Samson Dauda: Most Improved Bodybuilder of 2022!
Has professional bodybuilding ever seen a close to 300-pound stage-ready physique like this with SUCH unquestionable aesthetics with a waist QUITE that small? ‘
No’ is the reply to that one, guys: it has most actually not, ever.
By Giles “Tiger” Thomas
2022 was a yr like no different for worldwide bodybuilding. There have been a loopy quantity of professional reveals all all over the world – virtually each weekend, it appeared, so there have been a LOT of outcomes to digest, a ton of athletes to comply with and assess with some bettering and shifting up and – after all – some slipping. It’s fairly an achievement on this aggressive an business of worldwide professional bodybuilding to be named “THE Most Improved Bodybuilder” of any yr, particularly 2022. Even in 2021, it wasn’t clear to any who adopted the game carefully that British Open professional Samson Dauda can be certainly one of THE largest speaking factors of the next yr. However oh my, he so was.
Historical past Lesson Time
Let’s look again at some professionals who many felt have been additionally probably the most improved guys of their yr.
1993: Dorian Yates. Even together with his first Mr. Olympia win in Helsinki, Finland the yr earlier than, I’m unsure ANYONE noticed the drastically improved model coming with Dorian’s return to Atlanta, Georgia on the Mr. “O” a full 15 kilos heavier at 257 kilos – with even crazier situation – that many thought of to be bodybuilding taken to a completely new degree. Maybe much more insane to understand is that in these well-known black-and-white sock footage taken by Kevin Horton six weeks earlier than of Yates posing at 270 kilos, he might ALSO have walked onstage and received. Yates was THAT good that yr with everybody merely combating for second place.
2003: Ronnie Coleman. Ronnie, very like Dorian these 10 years earlier than, additionally shocked the world with what he delivered to the Olympia stage. Ronnie, proper after the 2002 Olympia, was truly crushed by Günter Schlierkamp on the 2002 GNC Present of Energy. Ronnie, fearing “they” needed to take the next yr’s Olympia title away from him, took it very critically and “went to warfare” (in his personal actual phrases to me on a podcast in 2021), returning the yr after – and similar to Dorian in ’93 – to drop jaws all by means of the Mandalay Bay area, some 40-plus kilos over the 2002 “O” win stage weight. Struggle was certainly declared and victory, was his.
2009: Jay Cutler. This was the yr that historical past was made on the Olympia. Not for the reason that contest’s inception since 1965 had any Mr. Olympia who had misplaced the title ever received it again. Jay determined in any other case. In 2008, Jay – the then two-time Mr. “O” – misplaced the title to Dexter Jackson, solely to return in ’09 with an ALL-time greatest look that actually stomped his method again into the number-one pole place and win BACK the title. It wasn’t even up for dialogue both, for as quickly as he walked out, it was apparent to anybody with two eyeballs of their head who the outright winner was that yr.
2020: Large Ramy. I’ll be sincere, earlier than this specific Olympia, Ramy’s first win, I’d given up all hope he might actually carry all of it collectively on the day to show his best-EVER look that so many felt he was able to for seven lengthy (principally disappointing) years from the Gigantic Egyptian. However, Ramy shocked everybody to carry the proper situation for his colossal body to FINALLY and outrightly WIN the Sandow trophy and change into the sixteenth man in historical past to have the ability to name himself “Mr. Olympia.”
What Do the Specialists Say?
Ron Harris
Once I noticed Samson for the primary time on the 2022 Arnold Basic, I used to be actually impressed by his total mass and extra so by his stature and construction. This was a giant man with a giant X-frame, and I believed, this man might be actually good when he fills out. He managed fourth place behind winner Brandon Curry, William Bonac and Steve Kuclo. Samson would earn the identical slot every week later in my hometown of Boston, this time with Bonac profitable, adopted by presumably a best-ever Justin Rodriguez and The Kingsnake once more in third. I actually wasn’t anticipating a lot from Dauda in his Mr. Olympia debut 9 months later. That could be sufficient time for a feminine human being to gestate a child, nevertheless it’s hardly adequate for a sophisticated professional bodybuilder to make any substantial enhancements. I used to be flawed. Samson took his low season body weight as much as a staggering 330 kilos, but one way or the other his dainty waist did not broaden one bit. All properly and good, however how would all this new muscle mass look come contest day? The reply was spectacular! Pushing 300 kilos in excellent situation, he confirmed a uncommon mixture of dimension and aesthetics. Few had predicted he would make the highest six, however he did simply that. Many people felt he genuinely deserved fifth place over Large Ramy. Regardless, Samson Dauda had made a robust assertion in his Mr. Olympia debut. The physique he’d proven again in March would by no means have cracked the highest 10 at this ultra-competitive Mr. Olympia. However because of the drastic enhancements he’d managed to make in that span of time, Samson had pushed all the way in which to the coveted high six, with larger placings most undoubtedly in his future. I can’t consider anybody else in Males’s Open bodybuilding who’s extra deserving of the title “Most Improved Bodybuilder of 2022.” I don’t count on Samson to make the same leap in dimension in 2023, however he’s now getting nearer to his full potential and I can’t wait to see how good he might be the subsequent time he steps on the Mr. Olympia stage.
Milos Sarcev
Giles: What have been your preliminary emotions towards Samson Dauda’s total potential, Milos?
Milos: I used to be a huge fan of Samson’s physique even earlier than I ever began working with him, Giles. I’d seen some footage and video footage and I mentioned to myself, “This man has that one thing,” that form, the virtually superhero “look,” spherical muscle bellies, a “full” physique with good construction and nice stability. I might see he did want enhancements, however in time, all this comes, THEN he contacted me.
Giles: Why was that?
Milos: Effectively god relaxation his soul, Samson’s coach John Meadows sadly handed away seven weeks out of Samson’s subsequent present and John instructed him that if anybody else was ever to educate him he wished that it was me, so it was a no brainer – and the way might I refuse? Anyway, we have been simply seven weeks out from the 2021 Arnold UK after which one other FIVE reveals – for those who keep in mind – after that, it was Spain, then Italy, Egypt, Prague, Romania, so he didn’t actually have time to develop, simply compete in a single present after one other, every time attempting to peak him as greatest we might for every occasion. Then, as you understand, he DID qualify for the 2022 Mr. Olympia by profitable the EVLS Prague present and on the similar time, Samson additionally utilized to compete on the Arnold Basic in March 2022 and his invitation was accredited, so instantly we have been aiming for the Arnold Basic and he made great enhancements.
Giles: Samson instructed me that in November 2021 he was 270 kilos onstage when he received in Prague on the EVLS then 4 months later on the Arnold was 10 kilos heavier at 280? That’s unimaginable enhancements in such a brief area of time.
Milos: That’s 100% right Giles, however what occurred after the fourth place on the Arnold Basic was that the world had registered and now realized how good he truly was at the moment. He had now put his identify on the map, so to talk, and that he’s an entire package deal with dimension, width, thickness, construction, form, stability, EVERYTHING is there!
Giles: I’d think about his confidence was actually rising at this stage additionally?
Milos: Effectively, I’m going to inform you simply this then, proper earlier than the Olympia, he mentioned to me: “Coach, I simply HOPE they put me proper subsequent to Ramy, as a result of I’m going to carry my very own!”
Giles: Wow! That’s EXACTLY occurred too.
Milos: (Laughs) Think about that assertion, then Giles, listening to that a few months BEFORE the Olympia contest. Large Ramy is Large Ramy, he’s one of the best on the planet, the present and two-time Mr. Olympia – and certain sufficient – Samson drew the quantity proper earlier than Ramy’s, which means this DID the truth is occur – and the remaining is historical past.
Giles: I did have Samson beating Ramy, he ought to have been fifth in my eyes, not sixth. So what are your emotions on the upcoming Arnold Basic, can he win?
Milos: That is the man now that’s going to be tremendous onerous to deal with in Columbus, Giles. I don’t care who you might be, you’re going to be dealing with Samson that has ALREADY proved himself on the Arnold together with his fourth place and now sixth in his first-ever Mr. Olympia.
Giles: He’s additionally the highest-placed British professional within the Olympia since Dorian Yates in 1997, would possibly I add.
Milos: Sure, that too Giles. I believe he can goal for first place in Columbus, however to say that he’s pushed is an understatement. I not often am in contact with somebody that’s SO dedicated and assured 24 hours a day, each day with NOTHING else in his head BUT enchancment – and enchancment he’s going to nonetheless proceed to indicate in 2023, Giles. All of us agree Samson is probably the most improved professional of 2022, however for 2023, you simply know what’s coming!
Tiger’s Take …
2014 was the very first time I ever heard of Samson Dauda. I keep in mind clearly that yr, a superb pal of mine and colourful character and present promoter, Scott “Hollywood” Horton, was raving about this thrilling new man that had simply received his present. “Hercules Olympia 2014, Giles, Samson received the tall class and I gave him a run out to the World Championships, not simply to make up the numbers, however get him on track and present him what the massive unhealthy bodybuilding world was like,” Scott recalled.
I personally might see Samson had potential, lovely form, symmetry, wonderful presentation, but when I’m fully sincere, I’d seen loads of different physiques across the World – and particularly within the UK – that maybe stood out extra. Even in 2017 on the UKBFF British Championships, when he took the runner-up place behind super-heavyweight and total winner James Hollingshead, I completely couldn’t have predicted that 5 years later, Samson would have many saying that he not solely deserved to beat Large Ramy on the 2022 Mr. Olympia, however holding his personal size-wise with the person who’s identify actually begins with “Large”! Wanting again now, even what was achieved from 2017 to 2018 was so bloody spectacular. After that 2017 British finals runner-up place, one week after, Samson secured his professional card by profitable the IFBB Diamond Cup present in Rome, Italy. Clearly I can recall one distinguished determine in British bodybuilding saying to me that he felt that attributable to that individual win by Samson, that professional playing cards have been too readily being handed out, indicating a sense that right here was Samson not prepared or adequate maybe to even deserve being awarded professional standing? Quick-forward to 1 yr later – and in his professional debut – Samson positioned fourth behind the likes of winner Roelly Winklaar and Nathan De asha in second. Growth. Take that, doubters.
2022 was the yr, I consider, when every part fell into place for Samson. Milos Sarcev stepped in as coach and continued the unimaginable progress that Samson and John Meadows (who sadly handed away) that had left Samson feeling (as he instructed me himself in an episode of “MD International Muscle”) “misplaced” and at a really low level with John now sadly, gone. He had misplaced each a coach and a pal with the surprising, sudden dying of John who was additionally somebody that – like Milos now – had full religion in his potential to rise to the very high of this sport. Add to that the assist from Hosstile (his new sponsor that got here in at the moment) now permitting him to go away his full-time development job and purely be a 24/7, 365 day of the yr professional bodybuilder. With Milos, Fouad Abiad (who created Hosstile) and his ever-supportive companion Marlenka who had been behind him from day certainly one of his bodybuilding profession, it’s fairly simple to see how his trajectory simply went up and up, FAST. Let’s use stage weight to try and gauge the progress – November 2021, he received the EVLS Prague Professional, beating Brazil’s Rafael Brandão (second), Regan Grimes (third) and nine-time professional present winner Nathan De asha (fourth), at 270 kilos. 4 months later, Samson stormed to fourth within the 2022 Arnold Basic behind winner Brandon Curry, William Bonac in second and Justin Rodriguez, taking third at 280 kilos onstage. Ten high quality kilos heavier with just about two present preps back-to-back while retaining the small waist and ALL his aesthetics, fully intact. No imply feat.
However right here was when momentum actually kicked in HARD for the “Nigerian Lion.” 9 months later, I found by discussing together with his coach Milos on the Olympia Gala (instantly after the Saturday night time finals) that Samson (upon request from Milos) had weighed himself absolutely depleted at 294.5 kilos in Las Vegas for his extremely anticipated Mr. Olympia debut. Has professional bodybuilding ever seen a close to 300-pound stage-ready physique like this with SUCH unquestionable aesthetics with a waist QUITE that small? “No” is the reply to that one, guys: it has most actually not, ever.
As I write this, Samson is now gearing up for the 2023 Arnold Basic and I messaged him final night time once I heard the information that Ramy was now IN the present as properly. I’ll make a prediction while we’re all right here. Samson WILL carry a good higher package deal than he displayed at his first-ever Mr. Olympia – and he’ll place forward of Large Ramy. Can he even WIN the Arnold Basic this yr? Effectively, one factor’s for certain, he’s persistently confirmed to be filled with surprises AND enhancements, so who is aware of, possibly in one other yr we may be writing ANOTHER MD function entitled “Samson Dauda, Most Improved Bodybuilder of 2023”? It will not shock me one bit.
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