Nigerian-born bodybuilder Samson Dauda finished second in the Men’s Open division at the 2026 Mr Olympia in Las Vegas, United States, as Nick Walker claimed his first title in the prestigious competition.
Dauda, who won the Mr Olympia title in 2024, finished with 20 points, two behind Walker’s 18, while Derek Lunsford placed third with 24 points, according to the published 2026 scorecard.
The competition was held in Las Vegas from 24 to 27 September, with the Mr Olympia finals taking place at the Orleans Arena on Saturday, 26 September.
Dauda’s runner-up finish came despite him recording the lowest score in the Saturday finals.
An analysis of the official scorecard showed that Walker led after Friday’s prejudging with eight points, while Dauda had 15. In the finals, Walker scored 10 points, compared with Dauda’s five.
The combined scores left Walker on 18 points and Dauda on 20, with the lower score determining the winner.
Dauda confirmed his second-place finish in an Instagram post on Sunday, expressing pride in his performance despite falling short of the title.
“Of course we came here to win, but I couldn’t be prouder of this moment and the look we brought to the stage,” he wrote.
The bodybuilder described his physique at the competition as “the best version of me we have ever created”.
“This was the best version of me we have ever created,” Dauda said.
Thanking his team for their support, Dauda said the achievement belonged to everyone who had contributed to his preparation.
“This medal may be around my neck, but it belongs to all of us,” he wrote.
Walker, meanwhile, secured the Sandow trophy for the first time after finishing sixth at the 2025 Mr Olympia. He also won the 2026 People’s Champion award.
The final top five in the Men’s Open division were Walker, Dauda, Lunsford, Chinedu Andrew Obiekea, popularly known as Andrew Jacked, and Tonio Burton.
Dauda entered this year’s Mr Olympia after winning the 2026 Europa Pro on 13 September.
His second-place finish marks a return to the Mr Olympia podium after he placed fourth in 2025. He won the title in 2024, with the official results listing him as representing the United Kingdom.
