| Samson Dauda | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Professional bodybuilder | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal info | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nickname | The Nigerian Lion | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 11 March 1986 Kaduna, Nigeria | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Best statistics | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (180 cm) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 275–330 lb (125–150 kg) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Professional (Pro) career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pro-debut |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Best win | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Predecessor | Derek Lunsford | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Successor | Derek Lunsford | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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.
Samson Dauda was born in Kaduna, Nigeria, on 11 March 1986. 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. 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.
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. 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. He became the first bodybuilder of Nigerian descent to win the Mr. Olympia competition.
In March 2025, Dauda finished second at the Arnold Classic, behind Derek Lunsford and ahead of Andrew Jacked. He returned to the 2025 Mr. Olympia as the defending champion but finished fourth behind Lunsford, Hadi Choopan and Andrew Jacked. Later that month, he placed second to Martin Fitzwater at the EVLS Prague Pro.
In September 2026, Dauda won the Europa Pro in Offenbach, Germany, finishing ahead of Regan Grimes and John Jewett. Two weeks later, he competed at the 2026 Mr. Olympia and finished second behind Nick Walker, with Derek Lunsford placing third.
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.