Samson Dauda Eyes Second Mr. Olympia Title
The Nigerian Lion is on the hunt again.
2025 Olympia Friday Night Finals Recap: Samson Dauda, Pearson, & Shaw Take Center Stage
Months of speculation, promotion, and buildup led to this. The 2025 Olympia Weekend officially kicked off with the press conference and Meet the Olympians on Oct. 9, Friday, Oct. 10 began at the Las Vegas Convention Center with the Olympia World Fitness Expo, where prejudging for the 212, Figure, Women’s Physique, Fitness, Wellness, and Ms. Olympia divisions were held.
The Resorts World Theater would serve as the battleground for the finals of all those categories as well as the prejudging for the Men’s Open. Thousands of fans in attendance and many watching around the world on pay-per-view saw special moments play out and bodybuilding history made.
MEN’S OPEN PREJUDGING
The 61st Mr. Olympia began on Friday night with prejudging. Each competitor was introduced individually to the fans in attendance and watching on pay-per-view. This year marked the first time in history that four Sandow Trophy holders was competing in the same Olympia. Defending title holder Samson Dauda faced past champions Derek Lunsford, Hadi Choopan, and Brandon Curry as well as several other competitors from around the world that qualified to be here.
Head judge Steve Weinberger was tasked with calling out the top contenders while the fans anticipated who would be in that first callout. The names Weinberger called out were Choopan, Martin Fitzwater, Nick Walker, Andrew Jacked, Lunsford, and Dauda.
The last two Olympia champions were in the center of the call out at the beginning, and they remained there until they were sent back in line.
The final callout included Choopan, Jacked, Lunsford, and Dauda. Choopan and Dauda started in the middle, but Lunsford had his turn in another round of posing. Dauda even stepped away from the line to hit extra poses for the crowd. These are your top four going into Saturday night.
Keone Pearson Wins 212 Title for the Third Time
A pair of two-time 212 champs based off once again in Las Vegas. Both reigning champion Keone Pearson and former champion Shaun Clarida we’re in the center during prejudging, meaning the title for this year was likely going to one of them.
Pearson was by far the bigger man, but Clarida brought conditioning that was similar to what made him the champion in years’ past. Eventually, the judges favored Pearson, who is now a three-time 212 Olympia winner.
- Keone Pearson
- Shaun Clarida
- Lucas Garcia
- Nihat Kaya
- Courage Opara
News
Keone Pearson Talks 212 Olympia Defense on 'T…
Keone Pearson Talks 212 Olympia Defense on 'T…
The Prodigy will be weighing up his options next year.
Shaw Earns Her 6th Ms. Olympia Title
Ever since the Ms. Olympia returned in 2020, Andrea Shaw has had a stranglehold on the title with no signs of letting it go. 2025 was Shaw’s attempt to make it “six-time” while the rest of the field wanted to win it for their first. Once again, Shaw held off the rest of the field and stood alongside Olympia owner Jake Wood as the now six-time Ms. Olympia.
- Andrea Shaw
- Ashley Lynnette Jones
- Leyvina Barros
- Angela Yeo
- Alcione Santos Barreto
History Made in Women’s Physique
Stop us if you’ve heard this before. The Women’s Physique title came down to Sarah Villegas and Natalia Abraham Coelho. Villegas was trying to break the record for most wins ever with her fifth, but Coelho wanted to regain the title for the second time and show that her 2022 win was not a fluke. In the end, Coelho was victorious and stood on center stage as world champion for Women’s Physique.
- Natalia Abraham Coelho
- Sarah Villegas
- Zama Benta
- Brittany Herrera
- Sheronica Henton
Michelle Fredua-Mensah Wins Ms. Fitness Olympia
Because of three-time Olympia winner Missy Truscott move to Figure this season, a new Fitness Olympia champion was guaranteed. That new champion is Michelle Fredua-Mensah, who backed up her impressive physique with an incredible performance routine. Jaclyn Baker took silver, and Taylor Learmont accepted bronze.
- Michelle Fredua-Mensah
- Jaclyn Baker
- Taylor Learmont
- Amber Steffen
- Anna Fomina
Rhea Gayle Is Your New Ms. Figure Olympia
With eight-time champion and soon to be International Sports Hall of Famer Cydney Gillon’s retirement, a new battle for No. 1 ensued. This year the Figure legend watched Rhea Gayle take the title in her first Olympia victory. Lola Montez was second, and 2025 Masters Olympia winner Jessica Reyes Padilla rounded out the top three. Truscott earned a top 10 finish in her new category.
- Rhea Gayle
- Lola Montez
- Jessica Reyes Padilla
- Denise Zwinger-Tynek
- Nicole Zenobia Graham
Eduarda Bezerra Wins 2025 Wellness Olympia
Thiis marks the first time in the Wellness division’s history that former champion Francielle Mattos was not in the lineup. However, defending champion Isabelle Nunes was, and she was hoping to join Mattos as a two-time winner.
However, Eduarda Bezerra, who was considered by many to be the future of the category, spoiled the party and finally ascended to the throne. She is your new Ms. Wellness Olympia. Nunes finished second.
- Eduarda Bezerra
- Isabelle Nunes
- Elisa Alcantara
- Rayane Fogal
- Leonida Ciobi
As memorable as this evening was, it’s only half of the historical weekend. Saturday night, Oct. 11 will include the Classic Physique, Men’s Physique, and BIkini divisions as well as the finals of the main event, the 61st Mr. Olympia. M&F’s coverage of the 2025 Olympia continues here as well as on Instagram @muscleandfitness. You can see even more by subscribing to our newsletter.