Nihat Kaya is a Turkish IFBB Pro in the 212 division. π At 23, he has already stood on the Mr. Olympia stage twice β fourth in 2025 and fifth in 2026.
He turned professional at 20, in June 2023, and waited a full year before his pro debut. The patience paid off: second on debut, then two wins before his second Olympia.
Kaya competes at 212 pounds and under, and is known online as @nihat.kyaa. This biography covers his early life, his amateur career, and every professional contest he has entered.
Nihat Kaya Quick Facts
| Full name | Nihat Kaya |
| Age | 23 in October 2026 (exact date of birth not published) |
| Nationality | Turkish |
| Division | 212 (Men’s 212 Bodybuilding) |
| Known online as | @nihat.kyaa |
| Coach | Patrick Tuor |
| Pro debut | Dubai Pro, July 2024 (2nd) |
| Mr. Olympia | 4th in 2025, 5th in 2026 (212) |
| Professional record | 5 contests, 2 wins |
Early Life and Background
Kaya began training at 12 years old. Eleven years later, at 23, he was already a two-time Olympia top-five finisher.
He studied at a health vocational high school, then physiotherapy at university. The schooling fits a lifter who has built his career on patience and planning.
His exact date of birth, height and birthplace have not been published in a reliable source, so this biography does not print them.
Turning Professional
Photo: Cubes Health and Fitness
In June 2023, Kaya travelled to Casablanca, Morocco, for the NPC Morocco Championships. He won his IFBB Pro Card there, at 20 years old.
Generation Iron reported that he became the youngest IFBB Pro in Turkey β and the youngest to earn a pro card in Open Bodybuilding.
He then took a full year away from the stage to build his physique. His professional debut would come in July 2024, at the Dubai Pro.
Professional Debut: Dubai 2024
Photo: Cubes Health and Fitness
Kaya made his professional debut at the Dubai Pro on 27β28 July 2024. He finished second, behind Angel Calderon Frias.
Nasser Mohammad finished third and Marco Ruz fourth. The runner-up spot, in a stacked 212 field, announced him as a name to watch.
Three days before the weigh-ins, he weighed a flat 210 lb. He was 21 years old, and already one of the youngest pros in the division.
First Win and First Olympia: 2025
Photo: Kanal6 Haber
Kaya returned to Dubai in June 2025. On 22 June, he won the 212 title on a score of four, wearing tag 26, ahead of Calderon and Giuseppe Zagarella.
The win sent him to his first Mr. Olympia. It was his third professional contest β and his first on bodybuilding’s biggest stage.
At the 2025 Mr. Olympia in Las Vegas, on 10 October, he finished fourth in the 212 division, scoring 19 points and wearing tag 11.
Keone Pearson won the title, with Shaun Clarida second and Lucas Garcia third. Kaya, at 22, had arrived.
Second Win and Second Olympia: 2026
Photo: NPC News Online
Kaya opened 2026 at the Mr. Big Evolution Pro in Estoril, Portugal, on 5 July. He won the 212 title on a perfect score of three, wearing tag 21.
Muzi Maluleke finished second and Marco Sarcone third. Kaya had begun the 2026 prep eight to nine pounds heavier than in 2025.
At the 2026 Mr. Olympia on 25 September, he finished fifth in the 212 division, scoring 26 points and wearing tag 13.
Pearson won his fourth straight title, with Garcia second and Clarida third. Kaya’s two Olympia placings now read fourth, then fifth.
After the show, he posted in Turkish: “Mr. Olympia olmak artΔ±k bir hayal deΔil, hedef.” Being Mr. Olympia is no longer a dream β it is a goal.
Coaching, Diet and Training
Photo: nihatkaya.com.tr
Kaya is coached by Patrick Tuor, a Swiss-based coach who has guided him since before his professional debut.
His sponsor is Proteinocean, and he runs his own brand, HANK, alongside a coaching service under his own name.
The full detail of his eating and training is in his standalone diet-plan article on this site.
What Makes Him Stand Out
Kaya turned pro at 20 and reached the Olympia top five in his first two attempts β fourth, then fifth.
He has never finished outside the top five as a professional. All five of his contests ended in the top five.
His rise has been fast but patient: a year off after the pro card, then two wins from his first four professional shows.
Nihat Kaya Contest History
Kaya’s professional record stands at five contests, two wins, three top-three finishes, five top-five finishes and five top-ten finishes.
| Year | Contest | Division | Place |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Dubai Pro | 212 | 2nd |
| 2025 | Dubai Pro | 212 | 1st |
| 2025 | Mr. Olympia | 212 | 4th |
| 2026 | Mr. Big Evolution Pro | 212 | 1st |
| 2026 | Mr. Olympia | 212 | 5th |
| 2023 | NPC Morocco Championships (amateur) | Open Bodybuilding | 1st |
Note: the amateur row at the foot of the table is verified against Generation Iron and Cubes Health and Fitness reporting. Every pro result above was verified against the official scorecards and independent show reports.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Nihat Kaya?
Nihat Kaya is a Turkish IFBB Pro in the 212 division. He is a two-time Olympia top-five finisher, fourth in 2025 and fifth in 2026, and is known online as @nihat.kyaa.
How old is Nihat Kaya?
Kaya was 21 at his professional debut in July 2024, and 23 in October 2026. His exact date of birth has not been published in a reliable source.
When did Nihat Kaya turn professional?
He turned professional in June 2023, winning his IFBB Pro Card at the NPC Morocco Championships in Casablanca, aged 20. Generation Iron called him the youngest IFBB Pro in Turkey.
What was Nihat Kaya’s first Mr. Olympia result?
He debuted at the 2025 Mr. Olympia and finished fourth in the 212 division, scoring 19 points and wearing tag 11. A year later, he finished fifth.
Who coaches Nihat Kaya?
Kaya is coached by Patrick Tuor, a Swiss-based coach. His sponsor is Proteinocean, and he runs his own brand, HANK.
How many professional shows has Nihat Kaya won?
He has won two of his five professional contests: the Dubai Pro in 2025 and the Mr. Big Evolution Pro in Portugal in 2026.
Bottom Line
From a pro card at 20 to two Olympia top-five finishes by 23, Nihat Kaya’s rise has been fast β and patient. π
Two wins, two Olympia top-five finishes, and never outside the top five: at 23, he may only be getting started.
Related: Nihat Kaya Diet Plan and Workout Routine, 2026 Mr. Olympia Results and 2025 Mr. Olympia Results.
This article is based on published contest results, interviews and reporting. Stats and placings are stated as published at the time of writing; where sources conflicted, the official scorecards were followed.