Competitive bodybuilding comes with its fair share of risks, and Open class star Samson Dauda is learning that lesson first-hand. In an Instagram reel, Dauda revealed that he was headed to the hospital due to his body failing. At the time of this writing, he is unsure if he will compete at the 2024 Arnold Classic UK from March 15-17 in Birmingham, England.
Dauda’s ascent as a top-tier bodybuilding standout has been nothing short of extraordinary. Having established himself as a third-place finisher at the 2023 Mr. Olympia competition, Dauda continues to make drastic improvements to his physique from show to show. Fans and bodybuilding veterans such as Ronnie Coleman, Shawn Ray, and Shahriar Kamali have all backed him as a future Mr. Olympia winner.
Dauda picked up a pair of victories at the 2023 Romania Muscle Fest Pro and EVLS Prague Pro post-Olympia, setting himself up with significant momentum in his next outing. At the 2024 Arnold Classic, Dauda battled with former Mr. Olympia Hadi Choopan in the finals, while he brought up his arms and back, it wasn’t enough to stop ‘The Persian Wolf’ from claiming gold.
Dauda was expected to compete at the 2024 Arnold Classic UK but might have to pull out of the competition following his latest health scare, which he describes below in a post that circulated on March 6, 2024.
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Samson Dauda Going to Hospital, Reveals His Body Is Failing, 2024 Arnold Classic UK Entry in Question
Having just peaked for the 2024 AC Ohio show, Dauda revealed that his body was failing, expressing doubt in his scheduled entry for the AC UK event.
“I have to take myself to the hospital to get checked out because I don’t know… my body is just — I’m trying to push through, trying to train, trying to get through it, but my body is failing at this point and I don’t know what else I can do.
Given what happens to me in the next few days after we get checked out in the hospital and what happens with the results of that, it will determine if I will doing the Arnold Classic UK next week.”
In time, Dauda will find out whether or not he can resume his competition schedule.
“I have to wait and see how that result comes back and if I’ll be able to proceed and carry on in pushing my body to the limits that it is. So, you know, I’m really hoping that’s not the case. I’m really hoping I can somehow carry this on and keep fighting. That’s all I’ve ever done my whole life.”
It’s unclear exactly what has happened to Dauda’s health, but he underlined that carrying a low body fat percentage and interacting with thousands of fans at the Arnold Classic Expo could have something to do with it.
“So, yeah we’re back home in the UK and it’s been a few days since the show. There’s been a lot going on. I don’t know if things have been happening since then you know, but we trying to obviously get back to us and doing what we do. But it hasn’t been — this has been far from easy and it’s definitely been a struggle and I’ve been absolutely ill since the show.”
“You know, this is one of those things when you’re at that low of a body fat and you spend a lot of time obviously in expos and meeting people and everything else, things can turn. Your body is more vulnerable than what it usually is. With that said, it’s one thing going into a show, you know, we pushed, we pushed.”
“I gave my absolute best for this one,” adds Samson Dauda.
Despite coming up short in Columbus, Ohio to Choopan, Dauda showcased notable evolution in his physique. He remains one of the most successful and active Open bodybuilders in the IFBB Pro League. Given his busy schedule, voices in the sport like bodybuilding coach Chris Aceto and Samir Bannout expressed fears about Dauda possibly suffering from ‘burn out.’
Dauda will surely update fans as the situation progresses. We at Fitness Volt extend our best wishes and hope for a speedy recovery!
RELATED: Judge Terrick El Guindy: “Samson Dauda Is The Most Dangerous Man In The IFBB Pro League”
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I’m retired from competing since 2007, due to renal failure-dialysis-transplant, a lumbar spine cancerous tumour, two heart attacks, diabetes & way too much to type here. Samson’s one of our tribe & it’s scary when our bodies remind us we’re far from immortal. I’ll never denigrate the CULTure of bodybuilding, it’s a great community. At 52yrs old, I’ve witnessed fellow renal (kidney) patients: IFBB Pro friends like Tom Prince die & Flex Wheeler not have the outcome I’ve had. Seriously wish Samson the absolute best.
Justin House.