Long-time friend Chris Jones pays tribute as 2024 Mr Olympia marks a milestone birthday
By Gary Chappell
SAMSON DAUDA turns 40 today [March 11 2026] in a milestone that feels almost surreal for those who remember the early days of his bodybuilding journey.
Because long before the Olympia title in 2024, the Arnold Classic victory and guest appearances around the world, Dauda was simply a young man walking into a UK gym with a modest ambition.
As long-time friend and former NABBA Mr Universe Chris Jones recalls, when they first met back in 2009, Dauda’s goal was not world domination. It was something far simpler.
“I just want to get a bit bigger and put on a bit of muscle,” Dauda had said humbly back then.
Few sentences in bodybuilding history have aged quite like that one.
Jones, who helped Dauda begin his journey during those early years and who has stayed close ever since, paid tribute to the champion in a heartfelt message marking his friend’s birthday.
“Happy 40th Birthday to my good friend Samson Dauda – the most humble and greatest champion I have ever had the privilege to know,” wrote Jones on his instagram account.
“It seems crazy to see just how far you have come ever since we first met back in 2009 at my old gym and you said those famous words – 'I just want to get a bit bigger and put on a bit of muscle'. Well you have certainly done that and then some.
“We have shared so many special moments through the years, through all the training sessions, the competitions on the amateur circuit, the contest preps, the triumphs and also the disappointments, which have all cemented our friendship.
“I cannot tell you just how proud I am of you and all that you have achieved and how you continue to be such a great ambassador for this sport.”
The long road to the top
Dauda’s rise did not happen overnight. Like many of Britain’s best bodybuilders, his career was built through years of amateur competition, incremental progress and relentless training long before the global spotlight arrived.
He eventually earned his IFBB Pro League status in 2017, winning the overall title at the Diamond Cup in Rome. After that, he steadily climbed the ranks of professional bodybuilding, winning the Arnold Classic in 2023 and becoming known for his immense structure, flowing muscle bellies and stage presence.
But the biggest chapter of the story came in recent years.
After pushing competitors close on the international stage, Dauda ultimately reached bodybuilding’s summit when he won the Mr Olympia title in 2024, becoming only the second British bodybuilder to win that crown.
For Dauda himself, the moment carried a deeply personal significance. In an article on Frontdouble following the victory, he described the achievement in simple terms: “This is a dream come true.”
For those who have known Dauda longest, however, the most remarkable thing about his journey is not the trophies.
It is that, by most accounts, the man himself has changed very little.
Despite reaching the pinnacle of professional bodybuilding, he continues to be widely regarded as one of the most approachable and grounded figures in the sport.
Jones’ birthday tribute reflects that sentiment, describing not just a champion, but a friend.
“Here is to you my friend, your legacy and your future and your happiness. I wish you a very happy birthday indeed.”
At 40 years old, Dauda now hopes to bring his best package yet to this year's Mr Olympia, with recent social media posts and guest spots showing that the mass absent from last year's competition is well and truly back.
And if his career so far has shown anything, it is that the journey which began with a simple desire to “put on a bit of muscle” has become something far bigger than anyone in that gym back in 2009 could have imagined.
Should European Masters winners only compete as Masters Pros?
The new IFBB Pro League dilemma
By Gary Chappell
WHEN the dust settled in Milan at the NPC European Masters last month, a handful of athletes walked away with something bigger than medals: IFBB Pro League cards. For most people, this is the pinnacle of an amateur bodybuilding career – the ticket to the big league.
But in the days following the show, a quiet debate has begun around bodybuilding scene:
If you win your Pro Card in a Masters-only event, should you only compete in Masters? Or does earning that card give you the right – and the expectation – to step into the Open?
This is not an abstract discussion. It's already affecting athletes who stood on that stage in Milan. And those who did not.
The core issue: A fairness problem nobody wants to talk about
At the European Masters, some competitors finished had, either this season or in previous seasons, placed behind athletes who were not even old enough to be eligible for that Milan show. Those younger athletes never got the chance to test themselves under the same judging panel, in the same format, on the same day.
Yet now, ironically, the older Masters athletes become IFBB Pros, while the younger, arguably better athletes from the same regional pool remain amateurs, partly because they are not old enough to win their professional status at a Masters show.
To many competitors watching from the sidelines, it raises eyebrows.
Is it fair that someone who wins a Pro Card in an age-restricted field can immediately jump into the Open Pro ranks – ahead of people who might have beaten them in a non-Masters comparison?
What the IFBB Pro League actually says
Winning a Pro Card – regardless of whether it’s from the Open, Juniors, or Masters – grants the same status:
You are a full IFBB Pro.
You may compete in any Pro division for which you qualify, including Open shows.
You do not have to stay in Masters competitions.
On paper, it is simple. In reality, it is more complicated.
Are Masters cards “easier”?
This is no disrespect to Masters athletes – in fact, quite the opposite. Many of them are incredible, often more complete, more conditioned and more polished than their younger counterparts. In fact, frontdouble.com recently published an article about how the Masters division is now raising the bar.
But the competitive depth in a Masters lineup is almost always thinner than the Open.
This means a Masters competitor can earn a Pro Card without ever beating the best amateurs in their region. And to some observers, that does not quite sit right. To others, however, it is simply the reward for longevity and commitment.
The practical consequence: Jumping the queue
Here’s the uncomfortable truth many athletes won’t say publicly:
With the greatest amount of respect, a Masters Pro Card can be considered a shortcut into the IFBB Pro League. And because stepping into the Open Pro ranks immediately raises your profile, it creates a situation where age-restricted victories produce Open-category professionals who did not get the nod when battling the top amateurs head-to-head. Perhaps this is why Masters Pro Card winners should compete only as Masters Pros, despite what the ruling says.
From a competitive integrity standpoint, that is a debate worth having.
So: Should Masters Pros stay in Masters?
There are three arguments:
1. YES – They should stay in Masters
Because the qualification was earned in an age-restricted setting. A Masters Pro should compete against other Masters Pros to maintain parity.
2. NO – A Pro Card is a Pro Card
The rules are the rules. If you’ve earned Pro status, you’ve earned the right to compete wherever you want.
3. The middle ground – a restructure
Some might argue for a system where:
Masters Pro Cards grant access to Masters Pro shows only, while Open Pro qualification must be earned against non-age-restricted competitors.
Where does this leave the European Masters?
The Milan show highlighted a structural reality in the sport:
You don’t need to beat the best amateurs to become an Open Pro — you just need to win the right show.
For some, that is an opportunity. For others, it is a distortion. But one thing is clear:
As Masters events continue to expand across Europe, this fairness question will grow louder, especially among the younger amateurs watching athletes they might have beaten step past them into the Pro ranks.
For clarity, no athlete should ever have their achievement devalued. And this is not what this article sets out to do. Winning any Pro Card requires discipline, sacrifice and a level of commitment most people will never understand.
But the sport evolves through honest conversations. And the European Masters has forced one.
SAMSON DAUDA WINS MR OLYMPIA: "This is a dream come true
From rugby player to best bodybuilder on the planet – the rise of Britain's finest
SAMSON DAUDA says being crowned Mr Olympia is a "dream come true" and has revealed competing in France two weeks ago gave him the perfect information to dial in his condition.
Dauda became only the second Briton since Dorian Yates to win the coveted Mr Olympia title, when dethroning Derek Lunsford in Las Vegas on Saturday night. He also beat 2022 champion Hadi Choopan and 2019 winner Brandon Curry.
Dauda said: "This is a dream come true. This is unreal. This has just been amazing. We knew we were trying to bring something special this year and we knew we could do it. And to have it come to play and happen like this, I couldn't ask for better.
"It feels crazy, it feels [like I'm] over the moon. It feels like all that work all year, putting through everything, to stand on that stage and say 'we did it, against all [the odds], we did it'. There is nothing better."
Dauda received criticism in some corners for his decision to compete at the France Pro just two weeks out from the Olympia. But his surprise move paid dividends because he was given feedback from judges which made him knuckle down even more.
He said: "We really pushed things down because we got the feedback from the judges in France. We knew we had to dig deeper because I knew exactly what they wanted to see. The last two weeks I was doing an hour and a half cardio every day.
"Are you trying to starve me to death?"
"My wife [Marlena Gustowska his coach] was cutting my food so fast I was like 'are you trying to starve me to death'? She really pushed me down and she really wanted to me to shock the world. I don't even know how that happened but she said, 'trust me, you don't lose muscle. You're going to suffer. Even though you're going to hate me for it, trust me, you're going to thank me for it at the end'. Now we know we can achieve this look, I know how far I have to push things."
Speaking to the many fans gathered in Las Vegas, Dauda added: "For all the support you guys [fans] have given me, all your messages, all your love, I want to say thank you so much for everything. It has meant the world to me. We have been through a lot this year and you all stuck by me and I'm truly thankful."
Samson Dauda: From Rugby Player to Mr Olympia
Dauda has taken the bodybuilding world by storm, rising from relative obscurity to become Mr Olympia. However, his path to success was not always rooted in bodybuilding. His journey began on the rugby field, playing first on the wing before moving to outside centre. This is where he built the foundation of his remarkable physique and developed the discipline that would later propel him to greatness on the bodybuilding stage.
During a previous interview, Dauda said: “I was playing rugby for the town I was living in at the time and the guys I was in the changing room with would say, ‘wow, you have a great physique. Have you ever thought about competing'? “I was like, ‘what are you talking about'?"
Dauda spoke to local gym owner Chris Jones – a former NABBA Pro and now NABBA judge. Then he saw the 2013 Mr Olympia contest, which was won by Phil Heath.
“I was just blown away by it. I was like oh my God,” said Dauda at the time. “It just kind of caught me at that point and I was like ‘OK, you know what? I want to do this'."
Jones continues to be a close friend to this day and wrote a glowing tribute on social media: "Well, how do I even begin to put into words just how proud I am right now about Samson Dauda becoming the very best bodybuilder on the planet and becoming the 19th man in history to win the Mr Olympia?
There was something very special about Samson
"Right from the very beginning, it was obvious there was something very special about Samson. He used to work with my wife in 2009 at Basildon Hospital. A simple conversation about going to the gym and Samson wanting to get “a bit bigger”, led to my wife giving Samson my phone number. A few days later, he called me and arranged to come and see me at the gym.
"He walked in weighing about 150 pounds and I gave him a training plan and a diet plan and off he went happy with what we'd discussed.
"Around six months later, he came back to see me – and had gained around 15 pounds of pure muscle. It was blatantly apparent that Samson had a great ability to grow muscle even back then.
ON THE RIGHT PATH: Samson Dauda and close friend and early mentor Chris Jones (left)
"Fast forward a few years and we had so many adventures and experiences together. And with the persuasion of his wife Marlena, he agreed to do his first bodybuilding show. All the years of competing, going to regional qualifiers, British championships together and trying to make a mark. It was clear that Samson was destined for greatness.
"Through all the success, Samson is still the same humble, down-to-earth guy that he has always been and has always remained true and loyal to his friends.
"I will close this by saying that I am truly humbled and privileged to say that my mate Samson Dauda is now THE best bodybuilder on the planet. A nd he still comes down our gym [Evolve Fitness in Essex] to chat with us lads and eat and train. Well done Samson and Marlena."
Despite several accounts profiling his competition history, Dauda actually competed with at the IBFA Hampshire in 2013, winning his class and the overall.
“It just felt so natural to be on there, you know,” said Dauda. “One of the promoters came to me and said, ‘I think you can win this class [the overall]’. I was like ‘are you out of your mind’?”
Fast forward 11 years and Dauda is the best bodybuilder on the planet. Mr Olympia.
Early Struggles and Breakthroughs
Dauda’s entry into the competitive bodybuilding scene was not easy. He faced many of the challenges that come with starting a new sport – learning how to pose, understanding nutrition and perfecting his stage presence. His initial competitions were met with mixed results. But Dauda persisted, knowing that he had the potential to rise to the top.
It was not until he started learning the intricacies of professional bodybuilding that Dauda’s career began to take off. His physique, known for its symmetry, size and definition, started to catch the attention of judges and fans alike.
In 2021, Dauda had his breakthrough year, placing highly in several major competitions, including the Arnold Classic and IFBB Pro League shows. His combination of mass, aesthetics and an impressive posing routine set him apart from the competition.
The Road to Mr Olympia
By 2022, Dauda had solidified himself as a legitimate contender for the Mr. Olympia title. His transformation from a rugby player to a world-class bodybuilder is a testament to his work ethic and determination. His Nigerian heritage, combined with his British upbringing, gave him a unique identity and perspective in the sport.
Dauda’s rise to prominence is an inspirational story of resilience, discipline and ambition. And now he and wife Marlena know what he needs to do to dial in that Mr Olympia condition. So the question now is: Just how many can he win?
Dauda might well be known as the Nigerian Lion but right now there is no doubt he is Britain's best.
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