- 2021 IFBB Romania Muscle Fest Pro – 2nd place
- 2021 IFBB EVLS Prague Pro – 1st place
- 2021 IFBB KO Egypt Pro – 3rd place
- 2021 IFBB Yamamoto Cup Pro – 3rd place
- 2022 IFBB Arnold Classic US – 4th place
- 2021 IFBB Arnold Classic UK – 2nd place
- 2022 IFBB Boston Pro – 4th place
- 2022 IFBB Mr. Olympia – 6th place
- 2023 IFBB Mr. Olympia – 3rd place
- 2023 IFBB Romania Muscle Fest Pro – 1st place
- 2023 IFBB EVLS Prague Pro – 1st place
- 2024 IFBB Arnold Classic US – 2nd place
- 2024 IFBB Arnold Classic UK – 2nd place
- 2024 IFBB Tsunami France Pro – 1st place
- 2024 IFBB Mr. Olympia – 1st place
