Nigerian born body builder, SAMSON DAUDA Reigns as First Black to Win Mr. Olympia 2024, Representing United Kingdom
…landmark victory marks him as the 19th champion in the competition’s six-decade history
*Receives an unprecedented $600,000 prize, a significant increase from the previous year’s $400,000
*Mr. Olympia, Dauda was handed a special 24-karat gold-plated Sandow trophy, adding extra luster to his remarkable achievement
*32-year-old athlete Yoruba/English fluent speaking attributes his success to the unwavering support of wife and coach, Marlenka, a fitness expert
*GEORGE ELIJAH OTUMU/AMERICA Senior Investigative Editor, NAIJA STANDARD NEWSPAPER & FLORA SIMSON/STAFF WRITER, UK
HE HAS BROUGHT A HUGE GLORY to Africa’s most populous black nation in the world. He has become the first black man to win the prestigious Mr. Olympia title in the United Kingdom, UK. This Nigerian-born body builder Samson Dauda, representing the UK, made history by winning the 2024 Mr. Olympia Men’s Open Division, becoming the first Nigerian to claim the prestigious title.
Dauda, representing the United Kingdom, has clinched the title of Mr. Olympia 2024 in the Men’s Open Division. The landmark victory marks him as the 19th champion in the competition’s six-decade history and the first of Nigerian origin to claim the prestigious honor.
Dauda’s win comes with an unprecedented $600,000 prize, a significant increase from the previous year’s $400,000. To commemorate the 60th anniversary of Mr. Olympia, Dauda also received a special 24-karat gold-plated Sandow trophy, adding extra luster to his remarkable achievement.
The 32-year-old bodybuilder’s journey to the top spot has been nothing short of impressive. After placing sixth in 2022 and climbing to third in 2023, Dauda’s determination and hard work finally paid off with the top spot in 2024. He attributes his success not only as a result of his dedication but also to the unwavering support of his wife and coach, Marlenka, a fitness athlete herself. Fans of Dauda’s popular YouTube channel often credit Marlenka as a key factor in his continued improvement.
Dauda’s victory also highlights the growing impact of African-born athletes in professional bodybuilding with a few of them in the competition. Fellow competitor William Bonac, born in Ghana and representing the Netherlands, secured seventh place and was among the first to congratulate Dauda, sharing an embrace on stage during the award ceremony.
Another standout performer was Chinedu Andrew Obiekea, professionally known as Andrew Jacked. The Nigerian-born athlete, representing the United Arab Emirates, matched his 2023 performance with a fifth-place finish, further underscoring the strength of African talent in the sport.
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