Time and time again, Samson Dauda has stressed that he wouldn’t be here without his wife, Marlena, and doesn't plan to continue.

Yet, despite that clarity, fans still question the future: will he ever bench his wife from his career? For Samson, the answer is firm. If she ever left, he would too.

Speaking to Jay Davies, the former Mr Olympia winner, cleared his intentions about Marlena being the cornerstone of his career, "You know, she's never not going to have a role as long as I'm—look, people need to understand: if she leaves me, I'm stopping bodybuilding.”

When Dauda’s long-time coach, Miloš Šarčev, parted ways with him in early 2024, he was left without any guidance. However, his wife, who had given up her own bodybuilding career, stepped in to guide him in cracking the Mr. Olympia code.

Marlena Gustowska enforced a high standard of discipline across Dauda’s training, recovery, and nutrition by assuming end-to-end responsibility for his competition preparation.

“She dragged me into this sport and into coming here. She's responsible for whatever happens to me from now on. So if she says, ‘I'm done,’ I'm like, ‘Okay, I'm done too.’ I'm done too. I'm not getting rid of my wife or nothing, so just calm down,” revealed Dauda.

Now, the question arises: will he replace her if he needs another coach in the future? Certainly not.

Samson Dauda clears the air around his wife’s involvement

The 2024 Mr. Olympia winner expressed that even if he seeks additional guidance in the future, his wife will remain a part of his journey and continue to play an active role in his career, “Even if at some point in the future we decide, ‘You know what? We're going to need an extra eye or extra help,’ it ain't going to be like, ‘Okay, bye, I'm going to get some. This is my wife.”

He further added, “She's always going to have a role in this. As long as I'm stepping on a bodybuilding stage, she's always going to be right there.”

After failing to defend his Mr. Olympia title in 2025, Dauda plans to emerge as a major threat in the 2026 season. During the off-season, he is enjoying his time and exploring a new competitive challenge. But can he take on Derek Lunsford? Only time will tell.

Written by

Suryakant Das

Edited by

Joyita Das