Samson Dauda — the number three bodybuilder in the world, is facing choppy waters before his upcoming title defense at the 2024 Arnold Classic. In a recent Instagram post published on January 5, 2024, Dauda revealed he suffered a hamstring injury and shared a posing progress video two months before taking to the stage. The extent of Dauda’s injury is unknown at this time.
“Working with @michelle_mbsportstherapy to get me back to full form in no time.” Samson Dauda shared.
Coached by Milos Sarcev, Dauda has made rapid improvements to his physique over the last two years. In 2022, Duada debuted in sixth place on the Mr. Olympia stage. Sporting a delicate balance of mass, conditioning, and fullness, Dauda defeated Nick Walker to clinch the 2023 Arnold Classic trophy.
Fans waited patiently for the Dauda-Walker rematch, and all signs pointed to their big clash on the 2023 Mr. Olympia stage. That was until Walker suffered a hamstring tear that would prevent him from fulfilling his dream of becoming a Sandow-holder. “The Nigerian Lion” shocked the world in November, taking third behind former champion Hadi Choopan and the new two-division titleholder Derek Lunsford.
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Staying active post-Olympia, Dauda secured consecutive victories at the recent 2023 Romania Muscle Fest Pro and EVLS Prague Pro. While his eyes are locked in on a title defense in Columbus, Ohio, it appears Dauda will have to push through contest prep with a hamstring injury.
Samson Dauda Reveals Hamstring Injury, Will This Leave the Door Open for Hadi Choopan to Win 2024 Arnold Classic?
Check out Samson Dauda’s posing progress video below:
“First time posing since the hamstring injury 2 days ago.” Samson Dauda shared via Instagram.
The lineup for the upcoming 2024 Arnold Classic is stacked with big names. In addition to Dauda, former Mr. Olympia Hadi Choopan will debut on the prestigious stage, having just surrendered his title to his teammate. Aside from those two heavy hitters, Rubiel “Neckzilla” Mosquera, a breakout 2024 bodybuilding star, will be in attendance aiming to make a statement in his respective debut.
Meanwhile, 2023 Arnold Classic third-place finisher, Andrew Jacked preserved a spot on the AC roster. He just finished fifth at the Mr. Olympia contest in November and remains a top threat to the Open class. If that wasn’t enough, Brazilian bodybuilding stars Rafael Brandao and Horse MD (Marcello De Angelis) are all after the same grand prize of $300,000.
Dauda, who boasts considerable momentum having secured back-to-back Pro show victories, will need to take a measured approach as he navigates this injury. In time, fans hope to hear the severity and cause of Dauda’s unfortunate setback.
RELATED: Samir Bannout Talks 2024 Arnold Classic Favorites, Samson Dauda vs Hadi Choopan Showdown
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