Bodybuilding

Bodybuiler and bodybuilding coach Jodi Vance died on Thursday from heart failure after attending the Arnold Sports Festival in Columbus, Ohio, per Bailey Gallion of the Columbus Dispatch.

Vance was not competing at the event. She reportedly began feeling sick after attending the Arnold Expo and was taken to the Grant Medical Center, per TMZ Sports, where she died.

Her family released the following statement on Instagram: "Her heart stopped due to complications of severe dehydration. Despite all efforts by the hospital, they were unable to revive her. She was a beautiful person inside and out and she will be missed every single day. This was sudden and unexpected. Please give her family time to process this loss in peace. If anyone takes anything from this, please put your heath first."

Vance's coach, Justin Mihaly, suspected that she had been using dangerous substances ahead of the Arnold Sports Festival despite not having any competitions planned for several months.

"Jodi used two extremely hazardous substances to improve her physique—I assume just for the Arnold Expo—without my knowledge, my approval, without family's knowledge, their approval," he said on Instagram (h/t TMZ).

As a competitor, Vance most recently placed third at the 2024 NPC Battle of Texas in the women's physique division.

The 2025 Arnold Sports Festival came to an end on Sunday, featuring a variety of fitness events and sporting competitions in Columbus, Ohio.

This included gymnastics, martial arts, foosball, armwrestling, grappling and cheerleading.

It concluded an eventful weekend that saw Derek Lunsford win the Arnold Classic Men's Open, one of the most notable events in the bodybuilding world alongside Mr. Olympia.

Lunsford emerged victorious over an impressive field that included reigning Mr. Olympia Samson Dauda as well as Andrew Jacked. Lunsford earned the $500,000 prize with the win, which represented an increase over the 2024 prize of $300,000.

Before the Arnold Classic, multiple other events wrapped up on Friday including the Arnold Classic Physique Final, Wellness International Final and Fitness International Final.

Here are the results from Friday's events:

Arnold Classic Physique Final

First Place: Mike Sommerfeld

Second Place: Logan Franklin

Third Place: Matthew Greggo

Fourth Place: Michael Daboul

Fifth Place: Wesley Vissers

Sixth Place: Jihoon Bang

Wellness International Final

First Place: Eduarda Bezerra

Second Place: Isabelle Nunes

Third Place: Elisa Alcantara

Fourth Place: Kassandra Gillis

Fifth Place: Sandra Colorado

Sixth Place: Lisa Meiswinkel

Fitness International Final

First Place: Jaclyn Baker

Second Place: Michelle Fredua-Mensah

Third Place: Tamara Vahn

Fourth Place: Amber Steffen

Fifth Place: Andrea Glass

Sixth Place: Tiffany Chandler

Mike Sommerfeld earned his first Arnold Classic Physique championship, edging out Logan Franklin after both were involved in the final callout during prejudging. After finishing as a runner-up during the same competition at the Olympia, Sommerfeld finally clinched a victory.

Eduarda Bezerra came out on top after she was in a head-to-head comparison with 2024 runner-up Isabelle Nunes in the Wellness International competition. Nunes, the 2024 Olympia champion, finished No. 2 in the event for a second straight year.

In the Fitness International Final, Jaclyn Baker clinched her first major Fitness title. Ariel Khadr, who won the championship in each of the prior three years, didn't compete.

Saturday contained the Arnold Classic Men's Open Final as well as several other events. The winners of the Strongman Classic, Strongwoman Classic, Men's Physique and Pro Wheelchair Final were also decided.

Here are the results from Saturday:

Arnold Classic Men's Open

First Place: Derek Lunsford

Second Place: Samson Dauda

Third Place: Andrew Jacked

Fourth Place: Brandon Curry

Fifth Place: William Bonac

Sixth Place: Akim Williams

"Big congratulations to dereklunsford_ on securing his first Arnold Classic title! 🎉 A heartfelt salute to all the athletes who competed—your passion and perseverance are truly inspiring! 💪 We can't wait to see you stage at the 2025 @mrolympiallc

📸: @profitnessphotos pic.twitter.com/M416xtEpT3

— Mr. Olympia LLC (@MrOlympiaLLC) March 2, 2025

Men's Physique

First Place: Ali Bilal

Second Place: Erin Banks

Third Place: Diogo Montenegro

Fourth Place: Emmanuel Costa

Fifth Place: Alessandro Cavagnola

Sixth Place: Jason Huynh

Bikini International

First Place: Vania Auguste

Second Place: Aimee Delgado

Third Place: Ashlyn Little

Fourth Place: Maria Acosta

Fifth Place: Ariana Brothers

Sixth Place: Jasmine Gonzalez

Pro Wheelchair

First Place: Rajesh John

Second Place: James Berger

Third Place: Gabriele Andriulli

Fourth Place: Kevin Secundino

Fifth Place: Harold Kelley

Sixth Place: Bradley Betts

Arnold Strongman Classic

First Place: Mitchell Hooper

Second Place: Lucas Hatton

Third Place: Hafthór Björnsson

Fourth Place: Austin Andrade

Fifth Place: Trey Mitchell

Sixth Place: Evan Singleton

Seventh Place: Tom Stoltman

Eighth Place: Bobby Thompson

Ninth Place: Nick Guardione

Tenth Place: Maxime Boudreault

No one can stop Mitchell Hooper. Congrats to the 3X Arnold Strongman Classic Champion. #ryourogue pic.twitter.com/0y5RStzLve

— Rogue Fitness (@RogueFitness) March 1, 2025

Arnold Strongwoman Classic

First Place: Inez Carrasquillo

Second Place: Olga Liashchuk

Third Place: Angelica Jardine

Fourth Place: Andrea Thompson

Fifth Place: Rebecca Roberts

Sixth Place: Lucy Underdown

Seventh Place: Jennifer Lyle

Eighth Place: Melissa Peacock

Ninth Place: Sam Belliveau

Tenth Place: Erin Murray

First place looks good on Inez Carrasquillo and Mitchell Hooper 🥇#ryourogue pic.twitter.com/bZYOJcYriX

— Rogue Fitness (@RogueFitness) March 1, 2025

Lunsford didn't just take home the Arnold Classic title, as he was also the recipient of the Ed Corney Best Poser Award. While Dauda finished as a runner-up for the second straight year after winning the event in 2023, he still came away with the Franco Columbu Most Muscular Award.

In the Men's Physique competition, Ali Bilal avenged his runner-up finish at the 2024 Mr. Olympia and won the championship over former winners Erin Banks and Diogo Montenegro. Bilal's trophy was also presented to him by bodybuilding legend Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Mitchell Hooper continued his dominance in the Strongman Classic, winning the competition for a third consecutive year. Hooper remained consistent, finishing No. 3 or higher in five of the six events.

As for Inez Carrasquillo, she earned her first Strongwoman Classic victory on Saturday. Olga Liashchuk initially kept pace with Carrasquillo as the event progressed, but she faltered in the Timber Trial. 2024 winner Angelica Jardine finished at No. 3.

The Arnold Sports Festival is set to return once again in 2026, featuring its usual variety of fitness and sporting competitions as well as Lunsford's attempt to defend his Arnold Classic crown.

The 2025 Arnold Sports Festival continued on Saturday, featuring the final results of several major competitions.

Following a close three-man race in the Arnold Classic Men's Open, Derek Lunsford edged out Samson Dauda and Andrew Jacked to win the high-profile competition.

By winning the event, Lunsford took home the $500,000 prize.

Dauda, the reigning Mr. Olympia, finished as a runner-up in the Men's Open for a second consecutive year. Jacked ended the contest at No. 3.

The festival also contained finishes for notable competitions including the Strongman Classic, Strongwoman Classic, Men's Physique and the Pro Wheelchair Final.

Here are the full results from the Arnold Classic as well as the rest of Saturday's events.

Arnold Classic Men's Open

First Place: Derek Lunsford

Second Place: Samson Dauda

Third Place: Andrew Jacked

Fourth Place: Brandon Curry

Fifth Place: William Bonac

Sixth Place: Akim Williams

Men's Physique

First Place: Ali Bilal

Second Place: Erin Banks

Third Place: Diogo Montenegro

Fourth Place: Emmanuel Costa

Fifth Place: Alessandro Cavagnola

Sixth Place: Jason Huynh

Bikini International

First Place: Vania Auguste

Second Place: Aimee Delgado

Third Place: Ashlyn Little

Fourth Place: Maria Acosta

Fifth Place: Ariana Brothers

Sixth Place: Jasmine Gonzalez

Pro Wheelchair

First Place: Rajesh John

Second Place: James Berger

Third Place: Gabriele Andriulli

Fourth Place: Kevin Secundino

Fifth Place: Harold Kelley

Sixth Place: Bradley Betts

Arnold Strongman Classic

First Place: Mitchell Hooper

Second Place: Lucas Hatton

Third Place: Hafthór Björnsson

Fourth Place: Austin Andrade

Fifth Place: Trey Mitchell

Sixth Place: Evan Singleton

Seventh Place: Tom Stoltman

Eighth Place: Bobby Thompson

Ninth Place: Nick Guardione

Tenth Place: Maxime Boudreault

Arnold Strongwoman Classic

First Place: Inez Carrasquillo

Second Place: Olga Liashchuk

Third Place: Angelica Jardine

Fourth Place: Andrea Thompson

Fifth Place: Rebecca Roberts

Sixth Place: Lucy Underdown

Seventh Place: Jennifer Lyle

Eighth Place: Melissa Peacock

Ninth Place: Sam Belliveau

Tenth Place: Erin Murray

Lunsford's victory in the Arnold Classic was even more impressive considering it was his first time competing in the event. He went through three rounds of posing alongside Dauda before he was eventually declared the winner.

In the Men's Physique contest, Ali Bilal stood atop an impressive field that included former champions Erin Banks and Diogo Montenegro. Vania Auguste became the new winner of the Bikini International competition after Lauralie Chapados won the event in each of the past three years.

Meanwhile, Rajesh John successfully defended his Pro Wheelchair title. Harold Kelley, who won the 2023 contest, finished at No. 4.

The Arnold Strongman Classic also contained a repeat winner despite the competition featuring an increase to six events, as Mitchell Hooper emerged victorious for the third consecutive year.

In the Arnold Strongwoman Classic, Inez Carrasquillo continued her ascent in the division by fending off Olga Liashchuk and 2024 winner Angelica Jardine. Carrasquillo finished with 60.5 points, while Liashchuk (56.5) and Jardine (50) were the only other contestants to reach 50 points.

The 2025 Arnold Sports Festival will wrap up on Sunday.

The 2025 Arnold Sports Festival featured several events at the Columbus Convention Center on Friday.

The annual fitness, sporting and martial arts competition founded by legendary bodybuilder Arnold Schwarzenegger is in the midst of its 37th year.

Friday's action featured several events including martial arts, armwrestling, wrestling, gymnastics and powerlifting. Prejudging also occurred for the 2025 Arnold Classic, one of the most notable bodybuilding competitions in the world.

2024 Men's Open champion Hadi Choopan didn't participate, but the 2025 field still contained several International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness pros such as Samson Dauda and Derek Lunsford.

While the Arnold Classic winner won't be decided until Saturday, several other events wrapped up on Friday. This included the Arnold Classic Physique Final, Wellness International Final and Fitness International Final.

Here are the results from the completed competitions as well as highlights from the rest of the day's action.

Arnold Classic Physique Final

First Place: Mike Sommerfeld

Second Place: Logan Franklin

Third Place: Matthew Greggo

Fourth Place: Michael Daboul

Fifth Place: Wesley Vissers

Sixth Place: Jihoon Bang

Wellness International Final

First Place: Eduarda Bezerra

Second Place: Isabelle Nunes

Third Place: Elisa Alcantara

Fourth Place: Kassandra Gillis

Fifth Place: Sandra Colorado

Sixth Place: Lisa Meiswinkel

Fitness International Final

First Place: Jaclyn Baker

Second Place: Michelle Fredua-Mensah

Third Place: Tamara Vahn

Fourth Place: Amber Steffen

Fifth Place: Andrea Glass

Sixth Place: Tiffany Chandler

Wesley Vissers wasn't able to defend his 2024 Classic Physique championship, sitting in fifth place. Friday's result represented another strong finish for Mike Sommerfeld, who emerged victorious after finishing as a runner-up in the same competition at the Olympia.

Eduarda Bezerra won the Wellness International Final, with 2024 winner Francielle Mattos not competing. Meanwhile, Isabelle Nunes finished as a runner-up in the competition for a second consecutive year.

Jaclyn Baker finally became a champion in the Fitness International event after she sat at No. 2 in the 2024 competition. She ended a three-year win streak by Ariel Khadr in the event. Khadr wasn't part of the 2025 field.

Michelle Fredua-Mensah also saw an improvement upon her 2024 finish, moving from No. 4 to the runner-up in Friday's contest.

In prejudging for the Men's Open, Dauda and Lunsford headlined the first callout. Andrew Jacked and Brandon Curry were also part of the group. All four competitors were in the third callout.

Dauda, the winner of the 2024 Olympia and runner-up in the 2024 Men's Open, was part of the final callout alongside Jacked and Lunsford.

The Men's Open champion will be officially decided on Saturday.

The Arnold Sports Festival is back in Columbus, Ohio for 2025, and this year's event might be the biggest yet.

Arnold Schwarzenegger's annual celebration of all things fitness will feature some of the world's best bodybuilders, fitness competitors, strength athletes, martial artists and more. The weekend will, naturally, be headlined by the 2025 Arnold Classic.

The Arnold Classic has become the No. 2 International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness (IFBB) competition in the world, behind only The Olympia. This year's Men's Open competition will feature a top prize of $500,000. That's only $100,000 less than Samson Dauda took home for winning the 2024 Olympia.

Dauda is scheduled to compete this weekend, with a chance to top $1 million in prize money in less than a calendar year. However, he'll feature stiff competition from a star-studded field that features two other former Olympia winners.

Of course, the Arnold Sports Festival will feature much more than the Men's Open. Fans in attendance will have a variety of events to choose from during the festival, which will run from February 27 to March 2. Events will be held at multiple locations throughout Columbus, including the Columbus Convention Center, the Ohio Expo Center, the Hilton Columbus Downtown and the Hyatt Regency—though the Columbus Convention Center will play host to most.

Fans who can't attend can sign up to live stream marquee events at the Arnold Sports Festival's official website.

Arnold Sports Festival 2025, Schedule of Key Events

Thursday, February 27

Arnold Amateur 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. ET

IFBB Pro League Meet & Greet 7 p.m. - 9 p.m. ET

Friday, February 28

Martial Arts Festival 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. ET

Armwrestling 9 a.m. - 10:45 a.m. ET

USA Powerlifting 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. ET

MAS Wrestling 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. ET

Arnold Strongman Classic 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. ET

Arnold Classic Physique Prejudging 12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. ET

Fitness International Prejudging 12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. ET

Gymnastics 4 p.m. - 9 p.m. ET

Fitness International Finals 7 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. ET

Arnold Classic Open Prejudging 7 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. ET

Arnold Classic Physique Finals 7 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. ET

Saturday, March 1

Grappling 8 a.m. - 7 p.m. ET

USA Weightlifting 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. ET

Youth Dancesport 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. ET

Cheerleading & Dance 8 a.m. - 7 p.m. ET

Gymnastics 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. ET

Martial Arts Festival 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. ET

Arnold Expo 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. ET

Pro Wheelchair Bodybuilding 10 a.m. - 11 a.m.

Arnold Strongman Classic 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. ET

Arnold Men's Physique Finals 7 p.m. - 10 p.m. ET

Arnold Classic Men's Open 7 p.m. - 10 p.m. ET

Sunday, March 2

USA Weightlifting 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. ET

Cheerleading & Dance 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. ET

Gymnastics 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. ET

Martial Arts Festival 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. ET

Arnold Showcase 9:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. ET

Grappling 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. ET

Arnold Expo 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Amateur Strongman 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. ET

Arnold Classic Preview

As is always the case, the Men's Open will feature many of the world's top IFBB pros, including Dauda and fellow Olympia champions Derek Lunsford and Brandon Curry. However, reigning champion Hadi Choopan is not scheduled to compete.

Curry, who won in 2019 and 2022, is seeking his third Arnold Classic title. The 41-year-old, who turned pro back in 2011, finished ninth at the 2024 Olympia. However, he believes he's ready to step back into the spotlight and challenge the world's best.

"I think I can duplicate some of my best looks in different aspects," Curry told The Menace podcast with Dennis James (h/t Scott "Future" Felstead of Muscle & Fitness).

Other notable entrants include Andrew Jacked, Shaun Clarida and two-time Classic winner Williams Bonac. Former Classic winner and seven-time Olympia winner Phil Heath believes that all three could challenge for this year's title.

"We got Andrew Jacked and we got another guy that gets pushed to the side sometimes but is definitely a formidable force and that is William Bonac," Heath said in a YouTube video (h/t Belinda Evans of Fitness Volt). "...The Giants Killer, that is Shaun Clarida."

Fans can expect a truly epic competition in the Men's Open, whether it's won by one of the favorites or a dark horse. Those in attendance or tracking the action via live stream will have plenty to enjoy both before and after the main event too.

Despite a field that included three former champions Derek Lunsford, Hadi Choopan and Brandon Cutler, it was Nigerian-born Samson Dauda who heard his name called as the 2024 Mr. Olympia Saturday night in Las Vegas.

It was the third year in a row that a new champion was crowned, a rarity in a contest typically defined by dominance from larger-than-life competitors such as Arnold Schwarzenegger, Ronnie Coleman, Lee Haney and Phil Heath, among others.

How much did the Nigeria-born Dauda pocket as a result of his victory?

As it turns out, it was more than any other winner in event history, thanks to a record $1.6 million pot.

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Results and Prize Money

1. Samson Dauda ($600,000)
2. Hadi Choopan ($250,000)
3. Derek Lunsford ($100,000)
4. Martin Fitzwater ($40,000)
5. Andrew Jacked ($35,000)

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Top Three Excellence

For the second consecutive year, Dauda, Choopan and Lunsford made up the top three of the open bodybuilding portion of the Mr. Olympia event.

Lunsford finished first in 2023, with Choopan and Dauda as runners-up.

This year, the same three made up the top third of the competition, with Dauda building on his third-place finish and showing up in the best condition of his decade-long career.

He needed to be, too, as Choopan has been the most consistent bodybuilder for the last five years, routinely finishing in the top four of his category.

Lunsford's third-place finish this year could be considered a disappointment for the defending champion, but the quality of competition perhaps makes the result a little more palatable for the American than it otherwise may have been.

It will not be easy for Dauda to repeat as champion. He has put in the work to get to the pinnacle, but he will have to retain that work ethic to fend off the fierce competition who will look to dethrone him in 2025.

Samson Dauda stands atop the bodybuilding world after winning the Mr. Olympia contest Saturday night in Las Vegas.

New Mr Olympia: Samson Dauda pic.twitter.com/iDRN0G6ehL

— Mr ⭕ (@IMr_O_) October 13, 2024

The Nigerian bested 2022 champion Hadi Choopan and 2023 winner Derek Lunsford to take the top prize in the open bodybuilding event, one of the deepest competitions in the sport.

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2024 Mr. Olympia Results

1. Dauda
2. Choopan
3. Lunsford
4. Martin Fitzwater
5. Andrew Jacked

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2025 Predictions

It would not be surprising if Dauda repeated as Mr. Olympia in 2025.

A tireless worker who arrived in Las Vegas in the best shape of his life, he wrested the crown away from the two previous champions in an emphatic statement from the 32-year-old.

It also would be equally unsurprising if he did not repeat, thanks to the recent trend in the competition.

For decades, the Mr. Olympia event was defined by its repeat winners. Arnold Schwarzenegger captured seven straight titles. Ronnie Coleman set the benchmark at eight wins. Dorian Yates, Phil Heath and Lee Haney all won multiple times.

Since Mamdouh "Big Ramy" Elssbiay won in 2020 and 2021, the event has seen a different winner each year.

That is a testament to the depth and quality of the competition.

Choopan is, arguably, the most consistent bodybuilder in the sport and could have earned the nod from judges in each of the last two years.

Hadi Choopan in Mr. Olympia 2024 pic.twitter.com/aWGW9PLbY2

— omid amiri (@omidamiri51) October 12, 2024

It would surprise no one if the workhorse returned to Vegas in a year and regained the Mr. Olympia title, adding a second to his resume.

Ditto for Lunsford, who won a year ago but saw himself slip to third in this year's competition amid one of the strongest fields in years.

Derek Lunsford during the 2024 Mr. Olympia pre-judging.#MrOlympia #MrOlympia2024 #DerekLunsford pic.twitter.com/YfdVOEBv9B

— STN (@ScytaleNews) October 12, 2024

The one name worth watching is the fourth-place finisher and internet personality Martin Fitzwater.

"The Martian" had great energy and was a fan favorite in Vegas. With a year of continuing to fine-tune his body and work on his overall presentation, he could finish in the top two and pose a legitimate threat to the title.

#martinfitzwater pic.twitter.com/3E3xeur3pB

— Bodybuilding Nation (@_body_building) October 12, 2024

With all of that said, Choopan is such a consistent top-four competitor that he would have to be considered one of the early favorites to win next year's event.

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2025 Prediction: Choopan wins his second Mr. Olympia

Mika Sihvonen once again reigned supreme in the open bodybuilding event at the 2024 IFBB Pro World Championships, which runs in tandem with the Arnold Classic Europe in Madrid.

According to Evolution of Bodybuilding's Kevin Grech, Sihvonen beat out Ilya Lukovets of Belarus to retain his crown in the competition. Eddy Wilson, the runner-up in 2023, settled for fourth place.

FINAL ARNOLD CLASSIC EUROPE 2024 CELEBRADO ANOCHE EN EL POLIDEPORTIVO DE LAS ROZAS.
MIKA SIHVONEN SUMA SU TERCER TÍTULO MUNDIAL DE FISICOCULTURISMO EN EL ARNOLD CLASSIC 
Thierry Bayala, Kimberly Percival y Tomislav Strmecki fueron los otros triunfadores de la noche. pic.twitter.com/R3M37ORZLz

— Miguel Ángel Yáñez (@MiguelngelYez3) October 13, 2024

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Arnold Classic Europe Winners

• Bodybuilding: Mika Sihvonen (Finland) 
• Men's Physique: Thierry Bayala (France) 
• Classic Physique: Tomislav Strmecki (Croatia)
• Women's Bikini Fitness: Kimberly Percival (Antigua and Barbuda)

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Sihvonen was the second-place finisher in 2019, 2020 and 2021 before coming out on top in 2022, which kicked off his three-peat.

Men's physique saw a changing of the guard with France's Thierry Bayala standing tall in an event that came to be dominated by Dmytro Horobets. Horobets had reeled off four titles in a row. On Saturday, the spotlight shone on Bayala, who was the runner-up for the first three of Horobets' wins. The Frenchman wasn't in the field at the 2023 Arnold Classic Europe.

Tomislav Strmecki made a strong impression in his debut showing as a pro at the Arnold Classic Europe. Last year, he was victorious as an amateur and this weekend he bested Ahmed Aminu in classic physique. Yuri Valentin, the 2023 winner, fell back to third place.

Kimberly Percival returned to the top of the podium in women's bikini fitness. The 2021 winner, she had to settle for second in 2022 and 2023. Melissa Seaforth, Percival's compatriot from Antigua and Barbuda, suffered the reverse fate as she slipped to fifth place after finishing third a year ago.

The bodybuilding world crowned a first-time Mr. Olympia champion Saturday in Las Vegas as Samson Dauda bested one of the most unpredictable fields in recent memory to secure the career-defining victory.

The win came after several callouts from officials who wanted to take every possible moment to ensure they had made a final decision and selected the right winner.

Samson Dauda celebrates his Mr Olympia win pic.twitter.com/FYNmb67HAy

— GENERATION IRON (@GenerationIron) October 13, 2024

In a decision that left no doubt that The Nigerian Lion was the clear winner, the 32-year-old was named the People's Champion of this year's event, an award reserved for the athlete receiving the most fan votes.

Accompanying the first-place medal and people's champion trophy and belt was the largest payday for a winner in event history in the form of an announced $600,000 check.

We have a new champ! Samson Dauda wins the 2024 Mr. Olympia with a record 1st prize of $600,000.

1. Samson Dauda
2. Hadi Choopan
3. Derek Lunsford
4. Martin Fitzwater
5. Andrew Jacked#2024mrolympia #2024olympia #olympia pic.twitter.com/teqTL2ze6J

— THE BARBELL (@TheBarbell) October 13, 2024

Hadi Choopan, the runner-up for the second year in a row, received $250,000.

For the Iranian-born bodybuilder, it was a second disappointing outing at the event. Realistically, the 2022 champion was one or two judges' decisions away from being a three-time champion and etching his name in the history books as the most decorated champion since the end of Phil Heath's run of dominance.

Hadi Choopan came in second place in the 2024 Mr. Olympia Men's Open and received a prize of $250,000.

Congratulations to The Persian Wolf and all the people of #Iran for this great achievement.

1st: Samson Dauda
2nd: Hadi Choopan
3rd: Derek Lunsford
4th: Martin Fitzwater pic.twitter.com/tZlYybW6EN

— Hatam Shiralizadeh (@HatamDaddy) October 13, 2024

Instead, he continued what has become a career of "close but no cigar" moments that also saw him finish third twice (2019, 2021) and fourth (2020).

The 2023 winner, Derek Lunsford, failed to successfully defend his title and finished third in this year's event.

It marks the third year in a row that the defending champion has not repeated, a testament to the depth of the sport right now and the quality of legitimate contenders to the Mr. Olympia title.

#martinfitzwater pic.twitter.com/3E3xeur3pB

— Bodybuilding Nation (@_body_building) October 12, 2024

Martin Fitzwater, another fan-favorite in the event, finished in fourth place and provided fans with a look at an athlete who may well be a force in the sport in the coming months and years.

Samson Dauda won the 2024 Mr. Olympia contest Saturday night from Resorts World in Las Vegas, the first of his career.

It came at the end of a tense competition that saw the judges perform several callouts before finally feeling confident in their decision to announce a brand-new champion.

Congratulations to our new first time Mr Olympia 2024 Samson Dauda

🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳

Well done, sir. All your poses were superior to the rest. Well deserved.

Hadi was incredible as well in second place and Derek came in third. pic.twitter.com/LmRopDjLAC

— Mrs. SpaceX ™️ (@anuibi) October 13, 2024

Besides the adulation of an entire industry, how much did the victor pocket as a result of his win and what did social media have to say about the outcome?

Find out in this recap.

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Prize Money

First Place: $600,000*

Second Place: $250,000

*Record payout for the winner.

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A First-Time Champion

Dauda completed a long, arduous journey to the pinnacle of bodybuilding Saturday, winning the Mr. Olympia competition and beating out two former champions, Hadi Choopan and Derek Lunsford, to collect his first title.

🚨🏆 SAMSON DAUDA WINS THE 2024 MR. OLYMPIA, BECOMING THE 19TH MR. OLYMPIA JUST MINUTES AFTER JAKE WOOD ANNOUNCES THE TOP PRIZE OF $600K AND $250K FOR SECOND.

2024 Mr. Olympia Top-5

1. Samson Dauda
2. Hadi Choopan
3. Derek Lunsford
4. Martin Fitzwater
5. Andrew Jacked pic.twitter.com/4dnDpbV5ao

— RXMuscle.com (@RXMuscledotcom) October 13, 2024

The moment he was announced as the victor, he was emotional, dropping to his knees and breaking down in tears before he hoisted the most coveted prize in his sport.

New Mr Olympia: Samson Dauda pic.twitter.com/iDRN0G6ehL

— Mr ⭕ (@IMr_O_) October 13, 2024

It was a historic feat beyond the first-time win, too.

Dauda's victory ensured that the Mr. Olympic title would return to the United Kingdom for the first time since Dorian Yates' six-year run atop the industry ended in 1997.

HE’S DONE IT!!! 🏆

THE MR OLYMPIA TITLE IS COMING BACK TO THE UK FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 27 LONG YEARS! ⭕️ 🇬🇧

SAMSON DAUDA, YOU ARE THE MAN! 🥇 pic.twitter.com/D8LlTmbzvN

— Isaac Tombs (@EverlongIsaac) October 13, 2024

Saturday's results marked the second year in a row that 2022 champion Choopan finished in second place. It also meant that the 2023 champion, Lunsford, fell to third place this year.

Hard luck #hadichoopan

— Smarth Devgan (@smarthdevgan) October 13, 2024

Dauda was not only the judge's choice for the win but also was named the People's Champion and "received a championship belt and trophy."

After several callouts and great uncertainty as to which competitor would ultimately impress the judges enough to earn their selection as the winner, Dauda emerged victoriously, announcing his arrival at the peak of the bodybuilding world with a win on its grandest stage.