Dauda also discussed the possibility of competing prior to the Olympia.
Samson Dauda is in the midst of his annual process getting ready for the Olympia. As he works on adding more and more size to his frame, the former Arnold Classic champion has his eyes on the upcoming event in 2026. While he is not taking part in it, Dauda made his picks for the Arnold Classic.
[RELATED: Samson Dauda Eyeing 350 Pounds This Offseason]
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.
Dauda will be a threat once again in 2026 and will attempt to bring his best physique to the Olympia stage. During a recent appearance with Fouad Abiad, Dauda touched on the Arnold and shared his top four picks, along with Rafael Brandao, who he believes can be a dark-horse:
Will Samson Dauda Compete Before 2026 Olympia?
Samson Dauda has made his intentions clear of putting on more weight this offseason. He is quickly approaching his goal of 350 pounds and has shared multiple updates for fans. While it seems unlikely that Dauda will compete before the Olympia, he did not completely close the door.
“I never say never. People say when you’re trying to peak with a new added muscle, new structure, what you’ve done before doesn’t suddenly work again the same way. Sometimes you might have to take a test to see how your body responds. Olympia was a prime example.”
Dauda continued to explain the idea of using a trial show, which would let him see how he reacts to an on-stage peak. This is a strategy that he used before the Olympia in 2024.
“I’m not going to put it out that it’s not going to happen. At the same time, I’m open-minded that I might have to do a trial run to make sure everything is responding like I think and hope we would be.”
Dauda will continue to be a threat in 2026 and will do it in a different way. In previous years, Dauda has worked under a weight cap made by himself and his team. This offseason, he is eliminating this and seeing what he can do with unlimited size. So far, Dauda has been able to make great strides and add more to his already massive frame.
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