WORLD BODYBUILDING ENCYCLOPEDIA.

AFRICA BODYBUILDING REVUE.

Africa is a big Continent. It seems so fare away  and people do not know much about it. W.F.F. – W.B.B.F. (World Fitness Federation, World Body Building Federation) international started communicating with Africa bodybuilders in 1984. Then African bodybuilders used to visit Klaipeda (Lithuanian SSR) sea port. They spent much time discussing bodybuilding with DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS. We got acquainted with Presidents of many African National Bodybuilding Federations when in 1989 in Paris (France) President I.F.B.B. (International Federation of Body Builders) BEN WEIDER presented them to DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS. During the last thirty years members of the W.F.F. – W.B.B.F. International became bodybuilding organizations of the folowing Africa countries:

Zambia (president Danny Mkandawire),

Cameroon (president Serge Thuinte),

Zimbabwe (president Munya Maraire),

Angola (president Aristofanes Cauto Cabal),

Equatorial Guinea (president Ichinio Ondo Nkogo Avomo),

Uganda (president Ivan Byekwaso),

Nigeria (president Dr. Rawlings Makaulay),

Algeria (president Tizi Ouzou),

Mozambique (president Leonor Hilario Greffel),

Botswana (president Sam Chimbombi),

Kingdom of Morocco (president El Hadi Zakara),

Central African Republic (president Miguel Kalyango),

Republic South Africa (president Jannie Kruger).

Now we are negotiating with representatives of Egypt and Namibia of participation at the International W.F.F. – W.B.B.F. events.

AFRICA BODYBUILDERS AT W.F.F. – W.B.B.F. CONTESTS.

First Africa bodybuilders came to W.F.F. – W.B.B.F. competitions in 2008 to Poland and Lithuania. That were athletes of Algeria and Mozambique. Started in 2008 Mozambique athlete LEONOR HILARIO GREFFEL won many Amateur and Professional titles. Now she lives in Denmark.

We were surprized when after long discussions we hosted team of the Republic of South Africa (R.S.A.) concisting of 92 athletes. That was 2009 W.F.F. – W.B.B.F. World Championship in Tallinn (Estonia). National President of W.F.F. – W.B.B.F. R.S.A. was TOMMY DU RAND. Among women categories was leading W.F.F. – W.B.B.F. Pro R.S.A. athlete PHILIPPA LAMONT WILKIE.

In 2010 representing R.S.A. were top athletes  HEINRICH VOSS and TRACEY GOTTCHALK. Both took high places at the W.F.F. – W.B.B.F. Pro World Championship in Brusno Kupele (Slovakia). They fighted for 30 000 US dollars cash prizes.

In 2011 among multiple R.S.A. team at the World AM-Pro Championships in Austria and Slovakia were top International athletes SHAEMEN ADAMS, SUZANNA LEMMER and ELIZABETH VAN DEN MERVE. Again they fighted for 30 000 US dollars cash prizes.

In 2011 and 2012 at the „World Grand Prix“ competitions W.F.F. – W.B.B.F. hosted top Nigeria bodybuilders JAMES SYLVESTER ONO and KING IZOGIE. Both of them now live in Europe.

In 2013 R.S.A. was represented by huge bodybuilder JOHN LESLIE. He won W.F.F. – W.B.B.F. Pro Worlds in 2013 and 2015 (Slovakia and Lithuania).

In 2016 R.S.A. was represented by another huge athlete JANNIE COETZEE. He also became W.F.F. – W.B.B.F. Pro World Champion then.

CLUMSY SITUATION.

2019 pandemia and 2022 war in Ukraine stopped a number big International projects of the W.F.F. – W.B.B.F.. Due to the politics of the European Union for a number of years we can not host teams at W.F.F. – W.B.B.F. International contests from Egypt (gymnastics) and Nigeria. We see only one way out now – they can compete at our regular competitions in Paraguay, Brazil, Russia, Pakistan, India and Thailand.

You can find more information on International Site www.wff.lt

60 YEARS WE ARE CREATING WORLD SPORT HISTORY.

CHAIRMEN INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION VISITED PRESIDENT REPUBLIC LITHUANIA.

On January 22, 2026 International Chairmen of the W.F.F. – W.B.B.F. (World Fitness Federation, World Bodybuilding Federation)  visited historic President of the Republic Lithuania Professor Dr. VYTAUTAS LANDSBERGIS.

At the several hours lasting discussion with Professor Dr. VYTAUTAS LANDSBERGIS took part President of the International W.F.F. – W.B.B.F. federation DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS, for social work awarded with Honour Diploma of the International U.N.E.S.C.O. organization President of the Lithuania Sport Fitness Federation DARIUS DAUBARAS, representing „Rotary“ Club of the Lithuanian Republic Docent of the Klaipeda University historic VIDIMANTAS RAUDYS.

BLOCKADE TELEGRAMS

In 2015 communication with Professor Dr. VYTAUTAS LANDSBERGIS DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS spoke about 1990 possibilities to ruin the U.S.S.R. economic Lithuania blockade. At that time knowing about the difficulties with goods and products bodybuilders of German Democratic Republic (D.D.R.) proposed their help to the Lithuanian Republic. DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS received their two telegrams. Germans suggested to address the Government of Lithuania as nobody had so much money at that time. DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS called to the Government and spoke with the Prime Minister KAZIMIERA PRUNSKIENE. Then she refused the help of the D.D.R. businessmen and bodybuilders. Hearing this Professor Dr. VYTAUTAS LANDSBERGIS asked to give him those telegrams. The archieves of the W.F.F. – W.B.B.F. International are really rich and big. Only now the telegrams were found. During the 2026 visit to the President Republic Lithuania Professor Dr. VYTAUTAS LANDSBERGIS DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS presented him the telegrams.

INTERNATIONAL HONORABLE AWARD.

No one other President of the Republic Lithuania is so much historically connected with International Bodybuilding sport but Professor Dr. VYTAUTAS LANDSBERGIS. During the meeting with Professor International W.F.F. – W.B.B.F. President DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS awarded Dr. VYTAUTAS LANDSBERGIS with the Highest International Honour Award – the „International Honour Gold Medal“.

INTERNATIONAL HONOUR GOLD MEDAL AWARDS.

In 2008 celebrating it’s 40 years activities W.F.F. – W.B.B.F. International issued “International Honour Medals”. The medals were of two kinds – Gold and Silver. Silver medals were presented for persons who were highly involved in the development of International sport. Gold medals were presented to persons who’s work or personal power influenced International sport highly. During this period of time “International Honour Gold Medals” were presented to nineteen persons. Among them – President Republic Lithuania Prof. Dr. VYTAUTAS LANDSBERGIS (2026), President Parliament Austria Prof. ALFRED GERSTL (2008), Prime Minister Republic Slovakia VLADIMIR MECIAR (2009), Prime Minister Republic Slovakia ROBERT FICO (2012), Hollywood Actor SYLVESTER STALLONE (2012), Hollywood Actor Chuck Norris (2011).

Detailed historic article is on the way. Follow International Page www.wff.lt

WORLD BODYBUILDING ENCYCLOPEDIA.

N.A.B.B.A. - WHAT IS IT? WE MAKE CONCLUSIONS.

HISTORY OF N.A.B.B.A..

Step by step working on the third book of the “World Bodybuilding Encyclopedia” (“Pasaulio kultūrizmo enciklopedija”, «Энциклопедии всемирного культуризма») we are presenting histories of various International bodybuilding organizations. It was easy until fall of the Socialist World: since 1971 until 1998 I.F.B.B. (International Federation of Body Builders) represented officially recognized sport and since 1950 N.A.B.B.A. (National Amateur Body Building Association) represented never officially recognized bodybuilding. We will make a number of unexpected articles on the history of N.A.B.B.A. in the nearest future. You will learn things You never dreamed of...

BEGINNING OF N.A.B.B.A..

BOB HOFFMAN BROUGHT BODYBUILDING TO LONDON.

Since 1947 until 1969 World’s official bodybuilding sport was ruled by F.I.H.C. (Federation Internationale Halterophile et Culturiste). F.I.H.C. was a member of International Olympic Committee (I.O.C.). Mostly due to the efforts of American BOB HOFFMAN(Robert Collins Hoffman, 1898 - 1985 m.) the first F.I.H.C. “Mr. Universe” contest was organized in the USA in 1947. Basing on the support of the I.O.C. the 1948 F.I.H.C. “Mr. Universe” was organized in London together with the “London Olympic Games”. Together with BOB HOFFMAN local organizers of the 1948 F.I.H.C. “Mr. Universe” in London were  B.A.W.L.A. (British Amateur Weight Lifting Association) and representatives of local British magazine “Health and Strength”. Full of emotions of the 1948 F.I.H.C. “Mr. Universe” Britishers established N.A.B.B.A. association in 1950. The N.A.B.B.A. name was copied from B.A.W.L.A.. In the same 1950 N.A.B.B.A. held it’s first  “Mr. Universe” in London. Anyway until F.I.H.C. .stopped ruling official bodybuilding sport in 1969 N.A.B.B.A. and private I.F.B.B. Commercial Company could not pretend to any recognition.

SHORTLY ABOUT N.A.B.B.A..

Speaking about federations what is more important - bodybuilders or organizers? Every part is important as it can not survive without another one. We will underline organizers of federation. Bodybuilders often participate at various federations and in most cases they can not represent any of them.

F.I.H.C. and A..A.U. (Amateur Athletes Union) American bodybuilders led by BOB HOFFMAN were N.A.B.B.A. leading participants for a long time. Many years bodybuilders of BOB HOFFMAN were participating at N.A.B.B.A. “Mr. Universe” and many years Europeans could not win against them. The basic reason was that American weightlifters started using steroids first. Americans were much ahead of Europe in this field.

In the nineties of the last century N.A.B.B.A. Chairman British OSCAR HEIDENSTAM was the European bodybuilding leader. At that time DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS started correspondence with him.

In 1990 after “Miss Olympia” in New York (USA) I.F.B.B. President BEN WEIDER refused to support the Independence of the Republic of Lithuania. He did not accept bodybuilders of Lithuania in his I.F.B.B. federation. BEN WEIDER was on the U.S.S.R. Side. This was the reason that DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS decided to join N.A.B.B.A. association.

Everything seemed very optimistic - we got FREEDOM... at that tome our knowledge about International Bodybuilding Federations was zero. To get the information during next twenty years we had to press leaders of these organizations. Finally we learned that there were much lies and even stupid things in those organizations. And still are... Only today we are the only ones who speak truth about this.

In 1991 DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS and best Lithuania bodybuilders of that time joined N.A.B.B.A. and participated at the N.A.B.B.A. Europe Championship in Epinal (France). Then Lithuanians ROLANDAS BUCINSKAS and NATALIA MURNIKOVIENE became N.A.B.B.A. Europe Champions. That were the first Champions in the history of Independent Republic Lithuania.

N.A.B.B.A. WAS ONE, BET THERE WERE THREE N.A.B.B.A. PRESIDENTS.

When in 1991 OSCAR HEIDENSTAM died, for two decades N.A.B.B.A. was ruled by Irish IVAN DUNBAR. Though IVAN DUNBAR was not a strong personality but he was very loyal to N.A.B.B.A.. That was the reason that in 1999 N.A.B.B.A. had three Presidents at one time. They were IVAN DUNBAR, German KLAUS P.J. HOFFMANN and Australian JOE LOPEZ. It was interesting to observe when all three “presidents” were in conflict in between when annual fee was collected from national members. Every of them tried to be first to take the money. N.A.B.B.A. Lithuania (Lietuvos Nacionalinė Kultūrizmo Asociacija) was registered officially at the Ministry of Law of the Republic Lithuania. We had to go to N.A.B.B.A. “Mr. Universes” paid by money of the Ministry of Sport Lithuania. To prove the expenses (fees, traveling money, hotel costs) journey documents and final results of competitions had to be signed and sealed by N.A.B.B.A. Officials. For many years IVAN DUNBAR tried to escape of this. Finally DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS pressed him and IVAN DUNBAR told that N.A.B.B.A. is registered as a “public club” and there is no “Association of N.A.B.B.A.” in reality. It lasted until the Russians made a false seal of N.A.B.B.A. and presented it to IVAN DUNBAR. Three N.A.B.B.A. presidents always fighted in between and always addressed DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS to support each of them against others.

N.A.B.B.A. WAS SPLIT. TWO N.A.B.B.A. ORGANIZATIONS.

Ending the last Century Australian JOE LOPEZ was very active among N.A.B.B.A.  leaders. He wanted to be the only one N.A.B.B.A. Chairman and often was in conflict with KLAUS P.J. HOFFMANN and IVAN DUNBAR. 1999 N.A.B.B.A. World Championship was organized in Austria. At the same time N.A.B.B.A. Congress was held too. Plus to tension between three N.A.B.B.A. Chairmen one more dirty happening happened. N.A.B.B.A. financist TONY SULLYVAN disappeared with N.A.B.B.A. money. KLAUS P.J. HOFFMANN and IVAN DUNBAR did not want to speak about the N.A.B.B.A. problems and asked DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS to do it. DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS often used to make hours long speeches at N.A.B.B.A. congresses so hi did it again this time too. After it big mess started at the congress. JOE LOPEZ informed that the leaves N.A.B.B.A. with a number of countries and creates his own “N.A.B.B.A. International”. This way several years in a row JOE LOPEZ organized his own N.A.B.B.A. “Mr. Universe” contests in Spain. It did not last long as soon JOE LOPEZ was accused with smuggling narcotics and went to prison. This way history of “N.A.B.B.A. - International” was very short.

N.A.B.B.A. - WHAT IS IT? WE MAKE CONCLUSIONS.

Since when OSCAR HEIDENSTAM died in 1991 there were no more noticeable International persons in N.A.B.B.A.. N.A.B.B.A. never had any ambitious aims and any great future plans. N.A.B.B.A. always stay in one place and never goes ahead.

N.A.B.B.A. started long ago as a never officially recognized organization. Nothing changed. It is the same today on International level. Anyway among a hundred today egzisting International bodybuilding organizations N.A.B.B.A. always was the greatest historically non recognized bodybuilding society. In 1998 International Olympic Committee (I.O.C.)  threw away the I.F.B.B. (International Federation of Body Builders) federation. Since that time bodybuilding is no more sport. In 2023 G.A.I.S.F. (Global Association of International Sports Federations)  was closed and by law on official level the I.F.B.B. has nothing better as N.A.B.B.A.. Yes, fooling Ministries of Sport of former Socialist countries National I.F.B.B. federations go on receiving comparatively big government’s money. We do not speak about a hundred “mickey - mouse” federations which appeared today. They are a zero in the World’s International Bodybuilding movement. No aims, no future. Why they are? Where they are going? Try to answer this question.

More information is on Global Site www.wff.lt

The Formation of the World WFF Federation

During the period of Lithuania's restoration of independence, Lithuanian bodybuilders led by Edmundas Daubaras participated in the NABBA European Championships held in Épinal, France. At these championships, Natalija Murnikovienė and Rolandas Bučinskas won the first European championship titles for the newly re-established Republic of Lithuania. Their victories became one of the first significant international sporting achievements of independent Lithuania.

It was during these championships that Edmundas Daubaras met Klaus P. J. Hoffmann, the head of the German NABBA team. Hoffmann had recently joined NABBA after previously working within the World Amateur Body Building Association (WABBA). This meeting marked the beginning of a close professional cooperation between the two organizers.

Beginning in 1995, Klaus Hoffmann succeeded in attracting substantial sponsorship for the German NABBA organization. As a result, his influence within NABBA steadily increased, and he became one of its principal international leaders. At the same time, however, NABBA was experiencing growing internal conflicts. These disputes eventually reached their peak in 1999, when three individuals simultaneously were presidents of NABBA: Irish representative Ivan Dunbar, Australian representative Joe Lopez, and German representative Klaus Hoffmann.

Following the 1995 NABBA Universe Championships, Edmundas Daubaras and Klaus Hoffmann reached a common conclusion that modern bodybuilding had entered a dead end. The continuous pursuit of extreme muscular development had moved the sport away from its original ideals, limiting participation and reducing its appeal to the broader athletic community. They believed that fundamental reforms were necessary.

In 1996, Edmundas Daubaras, Klaus Hoffmann, Austrian representative Peter Papula, and Greek representative Anargiros Tsopouridis gathered in Stuttgart, Germany, where they officially founded the World Fitness Federation (WFF).

The newly established federation was intended to operate alongside NABBA while introducing a completely new vision for the sport. WFF created new competitive categories designed to encourage participation by athletes with different physiques and levels of development. Its primary objective was to restore bodybuilding as a sport based on aesthetics, health, and broad international participation rather than exclusively on extreme muscular size.

The federation's international responsibilities were divided geographically. Edmundas Daubaras assumed responsibility for Eastern Europe and Asia under the name WFF Eastern Hemisphere, while Klaus Hoffmann became responsible for Western Europe under WFF Western Hemisphere.

Immediately following the founding meeting, the first WFF World Championship was organized in the resort city of Kaiserslautern, Germany. Prior to that, WFF had promoted international "World Grand Prix" competitions, which subsequently also became recognized as World Championships.

At the same time, Edmundas Daubaras continued organizing the internationally renowned "Amber Prix International" tournament, which had already become an important meeting place for athletes from numerous countries. In 1996, 1997, and 1998, Lithuania hosted state-supported NABBA European Championships in Klaipėda, Vilnius, and Palanga. In 1998, Lithuania also organized the state-supported WFF World Championship. The organizing committees of these events included senior officials of the Government of the Republic of Lithuania, demonstrating the state's recognition of the growing international importance of the sport.

As WFF expanded internationally, it became necessary to establish a formal legal structure for the federation. Klaus Hoffmann declined responsibility for this work, stating that legal matters were not of interest to him. Consequently, the entire responsibility for the legal registration and organizational framework of the World Fitness Federation was assumed by Edmundas Daubaras, who successfully completed the necessary legal and administrative procedures that laid the foundation for WFF's future worldwide development.

Conclusions

The establishment of the World Fitness Federation in 1996 was not an accidental event but a deliberate response to both the internal crisis within NABBA and the broader challenges facing international bodybuilding. WFF introduced a new philosophy that emphasized aesthetics, wider participation, and a more democratic competitive structure.

Edmundas Daubaras became one of the principal founders and architects of the federation. His contribution extended far beyond the organization of competitions: he directed WFF's expansion throughout Eastern Europe and Asia, organized major international championships in Lithuania, and assumed full responsibility for establishing the federation's legal and organizational foundations.

Lithuania consequently became one of the key countries in the formation of the World Fitness Federation. Through its international championships, governmental support, and the long-standing tradition of the Amber Prix International tournament, Lithuania evolved into one of the principal organizational centers of the bodybuilding movement and occupies a significant place in the history of international bodybuilding.

More information is on international site www.wff.lt

W.B.B.F. / W.F.F. European Amateur Championships Overall Winners (1996–2026)

Men

Year

Overall Champion

Country

2026

Mantas Lunskys

Lithuania

2025

Szymon Lubecki

Poland

2024

Gatis Sakne

Latvia

2023

Martynas Pakalnis

Lithuania

2022

Roman Polsin

Estonia

2021

Kamil Struminski

Poland

2020

Aleksej Petkevich

Latvia

2019

Pawel Przybylski

Poland

2018

Karol Kownacki

Poland

2017

Sergej Taratynov

Russia

2016

Jasper Bakker

The Netherlands

2015

Normund Jurans

Latvia

2014

Andrej Rumiancev

Estonia

2013

Aleksandr Grenadiorov

Russia

2012

Mohamed Moravej

Iran

2011

Aleksandr Silin

Russia

2010

Danil Bratiska

Russia

2009

Vitalij Aleksandrov

Latvia

2008

Vladimir Poliakov

Russia

2007

Roman Dubovickij

Russia

2006

Michail Malek

Russia

2005

Massimo Monaco

Italy

2004

Aleksandr Maslovskij

Latvia

2003

German Selest

Russia

2002

Jurij Karsetians

Latvia

2001

Marek Kalmus

Estonia

2000

Massimo Monaco

Italy

1999

Giovanni Thomson

The Netherlands

1998

Jurgen Koch

Germany

1997

Mathias Hornung

Germany

1996

Sergej Ogorodnikov

Russia

Men's Overall Champions by Country

Russia – 10 titles Latvia – 6 Poland – 4 Lithuania – 2 Estonia – 2 Italy – 2 The Netherlands – 2 Germany – 2 Iran – 1

Multiple Overall Champion:

Massimo Monaco (Italy) – Overall Champion in 2000 and 2005.

Women

Year

Overall Champion

Country

2026

Rūta Karpaitė

Lithuania

2025

Marina Legenzova

Lithuania

2024

Ineta Rijniece

Latvia

2023

Anna Sobolewska Kucharska

Poland

2022

Natalia Miszkowska

Poland

2021

Silva Socneva

Latvia

2020

Olga Kolesova

Lithuania

2019

Natalia Warzynska

Poland

2018

Olga Listopadova

Belarus

2017

Natalia Abramova

Russia

2016

Valentina Karabanova

Russia

2015

Evelyn Dirocie

Belgium

2014

Marina Vlasova

Russia

2013

Jelena Volkova

Russia

2012

Valentina Kozlovskaja

Belarus

2011

Agnieszka Urbaniak

Poland

2010

Vera Vlasova

Russia

2009

Irina Pateskina

Russia

2008

Ilona Kokosh

Lithuania

2007

Marija Akizanova

Ukraine

2006

Diana DeCesare

Brazil–Ukraine

2005

Ida Guscha

Russia

2004

Svetlana Pugacheva

Russia

2003

Svetlana Pugacheva

Russia

2002

Valerija Judina

Russia

2001

Aksana Len

Lithuania

2000

Marina Burinskaja

Latvia

1999

Rosa Giovana

Italy

1998

Claudia Machmor

Germany

1997

Benedeta Pomati

Italy

1996

Jekaterina Karaban

Russia

Women's Overall Champions by Country

Russia – 11 titles Lithuania – 5 Poland – 4 Latvia – 3 Belarus – 2 Italy – 2 Belgium – 1 Germany – 1 Ukraine – 1 Brazil–Ukraine – 1

Multiple Overall Champion:

Svetlana Pugacheva (Russia) – Overall Champion in 2003 and 2004.

Conclusions

Between 1996 and 2026, a total of 31 W.B.B.F./W.F.F. European Amateur Championships were held, crowning Overall Champions in both the Men's and Women's divisions. Russia has been the most successful nation in the history of the Championships, winning 10 Men's and 11 Women's Overall titles. Lithuania has emerged as one of Europe's strongest bodybuilding nations in recent years. Lithuanian athletes captured the Men's Overall titles in 2023 and 2026, and the Women's Overall titles in 2020, 2025, and 2026. The 2026 Championships marked a historic achievement for Lithuania, as both Overall European Champion titles were won by Lithuanian athletes: Mantas Lunskys in the Men's division and Rūta Karpaitė in the Women's division. Throughout the past three decades, Latvia, Poland, and Estonia have also demonstrated a consistently high competitive level, producing numerous Overall Champions. For more than three decades, the W.B.B.F./W.F.F. European Amateur Championships have remained one of the most important independent bodybuilding events in Europe, bringing together outstanding athletes from many countries and contributing significantly to the international development of the sport. More information is on international site www.wff.lt