Personal Life
Date of Birth
March 11, 1986
Birthplace
Lagos, Nigeria
Nationality
United Kingdom
Samson Dauda Physical Stats
Height (approx.)
5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Weight (approx.)
304 lbs (125 kg)
Body Measurements (approx.)
Chest: 58 Inches • Waist: 34 Inches • Biceps: 23 Inches
Samson Dauda Competition History
Awards, Honours, Achievements
2025- • IFBB Arnold Classic US – 2nd[37]
- • IFBB Mr. Olympia – 4th
2024- • IFBB Arnold Classic US – 2nd[33]
- • IFBB Arnold Classic UK – 2nd[34]
- • IFBB Tsunami France Pro – 1st[35]
- • IFBB Mr. Olympia – 1st[36]
2023- • IFBB Arnold Classic US—1st
- • IFBB Mr. Olympia – 3rd[30]
- • IFBB Romania Muscle Fest Pro – 1st[31]
- • IFBB EVLS Prague Pro – 1st[32]
2022- • IFBB Arnold Classic US – 4th[26]
- • IFBB Boston Pro – 4th[28]
- • IFBB Mr. Olympia – 6th[29]
2021- • IFBB Romania Muscle Fest Pro – 2nd[22]
- • IFBB EVLS Prague Pro – 1st[23]
- • IFBB KO Egypt Pro – 3rd[24]
- • IFBB Yamamoto Cup Pro – 3rd[25]
- • IFBB Arnold Classic UK – 2nd[27]
2020- • IFBB British Grand Prix – 6th[19]
- • IFBB Europa Dallas Pro – 5th[20]
- • IFBB Monsterzym Pro – 2nd[21]
2019- • IFBB British Grand Prix – 2nd[15]
- • IFBB Chicago Pro – 7th[16]
- • IFBB Portugal Pro – 5th[17]
- • IFBB Vancouver Pro – 8th[18]
2018- • EVLS Prague Showdown – 5th[13]
- • George Farah Classic Pro Italy – 9th[13]
- • IFBB Prague Pro – 5th[13]
- • IFBB Romania Muscle Fest Pro – 11th[14]
2017- • IFBB Amateur Arnold Classic Europe – 5th (Over 100 kg)[11]
- • IFBB Amateur Diamond Cup Rome – 1st (Over 90 kg and overall)[6]
2016- • IFBB British Championships – 4th (Super heavyweight)[11]
2015- • IFBB Amateur Olympia UK – 8th (Over 100 kg)[12]
- • IFBB British Championships – 3rd (Super heavyweight)[11]
2014- • WABBA World Championships – 2nd (Tall)[11]
Samson Dauda — Biography & Career Overview
Samson Dauda was born on 11 March 1986 in Lagos, Nigeria. He moved to the United Kingdom during his teenage years. Initially, he played rugby; his teammates and a gym owner (Chris Jones) encouraged him to explore bodybuilding.
In April 2014 he entered his first bodybuilding competition — marking the start of his competitive journey. Over time, through consistent effort and transformation, he rose through the amateur ranks and earned his professional status by winning the overall title at the 2017 IFBB Amateur Diamond Cup in Rome.
He made his pro debut in 2018 at the EVLS Prague Showdown.
Samson’s career reached its pinnacle when he won Mr. Olympia 2024 — becoming one of the most talked-about bodybuilders globally and marking a historic win for a bodybuilder of Nigerian descent.
He has competed in the men’s open bodybuilding division of the IFBB Pro League and gained wide respect for combining massive size with impressive conditioning.
Personal Background & Identity
Samson prefers to identify strongly with his roots. Though he lives and competes internationally, his Nigerian heritage remains a core part of his identity.
Before bodybuilding — besides rugby — he worked in manual-work jobs (construction and care-home maintenance) after relocating to the UK. He committed full-time to bodybuilding only around 2020.
Because of his journey — from Lagos to the global stage — many in the bodybuilding world see him as a symbol of determination, transformation, and international representation.
