Nigerian-British Samson Dauda Wins 2024 Mr Olympia, Takes Home Historic $600,000 Prize
By Matthew Eloyi
Nigerian-British bodybuilder Samson Dauda has claimed the prestigious 2024 Mr Olympia title, taking home a record-breaking $600,000, the largest prize ever awarded in the competition’s history.
The final stage of the 2024 Olympia competition took place at the Resorts World Theatre in Las Vegas, United States, where Dauda outshined 15 top bodybuilders who had advanced from the preliminary rounds.
In a thrilling contest, Dauda emerged as the overall winner, edging out Iran’s Hadi Choopan, who took the runner-up spot, and the reigning 2023 Olympia champion, Derek Lunsford, who finished in third place.
The victory is a major achievement in the career of Dauda, a professional bodybuilder who competes in the men’s open bodybuilding division of the IFBB Pro League.
Born in Lagos, Nigeria, Dauda moved to the United Kingdom as a teenager, where he initially pursued rugby before discovering bodybuilding, thanks to encouragement from his rugby teammates.
Dauda earned his IFBB Pro card in 2017 after winning the overall title at the IFBB Amateur Diamond Cup Rome, which marked a pivotal moment in his career.
He made his professional debut the following year at the EVLS Prague Showdown in 2018, finishing in 5th place.
His first major victory came in 2021 when he won the EVLS Prague Pro, earning him qualification for the 2022 Mr Olympia competition, where he made his debut and finished in 6th place.
Dauda’s latest triumph at the 2024 Mr Olympia solidifies his position as one of the top bodybuilders in the world, marking a historic moment for both his career and the sport.