Samson Douda, a 33-year-old bodybuilder from the United Kingdom, won his first Arnold Classic title in Ohio against some of the world’s best bodybuilders. The victory also secured his spot in the 2023 Mr. Olympia contest, a major accomplishment in the bodybuilding world. Douda had to beat some very talented competitors, including Nick Walker, Andrew Jacked, Big Ramy, and Shaun Clarida, to emerge as the winner. While Samson’s win was impressive, it was by no means easy, as all of the top six competitors showed up in perfect shape, making for a highly competitive event.
While Samson’s victory was impressive, we cannot ignore Nick Walker’s physique and conditioning, which was absolutely next-level. Nick Walker’s skin was so thin that his bones were visible, a testament to his hard work and dedication. Despite coming in second place, Nick’s physique was undoubtedly one of the best of the evening.
Another outstanding competitor was Andrew Jacked. His performance, posing routine, and the improvements he has made since his previous competitions are commendable. Although Andrew did not place in the top three, he has the potential to make significant progress before the 2023 Mr. Olympia.
Another competitor to talk about was Big Ramy. Ramy placed fourth in the Arnold Classic. While Ramy had made some significant improvements to his physique, his triceps and back still needed work. However, Ramy’s resilience and strong comeback could make him a top contender in the future.
Lastly, Shaun Clarisa placed fifth in his first open class Arnold Classic show. Clarida beat some excellent bodybuilders, including William Bonak, Akeem Williams, Kamal Elgargni, Justin Rodriguez, and Patrick Moore, to finish in the top five. Clarida’s density, hardness, conditioning, fullness, and muscularity were impressive and I truly believe he could be a potential Mr. Olympia contender in the near future.
Overall, the Arnold Classic was a highly competitive event, with all of the top six competitors showing up in excellent shape. Samson Dauda emerged as the winner, but the performance of all the competitors was excellent. What we do know for certain is that several of these competitors have the potential to become Mr. Olympia contenders in the coming years.
