Bodybuilder Samson Dauda created history with a dominant win at the 2023 Arnold Classic in Columbus, Ohio. In a recent interview with Muscular Development, bodybuilding veteran Zack ‘King’ Khan shared his thoughts on what Dauda needs to crack the top three at Mr. Olympia competitions.
Samson Dauda has gained a lot of momentum for his massive muscle size, shape, and overall balance over the last year. The IFBB Pro League Men’s Open competitor had been working his way up through regional and national events since 2018. He became one of the most promising bodybuilders coming out of the UK with consistently strong performances, including runner-up finishes at the 2021 Arnold Classic UK and 2021 Romania Muscle Fest Pro.
Dauda found his form last season with back-to-back fourth-placings at the 2022 Arnold Sports Festival and the 2022 Boston Pro. He earned an invite to participate in the Mr. Olympia competition, widely regarded as the most prestigious fitness showcase in the world. He went into the show against one of the most competitive and exciting lineups in recent history and backed up the hype with an impressive sixth-place finish in his debut at the 2022 Mr. Olympia last December.
Following the result, Dauda was more confident than ever that he belonged in the upper echelon of the game. He believed he had the right tools to take on any rival after getting a closer look at the Olympia. He embarked on the mission to challenge for the 2023 Arnold Classic title but it would be no easy task as he went up against the likes of Nick Walker, former two-time Mr. Olympia Mamdouh ‘Big Ramy’ Elssbiay, Andrew Jacked, and more.
Dauda left the fans stunned with a shredded physique update two weeks out of the contest. He entered as the dark horse of the division. Coach Milos Sarcev revealed he finally convinced Dauda to use trenbolone for the first time in prep for the show.
In the end, ‘The Nigerian Lion’ emerged victorious as the 2023 Arnold Classic winner over runner-up Walker and third-place finisher Jacked. He displayed significant improvements to his package with thinner skin than his previous showings. Coach Sarcev heaped praises on Dauda’s performance and backed him to defeat reigning Mr. Olympia Hadi Choopan and top contender Derek Lunsford if he continued on the same path.
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Zack Khan shares what Samson Dauda needs to do to make the top three at Mr. Olympia
In a recent YouTube video, Zack Khan shared his thoughts on the key areas Samson Dauda needs to focus on for cracking the top three placings at the Mr. Olympia contest.
Khan believes Dauda is on the right track and encouraged him to add size in certain parts while continuing competitions.
“He just needs a bit more shoulder cap,” said Khan. “People talk about he needs a bigger back. No, he doesn’t need a bigger back. He just needs deeper separation in his back and by having deeper, etched separation in his back it will look more bigger and look more 3D. He doesn’t actually need a bigger back because his back is big enough. He just needs that detail in his back because that’s where his skin is. But you know what? Every time he’s doing a show that skin is getting thinner.
“The more time he competes, the skin will get thinner. That’s all it is with him. It’s just a little fine tuning. That’s all he can do to his physique. He’s at a fine line now where it’s not about being a certain way of season. It’s about putting certain size on in certain areas. There’s no reason for him to look up the scale, he needs to look in the mirror. Then, not get caught up in the weighing scale business like a lot of bodybuilders do.”
Former Mr. Olympia Samir Bannout praised Samson Dauda for winning the Arnold Classic title. However, he took issue with the fact Dauda achieved a perfect score from the judges. Bannout believes Dauda still has room to grow in terms of muscle quality, which will likely come with time.
Watch the video below:
If his latest performance is any indication, Dauda has the potential and is on track to become a title contender at Mr. Olympia contests.
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