Nigerian-born bodybuilder Samson Dauda has secured second place in the Men’s Open division at the 2026 Mr Olympia competition held in Las Vegas, United States.
The event ran from September 24 to 27, with the finals taking place at the Orleans Arena on September 26. Dauda, who lifted the Mr Olympia title in 2024, finished behind Nick Walker, who captured his first championship. Derek Lunsford completed the top three.
According to the official scorecard, Walker ended the contest with 18 points, while Dauda recorded 20. In Mr Olympia judging, the competitor with the lower combined score takes the higher position. Walker had already established an advantage during Friday’s prejudging, scoring eight points compared with Dauda’s 15.
Dauda’s performance in the finals produced five points, while Walker scored 10. Despite the outcome, the Nigerian-born athlete expressed pride in his showing and said the physique presented on stage represented the best version of himself and his team’s work.
The result marks Dauda’s return to the Mr Olympia podium after finishing fourth in 2025. His latest campaign followed a victory at the 2026 Europa Pro on September 13.
Walker’s victory was also notable because he had placed sixth at the 2025 Mr Olympia. He additionally received the 2026 People’s Champion award.
The remaining top five competitors were Andrew Jacked, also known as Chinedu Andrew Obiekea, and Tonio Burton, alongside Walker, Dauda and Lunsford. The result further keeps Dauda among bodybuilding’s leading global competitors.
