Samson Dauda made history as the 19th man to win the prestigious Sandow trophy. During the athlete seminar on October 13, 2024, he reflected on his Mr. Olympia victory. Furthermore, Dauda challenged Hadi Choopan and Derek Lunsford to face him at the 2025 Arnold Classic in March while talking about his 2024 Mr. Olympia victory.
“This weekend I achieved my life dream of becoming Mr ⭕️lympia @mrolympiallc and the best bodybuilder in the world…..wow that’s going to take some time to sink in 😊” he shared.
As expected, the Mr. Olympia competition stunned the world. In the end, Samson Dauda’s size, aesthetics, and conditioning dominated the lineup. This allowed him to claim bodybuilding’s top title. He defeated runner-up Hadi Choopan and third-place finisher Derek Lunsford in a dramatic event.
Throughout his journey, Dauda took significant risks. Notably, he parted ways with longtime coach Milos Sarcev. Instead, he sought help from his wife, Marlena Dauda. At one point, he nearly moved to Kuwait to train at Oxygen Gyms, but he changed his mind. Moreover, he competed just two weeks before Olympia, winning the 2024 Tsunami Pro.
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Surprisingly, all these decisions worked in his favor. His winning physique at Olympia proved it. Now, with his sights set on the 2025 Arnold Classic, Dauda reflected on the competition and how he will handle being the world’s top bodybuilder.
Samson Dauda Talks 2024 Mr. Olympia Win, Challenges Hadi Choopan and Derek Lunsford to ‘Come Meet Me’ at 2025 Arnold Classic
According to Dauda, he refuses to be a “one-show guy.” As a result, fans can expect him to compete at the 2025 Arnold Classic. Notably, the event promises a staggering $500,000 prize for the Men’s Open winner.
“I’m never going to be a one-show guy. I’m never going to sit out and just disappear all year and then just only see me at Olympia. I’m always going to travel.
I’m always going to do everything I can to give back to the sport that has given me so much. As for the Arnold Classic, you best believe I’m going to be on that stage.”
He acknowledged Hadi Choopan and Derek Lunsford with respect for their thrilling battle at bodybuilding’s biggest stage.
“Last year, it was the very first time I was being compared to them [Hadi Choopan and Derek Lunsford] on the Olympia stage. We knew how ahead they were to us and we knew we had a lot of work to do. I think it was a few weeks or few months later, I went up against Hadi at the Arnold, closed the gap a little bit but Hadi is a hell of a competitor man. He’s just an animal.”
“We keep getting closer and that’s all we gotta do. We took some months off. Went back to the drawing board, trained hard and eventually this year at the Olympia stage, the biggest stage of them all, I finally get past those two guys. Now I say that hunger is still there.”
Never one to rest, Dauda is focused on securing a second Arnold Classic title, having claimed his first in 2023. He challenged Choopan and Lunsford to face him again in Ohio. Additionally, he touched on the honor of winning the Olympia People’s Champ Award.
“I haven’t even started getting satisfied yet. Going to the Arnold now, that hunger is just going to get bigger. I welcome those guys to jump in with me and come meet me on the Arnold stage and let’s do this again.”
“That award when they called me up for that, that one meant a lot to me because I’ve always, look this sport gave me a lot,” adds Dauda.
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Dauda, however, is not taking his Mr. Olympia victory lightly. In fact, he highlighted the significance of becoming the first man from the UK to win the title since Dorian Yates in 1997.
“The last Mr. Olympia from the UK is obviously the great Dorian Yates. That was 1997. No one in the UK has ever come close since. So, to be the second man from the UK to win it after 25 years, damn. That really really feels good.”
Furthermore, he revealed that he was shredded at 305 pounds on the Olympia stage. Furthermore, he extended his thanks to his wife and coach for helping him achieve his all-time best.
“This one is one of the most confident I’ve ever been going into the show. Maybe it’s because I had my wife coach me. She’s always supported me, she’s always been there. I’ve always trusted her most of all so if she says look, everything is fine, you’re on, I have to believe it and she really put that belief in me this whole prep.”
“Coming in at 305 pounds absolutely shredded,” said Dauda. “305, got weighed in France at the weigh-in. You know what, no one has ever looked like this.”
“No one that big can ever come out and pull a vacuum and look so aesthetic at the same time, it’s something new,” he shared.
While the list of competitors for the 2025 Arnold Classic has yet to be announced, Samson Dauda is certainly poised to enter as a commanding favorite. In 2024, he narrowly lost to Hadi Choopan at the event, which many attributed to his conditioning.
Although he is currently savoring his victory, Dauda will need to jump back into training soon for the Arnold Classic. Moreover, after achieving the biggest win of his career, he feels more than optimistic about his future in the sport.
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2024 Olympia Coverage:
- How to Stream 2024 Mr. Olympia Online – Live Coverage
- 2024 Mr. Olympia – Official Athlete Roster and Qualification Guidelines
- 2024 Mr. Olympia Men’s Open Bodybuilding Official Preview
- 2024 Figure Olympia Prejudging Official Report
- 2024 212 Olympia Prejudging Official Report
- 2024 Ms. Olympia Official Prejudging Report
- 2024 Women’s Fitness Olympia Prejudging Official Report
- 2024 Wellness Olympia Prejudging Official Report
- 2024 Women’s Physique Olympia Prejudging Official Report
- 2024 Ms. Olympia Official Results — Andrea Shaw Claimed 5th Title
- 2024 Men’s 212 Olympia Results — Keone Pearson’s 2nd Victory
- 2024 Wellness Olympia Official Results — Isabelle Nunes Claimed First Title
- 2024 Figure Olympia Results — Cydney Gillon Captures 8th Title and Announces Retirement from the Sport
- 2024 Women’s Physique Olympia Official Results & Prize Money — Sarah Villegas Claimed 4th Title
- 2024 Wheelchair Olympia Official Results — Harold Kelley Claimed 6th Title
- 2024 Fitness Olympia Official Results & Prize Money — Missy Truscott Claimed 3rd Title
- 2024 Men’s Physique Olympia Official Results — Ryan Terry secured 2nd Title
- 2024 Classic Physique Olympia Official Results — Chris Bumstead Claimed 6th Title & Retirement announced
Continue
- 2024 Mr. Olympia Men’s Open Bodybuilding Official Results & Prize Money — Samson Dauda Brand new Mr. Olympia
- 2024 Bikini Olympia Official Results & Prize Money — Lauralie Chapados Claimed Victory
- 2024 Mr. Olympia Results and Prize Payouts — All Divisions
- 2024 Mr. Olympia Bodybuilding Results & Prize Money — Samson Dauda’s Victory
- 2024 Ms. Olympia Preview, Top Names to Watch and Underdogs
- 2024 Men’s 212 Olympia Preview: Top Contenders & Underdogs to Watch
- 2024 Ms. Olympia Preview, Top Names to Watch and Underdogs
- 2024 Mr. Olympia Men’s Open & Classic Physique Bodybuilders Check-In Highlights and Teaser
- 2024 Olympia Press Conference: Andrew Jacked Vows to ‘Break Hearts,’ Chris Bumstead Dismisses Wesley Vissers
- Chris Bumstead Triumphs at the 2024 Classic Physique Olympia; Announces Retirement at His Peak
- Samson Dauda Claims 2024 Mr. Olympia Men’s Open Bodybuilding Title
- Keone Pearson Secures Second Consecutive Title at the 2024 212 Olympia
- 2024 Mr. Olympia Prize Money Breakdown: What’s on the Line for All Divisions on Bodybuilding’s Biggest Night?
Watch 2024 Mr. Olympia At Colosseum Strength Hub
To watch the 2024 Mr. Olympia, make sure to check official sources for livestream details. Moreover, key moments like prejudging reports, finals, and expert analysis will be available. Furthermore, for additional information, you can visit the official Olympia website as well as Colosseum Strength, both of which provide extensive coverage.
In addition, for a more comprehensive experience, head over to Colosseum Strength’s dedicated Olympia hub. Moreover, It offers recaps, highlights, and expert insights on each stage of the event. Furthermore, their Live Blog delivers real-time updates throughout the competition. Also, stay tuned, as this promises to be a thrilling showcase of bodybuilding’s elite!
Overview
Samson Dauda made history by becoming the 19th recipient of the prestigious Sandow trophy at the 2024 Mr. Olympia competition. Furthermore, during an athlete seminar on October 13, he reflected on his victory and confidently challenged rivals Hadi Choopan and Derek Lunsford to meet him at the 2025 Arnold Classic in March. Also, he emphasized that he will not be a “one-show guy,” and he aims to maintain his momentum by competing for a $500,000 prize. While savoring his win, Dauda acknowledged the challenges he faced, including changing coaches and training methods. Ultimately, he feels optimistic about his future, especially after achieving his dream of becoming Mr. Olympia and breaking a 25-year drought for UK bodybuilders.
Featured Image – Samson Dauda Talks 2024 Olympia & 2025 Arnold Classic –Credit: @gilcoproductions (Instagram)
