Fresh off a third-place finish at the 2023 Mr. Olympia, Samson Dauda wasted no time proving that his momentum wasn’t slowing down. Just one week later, the Nigerian Lion claimed victory at the 2023 Romania Muscle Fest Pro, held Nov. 10–12 in Bucharest, Romania, securing his second pro show win of the year and a $10,000 prize.
🔹 Men’s Open: Dauda Reigns Supreme
After impressing judges at Olympia alongside newly crowned champion Derek Lunsford and 2022 winner Hadi Choopan, Dauda returned to the stage with his eyes on the top spot. Competing against 2022 Romania Muscle Fest Pro champion Behrooz Tabani Abarghani and other elite competitors like Nathan De Asha, Dauda’s massive, refined physique earned him first place in the Men’s Open division.
Top 5 Men’s Open Results:
- Samson Dauda (UK)
- Behrooz Tabani Abarghani (Iran)
- Marcello de Angelis Rezende (Brazil)
- Nathan De Asha (UK)
- Mohamed Foda (Egypt)
🔹 Other Notable Division Winners
212 Bodybuilding – Ahmad Ali Ashkanani bounced back from a fifth-place finish at Olympia to win the division, edging out Italy’s Giuseppe Zagarella and Bulgaria’s Radoslav Angelov.
Classic Physique – Wesley Vissers, fresh off his 2023 Europa Pro win, captured the top spot in Prague with consistent conditioning and presentation.
Men’s Physique – Miroslav Juricek returned triumphantly after a year off, sweeping first-place votes and securing his Olympia qualification for 2024.
Women’s Bodybuilding – Leyvina Rodrigues Barros showcased a well-balanced physique to claim the title, rebounding from a lower placement in her 2022 Olympia debut.
Women’s Physique – Raluca Raducu narrowly topped Caroline Alves Dos Santos by just one point, guaranteeing her a spot at the 2024 Olympia.
Figure – Two years after finishing second at the Muscle Fest, Tereza Linhartova earned the top spot over Romanian Stefana Sandu.
Bikini – Alice Marchisio captured her first pro victory after finishing second at the 2023 Italian Olympus Pro.
Wellness – Gisele Machado, despite entering late in the competition, delivered a commanding performance, earning unanimous first-place votes for her fourth pro show win of 2023.
🔹 A Show of Momentum and Excellence
Dauda’s back-to-back wins, including Men’s Open titles at Romania and Prague, demonstrate his consistency and elite-level conditioning. Competing in Europe just days after Olympia highlights both his resilience and dedication to bodybuilding at the highest level.
From Dauda’s dominance on stage to standout performances across multiple divisions, the 2023 Romania Muscle Fest Pro proved to be an unforgettable weekend of pro bodybuilding, setting the stage for what promises to be an exciting 2024 Olympia season.
