In Las Vegas on Saturday, the bodybuilding community crowned a first-time Mr. Olympia champion in Samson Dauda, who defeated one of the most surprising fields in recent memory to win the title that would define his career.
The victory followed multiple call-outs from officials who wanted to savor every second to be sure they had determined the correct winner in the end.
Dauda, Lunsford, and Choopan were distinguished by the slightest details. On stage, they essentially switched positions, with Choopan controlling the front poses like the thigh and abs, Lunsford controlling the back, and Dauda winning some side shots.
The Nigerian Lion, 32, was declared the event’s People’s Champion, an honor given to the competitor who garners the most number of fan votes, in a decision that made it very evident that he was the clear victor.
In addition to the first-place medal, the people’s champion trophy, and the belt, the winner received the biggest payout in the history of the competition—a $600,000 check.
The runner-up for the second consecutive year, Hadi Choopan, took home $250,000.
It was the bodybuilder who was born in Iran’s second poor performance at the competition. Practically speaking, the 2022 winner was only one or two judge rulings away from becoming a three-time champion and making history as the most decorated winner since the conclusion of Phil Heath’s reign of supremacy.
Rather, he carried on with his “not quite there yet” career, which has seen him finish fourth (2020) and third twice (2019, 2021).
This year’s winner from 2023, Derek Lunsford, came in third after failing to successfully defend his crown.
The current depth of the sport and the caliber of deserving competitors for the Mr. Olympia title are demonstrated by the fact that the reigning champion has not repeated for the third consecutive year.
2024 Olympia Men’s Open Top 10 Results & Prize Money
- Winner — Samson Dauda (600,000)
- Second Place — Hadi Choopan ($250,000)
- Third Place — Derek Lunsford ($100,000)
- Fourth Place — Martin Fitzwater ($40,000)
- Fifth Place — Andrew Jacked ($35,000)
- Sixth Place — Hunter Labrada
- Seventh Place — William Bonac
- Eighth Place — Rafael Brandao
- Ninth Place — Brandon Curry
- Tenth Place — Akim Williams