1980. SOCIALIST BODYBUILDING NEWS.

1980 „AMBER PRIX INTERNATIONAL“ RESULTS.

In 1980 bodybuilding still was prohibited in the U.S.S.R. and Socialist Countries. When in 1978 DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS wrote the petition to defend prohibited bodybuilding, he personally brought it to Moscow and presented to the highest U.S.S.R. political powers. The achieved victory let start public competitions in Klaipeda (Lithusnian SSR). Until this contests were illegal and without public. The first official bosybuilding contest was the 1978 „Amber Prix International“ („Gintarinis prizas“,  «Янтарный приз», 1968 – 2023) which was organized by DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS. Since 1978 the „Amber Prix International“ got the status of the „Unofficial U.S.S.R. Bodybuilding Championship“ («Неофициальный чемпионат С.С.С.Р. по культуризму»).

In 1980 three International bodybuilding contests were organized in the U.S.S.R. and all of the were held in the Lithuanian SSR. One of them was the „Amber Prix International“ which was held in the Palace of Culture of the City Klaipeda. The organizers did not expect so big crowd of spectators. So the doors of the palace were broken by entering crowd at the very beginning.

The second contest was held in Kaunas and that was the „Comsomol Cup“ („Komjaunimo taurė“, «Кубок комсомола»). The Category Winners were STANISLAV POLIAKOV (Станислав Поляков, Latvian SSR) and Lithuanians VLADAS KAPCEVICIUS, SAULIUS MISEVICIUS ir EUGENE ZURCEV (Евгений Журцев). The Over All Winner was VLADAS KAPCEVICIUS.

One more contest was organized in Vilnius. That was the competition „Lithuanian SSR versus Hungarian SSR“. Hungarians did not come with strong bodybuildiers and all first places went to the Lithuanians: EUGENE GORELIK (Евгений Горелик), VLADAS KAPCEVICIUS, SAULIUS MISEVICIUS and EUGENE ZURCEV.

In 1980 the traditional „Georg Tenno Memorial“ («Мемориал Георга Тенно», 1971 - 1989) was not organized in the Estonian SSR. When in 1979 INNAR MARDO (Иннар Мардо, 1946 – 2002) and best U.S.S.R. bodybuilder of that time Estonian OLEV ANNUS returned from competition in Czechoslovakian SSR they guarreled in between. Letters of INNAR MARDO to DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS say that OLEV ANNUS wrote bad letters about INNAR MARDO to political powers of the Estonian SSR. Due to this INNAR MARDO lost his gym and his position of the President of the National Bodybuilding Federation of the Estonian SSR. Also the Communist powers of the Estonian SSR prohibited 1980 „Georg Tenno Momorial“.

The leadership of bodybuilding in the Estonian SSR took OLEV ANNUS and brothers ARRO. INNAR AMARDO as well as DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS did not stop bodybuilding activities due to the conflicts. Both went on working on their own.

In 1980 separatly from the National Bodybuilding Federation of the Estonian SSR INNAR MARDO and INDREK OTSUS went to „Trener“ contest in the Czechoslovakian SSR. INDREK OTSUS won against the 1975 Over All I.F.B.B. (International Federation of Body Builders) Europe Champion PETER STACH again and reveived the title of the Over All Winner. The other Winners of the Categories were Czechoslovakians JOZEF GROLMUS, STEFAN JUST and IRZY MRACEK.

1980 „AMBER PRIX INTERNATIONAL“ RESULTS

72 Competitors from Latvian SSR, Lithuanian SSR, Estonian SSR, Belorussian SSR, R.S.F.S.R..

RESULTS

Juniors

First Weight Category

1. CHELBORODOV VIACESLAV (Хлебородов Вячеслав, Lithuanian SSR)

2. MIKUCKIS ARVYDAS (Lithuanian SSR)

3. RUSECKAS GINTARAS (Lithuanian SSR)

Second Weight Category

1. IVANAUSKAS ALGIRDAS (Lithuanian SSR)

2. BARANAUSKAS RAIMONDAS (Lithuanian SSR)

3. PETRAUSKAS RICARDAS (Lithuanian SSR)

Main Categories

First Weight Category

1. GORELIK EUGENE (Горелик Евгений, Lithuanian SSR)

2. POLIAKOV STANISLAV (Поляков Станислав, Latvian SSR)

3. ZITINSKIJ BORIS (Житинский Борис, Estonian SSR)

Second Weight Category

1. KAPCEVICIUS VLADAS (Lithuanian SSR)

2. BOGDANOVIC VALERIJ (Богданович Валерий, Belorussian SSR)

3. MOSALIOV GEORGIJ (Мосалёв Георгий, R.S.F.S.R.)

Third Weight Category

1. MISEVICIUS SAULIUS (Lithuanian SSR)

2. MILVYDAS ARVYDAS (Lithuanian SSR)

3. AJU ARKADI (Аю Аркадий, Estonian SSR)

Fourts Weight Category

1. ZURCEV EUGENE (Журцев Евгений, Lithuanian SSR)

2. BESAGIRSKAS ALBERTAS (Lithuanian SSR)

3. PUPELIS HENRIKAS (Lithuanian SSR).

Over All Winners:

Juniors – VIACESLAV CHLEBORODOV, Main Categories – VLADAS KAPCEVICIUS.

INFORMATION.
More detailed information on the Global International Site www.wff.lt, see forum topics.

 

WORLD FITNESS HISTORY.

FIRST OVER ALL WORLD FITNESS CHAMPION.

Former representative of balely and gymnastics Lithuanian EDITA DAUBARAITE (now Sendriene, Dubar) was the grand grand grand daughter of BRONE DUBAR. It was Emigrant of Lithuania BRONE DUBAR (Broné “Brownie” Dubar, Daubaraitė, 1906 – 1986) who came with her family to the USA in 1912. When her sport achievements went high she started public shows. Specialists use to call her „World Fitness Pioneer“ but in her times there was no any fitness sport at all. To say more – women sport was included to „Olympics“ only in 1920. This was the reason that 100 years ago gymnastic and acrobatic exercises of BRONE DUBAR were not named as „sport“. Aiming to make fitness propaganda BRONE DUBAR made her shows through all USA – from South to North and from West to East.

In 1995 EDITA DAUBARAITE was present at the N.A.B.B.A. (National Amateur Body Building Association) World Championship in Malta. There was one exceptional athlete among many women bodybuilders. She was DANIELA HARIC (Croatia). DANIELA HARIC was not muscular. She performed a complex routine full of gymnastic elements. „I want this..“ – said EDITA DAUBARAITE and when back to Lithuania she started prerparations. Everything was ok. In 1996 the founders of the W.F.F. - International (World Fitness Federation) DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS, German KLAUS P.J. HOFFMANN, Greek ANARGIROS TSOPUORIDIS and Austrian PETER PAPULA started W.F.F. World Fitness Championships in Kaizerslautern (Germany). That was a revolution in bodybuilding. They  wanted to run away from huge muscles. This way in 1997 in Manheim (Germany) EDITA DAUBARAITE became the Over All World Fitness Champion. „Eurosport“ Television made several reports about this. The Sport Ministry of Lithuanian Republic wanted to present EDITA DAUBARAITE an Official Governmental Award but envy and intrigues among sport federations ruined this idea.

INFORMATION.
More detailed information on the Global International Site www.wff.lt, see forum topics.

GREAT NAMES OF N.A.B.B.A..

WHY N.A.B.B.A. LIES?

During the last time representatives of N.A.B.B.A. (Nationsl Amateur Body Building Association) often proudly mention “Great Names of N.A.B.B.A.”. Among them bodybuilders ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER, BILL PEARL, STEVE REEVES, JOHN GRIMEK, SERGE NUBRET and many others. But this is not true - they are not N.A.B.B.A. representatives, they are just competitors of “N.A.B.B.A. Mr. Universe”. All “Great Names of N.A.B.B.A.” are also Great names of A.A.U. (Amateur Athletic Union), F.I.H.C. (Fédération Internationale Haltérophile et Culturiste), I.F.B.B. (International Federation of Body Builders), W.A.B.B.A. (World Amateur Body Building Association), W.B.B.G. (World Body Building Guild). JOHN GRIMEK is not connected with N.A.B.B.A. at all. He is competitor of A.A.U. and F.I.H.C..

Athletes can not be “Great Names” of any bodybuilding organization. Only creators, chairmen and organizers are representing organization. N.A.B.B.A. had only one “Great Name” and it is OSCAR HEIDENSTAM - “The Crusader against the I.F.B.B.”. After OSCAR HEIDENSTAM not a single “N.A.B.B.A. Man” did anything noticable for International Sport.

More information is on Global Page www.wff.lt

Let us look at the 2025.

W.F.F. – W.B.B.F. Continues to Move Forward.

For W.F.F. – W.B.B.F., 2025 was not a year of promises, but a year of concrete work.

While part of the international bodybuilding movement is losing mass participation, influence and prospects, we continue to develop.

We do not hide the crisis.

We see it. And we are confronting it.

Bodybuilding Is in Crisis

Today, too many organizations are trying to present crisis as success.

But reality is determined not by statements, but by results.

When the number of athletes declines, young people disappear from the sport, and competitions become closed events for a narrow circle of professionals — this is not development.

It is a crisis.

W.F.F. – W.B.B.F. has chosen a different path.

We expand the sports programme.
We create new disciplines.
We develop children’s and mass sport.
We open competitions to veterans and athletes with disabilities.
We strengthen international cooperation.

We do not cling to old models.

We create new ones.

2025: The Facts

In 2025, W.F.F. – W.B.B.F. organized major international competitions:

the 58th Amber Prix International; the 36th World Championship; the 30th European Championship; the 26th Universe.

This is not a museum of the past.

It is an active international sports system.

In 2025, an international judges’ seminar was also held in Klaipėda, together with numerous national and international competitions.

The geographical reach of athletes and specialists continues to expand.

We Are Not an Organization of the Past

W.F.F. – W.B.B.F. moved beyond the boundaries of traditional bodybuilding a long time ago.

As early as 1995, we began systematically separating bodybuilding and fitness.

Today, that decision has become even more obvious.

Fitness must exist as an independent official sport.

It has its own disciplines.
Its own athletes.
Its own judges.
Its own competitions.
Its own international future.

In 2025, the Lithuania Sport Fitness Federation was registered in Lithuania and announced its adherence to the World Anti-Doping Code of WADA.

We support a direction in which national fitness championships are organized separately, with full sporting and anti-doping control.

Lithuania: 60 Years of Bodybuilding

2025 was a historic year for Lithuania.

It marked 60 years of bodybuilding in Lithuania — 1965–2025.

The anniversary event was held in Gargždai.

We honoured the athletes and veterans who built Lithuanian bodybuilding at a time when the sport was only beginning to develop.

Sports history does not belong to one generation.

But forgotten history ceases to be history.

That is why we preserve it.

50 Years of Lithuania Cup Open

In 2025, the Lithuania Cup Open celebrated its 50th anniversary.

It also marked 50 years since the historic participation of Czechoslovak athletes, led by Vojtech Fiala, in an IFBB European Championship during the period of socialist restrictions.

At that championship, Petr Stach became the overall European champion.

This is not merely a sporting result.

It is part of the history of European bodybuilding.

In 2027, the Amber Prix International will celebrate its 60th anniversary.

We are already preparing for this important date.

We Preserve the Memory

In 2025, Valerij Koreškov (1940–2025) passed away — a journalist, writer, poet, artistic photography specialist and one of the early figures of European bodybuilding.

He was a member of Vilnius “Victoria” bodybuilding club and a laureate of the international UNESCO Award.

People like him must not disappear from the history of our sport.

We do not forget our own.

Information and Influence

For several months, WFF.lt received around 400,000 visits per month.

Our materials are published in different languages.

Our articles are read.

Our ideas are discussed.

Our formats are used by others.

This demonstrates one thing:

W.F.F. – W.B.B.F. cannot be ignored.

The International System Is Developing

In 2025, an international judges’ seminar was held in Klaipėda, with specialists from Germany, Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania and Ukraine.

We consider professional judges’ education to be one of the foundations of international sport.

Without objective judging, there is no trust.

Without trust, there is no future.

We Are Moving Forward

W.F.F. – W.B.B.F. continues to pursue international recognition.

We seek associated membership in the United Nations and the International Olympic Committee.

We continue to pursue international recognition of fitness as an independent official sport and its development in the Olympic direction.

We understand the scale of this objective.

But we are not interested in easy tasks.

2025 Is Only Another Stage

We do not intend to justify ourselves to those who do not believe in our development.

The results speak for themselves.

While some discuss the past, we are creating the future.

While some reduce their activities, we expand ours.

While some fear change, we experiment.

While some forget history, we preserve it.

W.F.F. – W.B.B.F. continues moving forward.

And we have no intention of stopping.

History continues.

Dr. Edmundas Daubaras
President of W.F.F. – W.B.B.F.

World Sport History. PALANGA, 1998: WHEN THE WORLD OF FITNESS CAME TOGETHER ON THE BALTIC SEA.

186 athletes, 15 countries, and the first official WFF World Fitness Championship held in the Republic of Lithuania. At the time, the federation was still experimenting with categories and judging criteria, searching for its own direction. Nearly three decades ago, Palanga became the setting for a chapter that has since become part of fitness history.

The event was supported by the Government of the Republic of Lithuania. The chairman of the Organizing Committee was Kęstutis Skrebys, Minister of Public Administration Reforms and Municipal Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania. One of the main sponsors was the daily newspaper “Respublika”. The championship in Palanga was filmed by Eurosport television, which prepared an approximately one-hour report for European audiences. A report for Lithuanian national television was prepared by journalist Laima Janušonytė.

JUNE 6, 1998. PALANGA

A seaside resort, the eve of the summer season, and athletes arriving in Lithuania from across Europe.

But on that day, the most important thing happening in Palanga was neither the beach nor the summer entertainment. The city was hosting a World Fitness Championship.

186 athletes from 15 countries came together: Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Belarus, Russia, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Ukraine, France, Slovenia, Greece, the United Kingdom, Uruguay and Italy.

This was more than just another international competition. In historical WFF sources, the Palanga event is described as the first official World Fitness Championship held in Lithuania.

Today, looking back at the championship protocols, we can see more than just names and rankings. They reflect the entire European fitness scene of that era.

FITNESS SEARCHING FOR ITS OWN IDENTITY

In the late 1990s, fitness was not yet what we know it as today.

Gym culture was growing rapidly, while attitudes toward the body, physical conditioning, and athletic aesthetics were changing. Alongside traditional bodybuilding, a new discipline was becoming increasingly visible – fitness.

The championship program included Classic Fitness and Aerobic Fitness categories.

It was an important development.

Athletes were not expected to demonstrate muscle mass alone. Body proportions, physical conditioning, aesthetics, athleticism, and overall presentation were becoming increasingly important.

Palanga in 1998 became a place where these emerging ideas of fitness were tested on an international stage.

15 COUNTRIES – ONE STAGE

The geographical diversity of the championship was impressive.

Athletes from Western, Central, and Eastern Europe met on the same stage.

Germany arrived in Palanga with a particularly strong team. Switzerland was also among the leading nations. They were challenged by athletes from Belarus, Russia, Austria, Slovenia, the United Kingdom, Greece, Ukraine, and the Baltic states.

It was a period when the European sporting landscape was changing rapidly, and new international connections were allowing athletes to meet more frequently on the same stage.

The Palanga championship became one of those meeting points.

THE MEN'S STAGE – TWO DIFFERENT STORIES

The men's Classic Fitness program consisted of two categories, and each produced a different championship story.

In the first category, Valdas Slimanavičius took the victory, ahead of Belarusian athlete Sergej Kalmykov and Germany's Andreas Müller.

Behind them came athletes from Switzerland, Austria, Germany, and other countries.

The second category had a different winner – Germany.

Jürgen Koch won the category, and his name would later appear in the most important line of the championship results.

JÜRGEN KOCH – ABSOLUTE CHAMPION

Koch did not win only his category.

He was also named the 1998 men's absolute fitness champion.

This was the highest possible recognition.

Winning an individual category made him a category champion; winning the overall title made him the champion of the entire men's fitness competition.

That is why Jürgen Koch remains one of the most important names in the history of the 1998 Palanga championship.

WOMEN'S FITNESS: A GERMAN DOUBLE

While the men's victories were shared between athletes from different countries, the women's competition produced a different picture.

German athletes won both women's Classic Fitness categories.

In the first category, Mandy Kietzke took first place, with her compatriot Janine Raschka finishing second.

The second category was won by Claudia Machmor.

Germany therefore claimed both women's Classic Fitness gold medals.

But the story did not end there.

CLAUDIA MACHMOR – ABSOLUTE CHAMPION

Claudia Machmor became more than just the winner of her category.

She was named the women's absolute fitness champion.

As a result, German athletes claimed both absolute fitness titles – men's and women's – at the 1998 Palanga championship.

It remains one of the most striking statistical facts of the event.

AEROBIC FITNESS – ANOTHER SIDE OF THE SPORT

The Palanga championship was not limited to Classic Fitness.

In the separate Aerobic Fitness category, female athletes demonstrated a different type of conditioning – with greater emphasis on movement, dynamics, and elements of aerobic sport.

The winner was Tanja Baumann of Switzerland.

Second and third places went to German athletes Pia Luttenberger and Diana Partheymüller.

The result once again demonstrated the strength of German female athletes, although this time the highest step on the podium belonged to Switzerland.

Interestingly, Tanja Baumann later became one of the notable figures in aerobic fitness. Historical WFF results list her as a champion in subsequent years as well.

WHAT DO THE NUMBERS TELL US?

Looking at the championship protocol as a whole, several clear points stand out:

186 participants.

15 countries.

Two men's Classic Fitness categories.

Two women's Classic Fitness categories.

A separate Aerobic Fitness program.

Absolute men's and women's fitness champions.

It was a sufficiently broad program for a one-day event to become a genuine international fitness gathering.

GERMANY – THE CHAMPIONSHIP'S STRONGEST FORCE

When we look specifically at the highest-placed athletes, one country stands out particularly clearly.

Germany.

A German athlete won the men's Classic Fitness II category.

German women won both women's Classic Fitness categories.

Germany claimed both absolute fitness titles.

In addition, German athletes took second and third places in the Aerobic Fitness category.

Therefore, even without attempting to create an official team ranking, the results allow us to draw a clear conclusion:

At the 1998 Palanga championship, Germany was one of the most prominent and successful fitness nations.

THE EUROPEAN FITNESS MAP

Yet the story of the championship is not only a German story.

Switzerland won the Aerobic Fitness gold medal.

Belarus had high-level athletes in the men's competition.

A Slovenian athlete became runner-up in one of the men's categories.

Representatives of Greece, Russia, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, Austria, Latvia, Estonia, France, and Italy also contributed to the international competition.

This was not a celebration belonging to one country alone.

It was a snapshot of the European fitness scene of that period.

PALANGA, A CITY THAT BECAME PART OF HISTORY

Today, the results of the 1998 championship may look like a simple archival table.

A name. A country. A placing.

But behind those numbers lies much more.

At the time, fitness was still developing its international identity. Athletes from different countries were learning to compete according to common criteria. Organizations were establishing championship traditions. New champions were emerging.

And for one day, all of this moved to Palanga.

186 athletes from 15 countries took part in what historical WFF sources describe as the first official World Fitness Championship.

Many years later, this fact allows us to look at the event differently.

Not simply as one of many sporting events held in 1998.

But as an important moment in the early history of international fitness, when athletes from different European countries met in Lithuania and new traditions within the sport were being formed.

KEY NAMES OF THE 1998 PALANGA CHAMPIONSHIP

Jürgen Koch – Germany
Absolute men's fitness champion.

Claudia Machmor – Germany
Absolute women's fitness champion.

Mandy Kietzke – Germany
Winner of Women's Classic Fitness Category I.

Valdas Slimanavičius – Lithuania
Winner of Men's Classic Fitness Category I.

Tanja Baumann – Switzerland
Aerobic Fitness winner.

EPILOGUE

The 1998 Palanga championship took place at a time when the modern fitness industry was only beginning to take the shape we recognize today.

There were no social media platforms, athlete personal brands, livestreams, or audiences of millions online.

But there was what matters most in sport – people, a stage, competition, and the desire to be the best.

On June 6, 1998, 186 athletes from 14 countries met in Palanga.

Some of their names remained in history.

Others disappeared into the pages of archives.

But the event itself endured.

In 1998, Palanga became a place where the world of fitness came together on the Baltic Sea.