Samson Dauda lost the 2026 Mr Olympia by two points. The 40-year-old British-Nigerian, who won the title in 2024, came back about 30 pounds heavier than last year, won the final round outright in Las Vegas on 26 September, and still finished second to Nick Walker, 20 points to 18.
“I have never felt more proud after a show than I do right now,” he posted afterwards. Here’s who he is, how tall he is, how he went from construction sites to Olympia champion, and why the scorecard went against him.
- Born: 11 March 1986, Kaduna, Nigeria (40)
- Nationality: British and Nigerian; moved to the UK as a teenager
- Nickname: “The Nigerian Lion”
- Height: 5ft 11in (180cm)
- Stage weight: about 310lb (141kg) at the 2026 Olympia, up from 282lb in 2025
- Biggest wins: Mr Olympia (2024), Arnold Classic (2023), Europa Pro (2026)
- Olympia record: 6th (2022), 3rd (2023), 1st (2024), 4th (2025), 2nd (2026)
Who is Samson Dauda?
Dauda was born in Kaduna, Nigeria, on 11 March 1986 and moved to the UK as a teenager. He played rugby first, and worked in construction and as a maintenance worker at a care home before bodybuilding took over, according to his Wikipedia profile. Rugby teammates and a gym owner, Chris Jones, pushed him to compete, and he entered his first show in April 2014 after watching Phil Heath at the 2013 Olympia.
He was not an overnight success. He earned his pro card in 2017 by winning the overall title at the amateur Diamond Cup in Rome, then spent three years in the middle of pro line-ups before his first pro win at the 2021 EVLS Prague Pro. Two years later he won the 2023 Arnold Classic, and in 2024 he became Mr Olympia, the first bodybuilder of Nigerian descent to win the title.
His wife, Marlena Gustowska, a former competitor, coached him early in his career. Miloš Šarčev coached him for 13 pro shows up to 2024, after which his wife took over again. “Compared to last year, we did our own thing this year,” Dauda said after the 2026 final. “We didn’t let anybody tell us what we needed to do.”
Samson Dauda’s height, weight and age
Height: Dauda is 5ft 11in (180cm), four inches taller than Nick Walker. That height is part of why his stage weight is so high.
Weight: he came in at about 310lb (141kg) for the 2026 Olympia, up from 282lb (128kg) in 2025, Fitness Volt reported. Wikipedia gives his competition range as 275 to 330lb (125 to 150kg).
Age: he was born on 11 March 1986, so he’s 40. He was 38 when he won the Olympia.
How he lost the 2026 Olympia by two points
The 2025 lesson
As defending champion in 2025, Dauda finished fourth. He blamed it on pushing his conditioning too far, which left his rear poses flat. For 2026 he said the aim was to be both bigger and harder: “The back is a lot wider and thicker than it was [at the 2024 Olympia]. The conditioning is a lot harder and grainier,” he told Fitness Volt in September. He won the Europa Pro on the way.
Olympia weekend: won the final, lost the title
Bodybuilding scores each round separately and adds them up, with the lowest total winning. At prejudging Dauda scored 15 points, behind Walker’s 8 and Derek Lunsford’s 9. In the final round he scored a perfect 5, the best round score of the weekend, against Walker’s 10. It wasn’t enough: Walker finished on 18, Dauda on 20 and Lunsford on 24.
| Bodybuilder | Prejudging | Finals | Total | Place | Prize (US$) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nick Walker | 8 | 10 | 18 | 1 | $600,000 |
| Samson Dauda | 15 | 5 | 20 | 2 | $200,000 |
| Derek Lunsford | 9 | 15 | 24 | 3 | $100,000 |
He took it well. Walker is a friend, and the two had talked after both disappointed in 2025 and agreed they’d come back better. “To have both of us stand there, you know, I couldn’t feel more prouder,” Dauda said (Fitness Volt).
Samson Dauda’s Mr Olympia record
| Year | Result |
|---|---|
| 2022 | 6th |
| 2023 | 3rd |
| 2024 | 1st |
| 2025 | 4th |
| 2026 | 2nd |
What a 40-year-old champion tells the rest of us
Dauda didn’t compete until he was 28, didn’t win a pro show until 35 and won the Olympia at 38. Whatever you think of elite bodybuilding, his timeline is a reminder that size and strength keep building for years if the training keeps going. Here’s where to start:
- Size: how to bulk and build muscle, and the bulking calculator to set your calories.
- Protein: the high protein foods list, with grams per serve.
- Starting later: Phil Earley didn’t start bodybuilding until 57, and lifting is linked to a longer life.
More bodybuilders on MFO
- Sam Sulek: age, height, pro career and how he trains
- At 90, he’s still bodybuilding: Toshisuke Kanazawa
- The bodybuilding competition that makes every athlete take a lie detector test
Samson Dauda FAQ
Where did Samson Dauda place at the 2026 Mr Olympia?
Second, two points behind Nick Walker (20 to 18). He won the final round but was third after prejudging.
Has Samson Dauda won Mr Olympia?
Yes, in 2024. He was the first bodybuilder of Nigerian descent to win it.
How tall is Samson Dauda?
5ft 11in (180cm).
How old is Samson Dauda?
40. He was born on 11 March 1986.
How much does Samson Dauda weigh?
About 310lb (141kg) on stage at the 2026 Olympia, according to Fitness Volt.
Where is Samson Dauda from?
He was born in Kaduna, Nigeria, and moved to the UK as a teenager. He holds British and Nigerian citizenship.
Who is Samson Dauda’s wife?
Marlena Gustowska, a former bodybuilder who has also coached him.
