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Nigerian-born bodybuilder Samson Dauda has finished second in the Men’s Open division at the 2026 Mr. Olympia in Las Vegas, United States.
Dauda, who competed under the United Kingdom flag, finished behind American bodybuilder Nick Walker, who secured his first Mr. Olympia title.
Walker took home the $600,000 first prize, while Dauda earned $200,000 for his runner-up finish. Derek Lunsford placed third, followed by Andrew Jacked in fourth and Tonio Burton in fifth.
For Dauda, the result adds another podium finish to his growing record at bodybuilding’s biggest competition.
Born in Lagos, Dauda moved to the United Kingdom as a teenager, where he began building his career in bodybuilding. He has remained closely connected to his Nigerian roots and is popularly known as the “Nigerian Lion.”
His interest in bodybuilding developed after he was introduced to the sport while playing rugby in the UK. He went on to earn his IFBB Pro card in 2017 before making his professional debut the following year.
Dauda first appeared at the Mr. Olympia in 2022, finishing sixth. He improved to third place in 2023 before producing his breakthrough performance in 2024, when he won the Men’s Open title.
He was unable to defend his crown in 2025, finishing fourth as Derek Lunsford reclaimed the title. Hadi Choopan finished second, while Andrew Jacked took third.
Dauda returned to the Olympia stage in 2026 after winning the Europa Pro on September 13. He went on to secure second place in Las Vegas, finishing ahead of Lunsford but falling short of reclaiming the title.
The latest result means Dauda has now won one Mr. Olympia title and recorded three other podium finishes in his five appearances at the competition.
His Olympia record stands at sixth place in 2022, third in 2023, first in 2024, fourth in 2025 and second in 2026.
