..Samson Dauda dropped down to fourth one year after winning the 2024 Olympia title
Former Mr. Olympia Samson Dauda had high hopes of repeating as champion over the weekend in Las Vegas. On Saturday night, he was shockingly announced as fourth place and this was a big drop following his performance last year. After the show, Dauda issued a statement about his finish at the 2025 Olympia.
“This isn’t the end, it’s a chapter. The fire burns even brighter now.”
From prejudging, Dauda was among a top four that included Derek Lunsford, Hadi Choopan, and Andrew Jacked. This ended up being the top four in Men’s Open with Lunsford being crowned champion for the second time. Choopan finished as the runner-up once again while Jacked made a jump into the top three.
Dauda has proven that he is a true force in Men’s Open and this has been the case since his debut. In 2022, he finished in the Top 10 at his first Olympia competition and shot up the scorecard in 2023 — when he was top three. After his victory last year, it was a surprising drop to No. 4 but Dauda is prepared to move forward and improve.
Samson Dauda Reacts to Fourth-Place Finish
Samson Dauda was among the favorites to win the Olympia title on Saturday night. He brought an impressive package to the stage and it was clear he was in the top tier during prejudging. As the competition went on, he fell down the scorecard but has accepted his finish and will prepare better for next year.
“Sometimes doing everything right still doesn’t give you the result you hoped for.
We came in 4th this year at the Olympia. I won’t lie, it hurts. I listened, adjusted, and brought the best version of myself to the stage… leaner, sharper and in the best condition of my life. But in chasing perfection, I paid the price for not being the bigger version.”
Dauda’s rise through the IFBB Pro League was steady. After turning pro in 2018, Dauda gained momentum with standout performances at shows like the British Grand Prix and the Arnold Classic UK. But his true breakout moment came at the 2023 Arnold Classic, where he battled against Nick Walker and Andrew Jacked to earn the runner-up spot. The bodybuilding world took notice. His combination of mass, shape, and stage presence became impossible to ignore.
Samson Dauda knows what he can accomplish and will continue to work with his team moving forward.
“Still, I hold my head high. Because what we achieved what Mel and I built together was something special. The journey, the growth, the resilience… that’s what defines a true athlete.”
Generation Iron
