Nigerian-born bodybuilding star Samson Dauda has finished second in the Men’s Open division at the 2026 Mr Olympia in Las Vegas, United States, as Nick Walker captured the prestigious title for the first time.
Dauda, who became Mr Olympia champion in 2024, returned to the biggest stage in professional bodybuilding hoping to reclaim the Sandow Trophy. However, after two days of competition, the Nigerian-born athlete settled for the runner-up position behind Walker.
The 2026 Mr Olympia was held in Las Vegas from September 24 to 27, with the Men’s Open finals taking place at the Orleans Arena on Saturday, September 26. Walker finished with 18 points, while Dauda recorded 20 points. Derek Lunsford completed the top three with 24 points. Under the competition’s scoring system, the athlete with the lowest combined score takes the higher position.
The final result was shaped by the difference between Friday’s prejudging and Saturday’s finals.
Walker entered the finals in a strong position after the prejudging, where he collected eight points compared with Dauda’s 15. Dauda then produced five points in the finals, while Walker scored 10. When the scores from both stages were combined, Walker’s total of 18 points was enough to put him ahead of Dauda’s 20.
Despite missing out on the title, Dauda returned to the Mr Olympia podium after finishing fourth in 2025. His latest result also adds another chapter to an impressive run at the competition.
Dauda first appeared at the Mr Olympia in 2022 and finished sixth. He improved to third in 2023 before reaching the summit in 2024, when he won the Men’s Open title. His title defence in 2025 ended with a fourth-place finish, before he bounced back to claim second place in 2026.
The Nigerian-born bodybuilder arrived in Las Vegas with confidence after winning the 2026 Europa Pro on September 13. That victory secured momentum heading into the Olympia and set up another opportunity for Dauda to compete against the world’s leading professional bodybuilders.
Although the Sandow Trophy went to Walker this time, Dauda made it clear after the competition that he was proud of what he brought to the stage.
In a message shared on Instagram, Dauda acknowledged that the objective had been to win but expressed pride in his performance and the physique he presented. He described it as the best version of himself that he and his team had created.
Walker, meanwhile, completed a remarkable rise to the top. The American finished sixth at the 2025 Mr Olympia before returning a year later to claim his first Olympia title. He also received the 2026 People’s Champion award.
Dauda was not the only African connection among the leading competitors. Chinedu Andrew Obiekea, popularly known as Andrew Jacked, finished fourth, while Tonio Burton rounded out the top five. Lunsford, the 2023 Mr Olympia champion, took third place.
For Dauda, the second-place finish means his Olympia record now reads sixth in 2022, third in 2023, first in 2024, fourth in 2025 and second in 2026.
His journey has therefore continued to move between the top positions of bodybuilding’s most prestigious competition. While he could not reclaim the championship this year, his return to the podium confirms another strong showing against the world’s elite Men’s Open competitors.
For Nigerian bodybuilding fans, Dauda’s latest appearance remains another significant moment for an athlete whose professional career continues to attract attention on one of the sport’s biggest stages.
