Samson Dauda, a Nigerian-born bodybuilder based in the United Kingdom, has claimed the 2024 Mr. Olympia title, becoming the first athlete of Nigerian origin to achieve the feat in the history of the sport.
The victory came over the weekend at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Nevada, United States, during the prestigious Olympia Fitness & Performance Weekend.
Dauda, who finished third in last year’s competition, secured the title after defeating Iranian bodybuilder Hadi Choopan, who placed second, and former champion Derek Lunsford of the United States, who finished third. In addition to the Mr. Olympia crown, Dauda was also named the People’s Champion.
The Mr. Olympia title, awarded annually to the winner of the open-division professional men’s bodybuilding competition was organized by the International Fitness and BodyBuilding Federation (IFBB) Professional League.
Dauda’s win not only marks a historic moment for Nigerian athletes but also comes with a record-breaking prize of $600,000, the largest ever awarded in a bodybuilding competition.
Fifteen elite athletes competed in the final showdown after advancing from the pre-judging stage.
