Samson Dauda: Biography, Age, Wife, Mr Olympia, Nationality, Height
October 14, 2024Samson Dauda (born 11 March 1992) is a Nigerian-British bodybuilder. He is the winner of the title in the 2024 Mr. Olympia competition.
Dauda also competes in the men’s open bodybuilding division in the IFBB Pro League. He earned his IFBB Pro card after winning the overall title at the IFBB Amateur Diamond Cup Rome in 2017.
| Samson Dauda | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Name: | Samson Dauda |
| Born: | 11 March 1992 (age 32 years old) |
| Place of birth: | Lagos, Nigeria |
| Nationality: | Nigerian |
| Occupation: | Bodybuilder |
| Years active: | 2014-date |
| Height: | 1.8 meters |
| Spouse: | Marlena Gustowska |
| Best win: | IFBB, Mr. Olympia 2024 |
Early Life
Samson Dauda was born on 11 March 1992 in Lagos State, Nigeria. He moved to the United Kingdom as a teenager and has lived there since. He has visited Nigeria several times and has maintained a connection to his Nigerian roots.
Dauda hails from a diverse background. His family’s roots trace back to the East. His father comes from the Edo tribe, while his mother is from the Igbo tribe. He has a unique mix of Hausa, Edo, and Igbo heritage, making him a blend of various cultures.
Career
Samson Dauda is the reigning champion of the Arnold Classic. Although he has carved a remarkable niche in bodybuilding, he hasn’t always been a bodybuilder.
Before his venture into bodybuilding, Samson worked in construction and as a maintenance worker at a care home. He had always worked in construction as a builder since he left college.
But when he went to Korea in 2020, Samson became a full-time bodybuilder for the first time. While in the country in East Asia, he decided to quit his full-time job and focus on bodybuilding.
Bodybuilding was never his passion, as he played rugby in college. His school friends praised his physique and encouraged him to take bodybuilding seriously. His rugby teammates and a gym owner, Chris Jones, also encouraged him.
In 2014, Dauda began entering local show competitions after witnessing Phil Heath at the 2013 Mr. Olympia.
In 2017, Dauda earned his IFBB Pro card after he won the overall title at the IFBB Amateur Diamond Cup Rome. He then made his professional debut at the EVLS Prague Showdown in 2018.
Dauda marked his first victory as an IFBB Pro athlete in 2021 at the EVLS Prague Pro. As a result, he qualified for the 2022 Mr. Olympia competition and was placed 6th.
Dauda won the 2023 Arnold Classic US and finished 3rd at the Mr. Olympia. He was crowned Mr. Olympia in 2024, representing the United Kingdom, and secured a first-place prize of $600,000.
Personal Life
Samson Dauda is married to a former competitive athlete, Marlena Gustowska. She has always shown him unconventional support and has actively coached him.
His wife has been training him since the day he decided to do bodybuilding.
Competitive history
| Year | Competition | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | WABBA World Championships (Tall) | 2nd |
| 2015 | IFBB Amateur Olympia UK (Over 100 kg) | 8th |
| 2015 | IFBB British Championships (Super heavyweight) | 3rd |
| 2016 | IFBB British Championships (Super heavyweight) | 4th |
| 2017 | IFBB Amateur Arnold Classic Europe (Over 100 kg) | 5th |
| 2017 | IFBB Amateur Diamond Cup Rome (Over 90 kg and overall) | 1st |
| 2018 | EVLS Prague Showdown | 5th |
| 2018 | George Farah Classic Pro Italy | 9th |
| 2018 | IFBB Prague Pro | 5th |
| 2018 | IFBB Romania Muscle Fest Pro | 11th |
| 2019 | IFBB British Grand Prix | 2nd |
| 2019 | IFBB Chicago Pro | 7th |
| 2019 | IFBB Portugal Pro | 5th |
| 2019 | IFBB Vancouver Pro | 8th |
| 2020 | IFBB British Grand Prix | 6th |
| 2020 | IFBB Europa Dallas Pro | 5th |
| 2020 | IFBB Monsterzym Pro | 2nd |
| 2021 | IFBB Romania Muscle Fest Pro | 2nd |
| 2021 | IFBB EVLS Prague Pro | 1st |
| 2021 | IFBB KO Egypt Pro | 3rd |
| 2021 | IFBB Yamamoto Cup Pro | 3rd |
| 2022 | IFBB Arnold Classic US | 4th |
| 2021 | IFBB Arnold Classic UK | 2nd |
| 2022 | IFBB Boston Pro | 4th |
| 2022 | IFBB Mr. Olympia | 6th |
| 2023 | IFBB Mr. Olympia | 3rd |
| 2023 | IFBB EVLS Prague Pro | 1st |
| 2024 | IFBB Arnold Classic US | 2nd |
| 2024 | IFBB Arnold Classic UK | 2nd |
| 2024 | IFBB France Pro | 1st |
| 2024 | IFBB Mr. Olympia | 1st |
References
- Arpita Shrivastava. “Where Is Samson Dauda From? Know About His Marriage and Family“. Essentially Sports.
- Anthony Nlebem. “Samson Dauda: The Nigerian-born bodybuilder who made history at Mr. Olympia 2024“. Businessday.
