60 YEARS OF LITHUANIA BODYBUILDING.

SHORT HISTORY.

On May 17, 2025 in City Gargzdai 60 years of Lithuania bodybuilding (1965-2025) were celebrated. Gargzdai organizers led by Viktoras Kura did tremendous job. That was a real bodybuilding fiesta. Respectful Guests and sport Personalities came to the Event.

Respectful Guests and Participants: Member Parliament Republic Lithuania Alvydas Mockus, President International W.F.F. - W.B.B.F. (World Fitness Federation, World Bodybuilding Federation) Federation DSc. Edmundas Daubaras, Candidate to the Parliament Republic Lithuania Klaipeda Polititian Gintaras Martinkenas, Participant of “Amber Prix International” (1968 - 2025) Gargzdai Event Organizer Viktoras Kura, 2020 U.N.E.S.C.O. Award Holder and President Lithuania Fitness Sport Federation Darius Daubaras, W.F.F. - W.B.B.F. International Silver Honour Medal Holder World Pro Bodybuilding Legend Natalia Murnikoviene, W.F.F. - W.B.B.F. International Silver Honour Medal Holder Vidmantas Malakauskas, W.F.F - W.B.B.F. International Official Alina Pelepko, President Lithuania Bodybuilding Federation Modestas Puise, Chairman Lithuania Bodybuilding Academy Remigijus Bimba, 2024 Over All W.F.F. - W.B.B.F. Pro “Universe” Champion President Latvia Bodybuilding Federation Maris Sveiduks, Lithuania Bodybuilding Statist Arunas Petraitis, Lithuania Bodybuilding Legends U.S.S.R. Champion Saulius Misevicius, U.S.S.R. Champion Raimundas Petraitis, U.S.S.R. Champion Ricardas Petrauskas, Tautvilas Rinkevicius, Aleksas Stankus, Igor Karpec, Vidmantas Lukys, Romas Mile and Famous Contemporary Bodybuilders Over All W.F.F. - W.B.B.F. Amateur Europe Champion Martynas Pakalnis, Arvydas Mickus, Rokas Razanauskas, Over All W.F.F. - W.B.B.F. World Champion Vaida Budriene, 2023 W.F.F. - W.B.B.F. Pro Europe Champion Raimundas Urbanavicius.

BODYBUILDING IN LITHUANIA. HISTORY.

Annual F.I.H.C. (Federation Internationale Halterophile et Culturisme) Weightlifting World Championship was organized in 1959 in Warszawa (People’s Republic of Poland). Traditionally together was organized F.I.H.C. World bodybuilding championship (“Universe”). Since 1947 until 1969 member I.O.C. (International Olympic Committee) F.I.H.C. ruled official World bodybuilding sport. At that time egzisting private bodybuilding companies like American W.B.B.G. (World Body Building Guild) of DAN LURIE, I.F.B.B. (International Federation of Body Builders) of brothers BEN and JOE WEIDERS, British Social Club N.A.B.B.A. (National Amateur Body Building Association) could not confront official F.I.H.C.. Under initiative of BOB HOFMAN (Robert Collins Hoffman, 1898 - 1985) trough F.I.H.C. first International Bodybuilding Federation (Comission, «Федерация культуризма С.С.С.Р.») was established in the U.S.S.R.. It was set at the “U.S.S.R. Weightlifting Federation” («Федерация тяжёлой атлетики С.С.С.Р.»). There were no bodybuilders in the U.S.S.R. at that time so the work did not start.

In 1965 first bodybuilding competition was organized in Kaunas (Lithuanian SSR). In 1966 first International contest of Socialist Countries was organized in Vilnius (Lithuania SSR).

HOW BODYBUILDING WAS DEVELOPED LATER.

Because of F.I.H.C. bodybuilding was an official recognized sport until 1969. In 1968 during a contest in Kaunas (Lithuania SSR) a new International U.S.S.R. Bodybuilding Organization was created. That was the “U.S.S.R. Bodybuilding Federation” (Comission,«Федерация культуризма С.С.С.Р.»). It led bodybuilding sport until 1973 when bodybuilding due to political reasons was prohibited in the U.S.S.R. and Socialist Countries. Among the creators of the new organization were Lithuanians VALERIJ KORESKOV and VYTAUTAS ZUMERIS - both at the Parliament Republic Lithuania received the W.F.F. - W.B.B.F. (World Fitness Federation, World Bodybuilding Federation) International Honour Silver Medals. In 1968 “Amber Prix International” (“Gintarinis prizas”, «Янтарный приз»,1968 - 2025) was started in Klaipeda (Lithuanian SSR) which still goes on.

In 1969 FI.H.C. refused to govern bodybuilding sport. Some time bodybuilding was nowhere. But it lasted not long. In 1970 during the International Congress and “Universe” contest F.I.H.C. General Secretary OSCAR STATE created the I.F.B.B. (International Federation of Body Builders) sport federation in Belgrade (Yugoslavia). Until that time Weider brothers JOE and BEN could not do this. The reason was the lack of their education and they did not knew anything about official sport. But OSCAR STATE knew this very well. So he did it. In 1971 OSCAR STATE led the new I.F.B.B. federation to membership in G.A.I.S.F. (Global Association of International Sports Federations). That closed doors for all other bodybuilding organizations to become recognized officially. Until 1998 the only one representative of official recognized bodybuilding sport became the I.F.B.B..

In 1972 during a meeting of Lithuanian bodybuilders in Kaunas ROMANAS KALINAUSKAS through dirty intrigues replaced JUIOZAS JUSEVICIUS. Friends of ROMANAS KALINAUSKAS Kaunas organizers ALEKSAS NOVIKOVAS and RAMUTIS KAIRAITIS supported him and that caused the dictatorship of all three through next decades. That was the reason that Vilnius bodybuilding went it’s way and Klaipeda also was not together. Klaipeda bodybuilding organizers underlined International contacts and worked with bodybuilders of the U.S.S.R. and other Socialist Countries.

In 1973 due to political reasons bodybuilding in the U.S.S.R. and Socialist Countries was prohibited and prosecuted. Many bodybuilders left the sport. Socialist bodybuilding was isolated from the “West” and went on his own way - that were the underground activities.

The article will be continued.

Pictures used from vsfoto.lt.

Look for the article on International Page www.wff.lt  

World Fitness Federation, World Body Building Federation

(Activities Since 1968; 141 Country Members)

INTERNATIONAL MEGA EVENTS

(May 10, 2025, Klaipeda Zveju Palace, Republic Lithuania)

Participating Honour Guests - 2025 UNESCO Award Holder Professor Vasilij Bespalenko (Ukraine), 2020 UNESCO Award Holder Darius Daubaras, International Honour Silver Medal Holder World Bodybuilding Legend Natalia Murnikoviene.

180 Competitors from Republic Ukraine, Republic Latvia, Republic Estonia, Republic Slovakia, Republic Poland, Kingdom of Denmark, State of Israel, Republic Belarus,  Republic Lithuania

RESULTS

36-th World Amateur Championship

Over All Winners: Olga Bogacz (Republic Poland), Dainius Dzikevicius (Republic Lithuania)

“Fit-Kids” Over All Champion Elzbieta Matoga (Republic Poland)

Aerobic Fitness Over All Champion Julia Nowak (Republic Poland)

Mini Trampoline Over All Champion Marija Karabovska (Republic Latvia)

Disabled Categories Over All Champion Kamil Kowalczyk (Republic Poland)

Model Fitness Over All Champion Olga Bogacz (Republic Poland)

Aerial Fitness (Hoop) Women Over All Champion Smilte Lauceviciute (Republic Lithuania)

Aerial Fitness (Hoop) Men Over All Champion Edvardas Korciaginas (Republic Lithuania)

Aerial Fitness (Hammock) Over All Champion Marlen Reimann (Republic Estonia)

Aerial Fitness (Silks) Over All Champion Ema Sackute (Republic Lithuania)

Bikini Over All Champion Valeria Nilova (Republic Estonia)

Baywatch Over All Champion Rita Liatukiene (Republic Lithuania)

Figure Classic Over All Champion Martina Fric (Republic Slovakia)

Martial Arts Over All Champion Vasilij Bespalenko (Republic Ukraine)

CATEGORY WINNERS

Aerial Fitness (Hoop) 8 years Akvile Korciaginaite (Republic Lithuania)

Aerial Fitness (Hoop) 12 years Nora Tomson (Republic Estonia)

Aerial Fitness (Hoop) 14 years Ugne-Kotryna Kaminskaite (Republic Lithuania)

Aerial Fitness (Hoop) 16 years Laura Valaityte (Republic Lithuania)

Aerial Fitness (Hoop) Over 21 years Gabriele Korciaginiene (Republic Lithuania)

Aerial Fitness Advanced (Hammock) Sirie Lilleleht (Republic Estonia)

Aerial Fitness Advanced (Hammock) 12 years Nora Tomson (Republic Estonia)

Aerial Fitness Advanced (Hammock) 16 years Sirie Lilleleht (Republic Estonia)

Aerial Fitness (Duet Silks) Lise Lund Kjaer, Emily Lund Kjaer (Kingdom of Denmark)

Aerial Fitness Advanced (Silks) 12 years Meja Ziupsnyte (Republic Lithuania)

Aerial Fitness Advanced (Silks) 14 years Ema Sackute (Republic Lithuania)

Aerial Fitness Advanced (Silks) 16 years Emile Prunskute (Republic Lithuania)

Model Fitness 165 cm. Olga Bogacz (Republic Poland)

Model Fitness 175 cm. Svetlana Lavrenova (Republic Latvia)

Bikini Fitness 175 cm. Valeria Nilova (Republic Estonia)

Figure Classic 165 cm. Baiba Libiete (Republic Latvia)

Figure Classic 175 cm. Martina Fric (Republic Slovakia)

Men’s Physique Elvis Siksna (Republic Latvia)

Men’s Physique Seniors Vladimir Fiodorov (Republic Estonia)

Muscle Models Damian Jakovic (Republic Lithuania)

Muscle Models Seniors Oleg Kametskov (Republic Estonia)

Body Athletic David Melikov (Republic Lithuania)

Disabled Fitness Kamil Kowalczyk (Republic Poland)

Disabled Fitness Seniors Grzegorz Piotr Dabrowski (Republic Poland)

58-th “Amber Prix International”

Over All Winners:  Olga Bogacz (Republic Poland), Szymon Lubecki (Republic Poland)

22-d World Pro Championship

Over All Winners: Svetlana Pugacheva (Republic Lithuania), Maros Kanasz (Republic Slovakia)

World Pro Bikini Winner Jelena Ivanova (Republic Latvia)

World Pro Figure Classic Over All Winner Martina Fric (Republic Slovakia)

World Pro Aerial Fitness (Hoop) Sofi Anette Elissaar (Republic Estonia)

28-th Amateur Europe Championship

Over All Winners: Marina Legenzova (Republic Lithuania), Szymon Lubecki (Republic Poland)

19-th Pro Europe Championship

Over All Winners: Martina Fric (Republic Slovakia), Dainius Dzikevicius (Republic Lithuania)

32-d “Baltic Cup International”

Over All Winners: Jelena Ivanova (Republic Latvia), Szymon Lubecki (Republic Poland)

32-d National Championship Lithuania

Over All Winners: Rita Liatukiene; David Melikov.

JUDGES INTERNATIONAL:

Alina Sunokaite

Gintare Staliulionyte

Viktorija Kriksciunaite

Margarita Orehova

Karolina Cesone

Terje Jaanoja

Gintare Zdanaviciene

Alina Pelepko

Jurans Normunds

Wojciech Nadolski

Karina Bagazkova

BACKSTAGE JUDGE

Olga Kolesova

SECRETARIES INTERNATIONAL

W.F.F. - W.B.B.F. International General Secretary Ugne Raudyte Daubariene

Renata Pelegrimiene

Smilte Utaraite

Full Contest Results are on the way.

See International Pages www.wff.lt

www.worldfitness.lt 

World Body Building Federation (W.B.B.F.)
World Fitness Federation (W.F.F.) 
(Since 1968, 141 Country Members, 60 International Events World Wide) 
EUROPE AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIPS
OVER ALL WINNERS
(1996-2025)
MEN
Year, Champion's Name, Country.
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, HOLLAND
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, HOLLAND
1998 JURGEN KOCH, GERMANY
1997 MATHIAS HORNUNG, GERMANY
1996 SERGEJ OGORODNIKOV, RUSSIA

WOMEN
Year, Champion's Name, Country.
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

Chairman W.F.F. – W.B.B.F. International Judges Council Edita Sendriene

INFORMATION.
More detailed information on the Global International Site www.wff.lt .

37-TH WORLD AM-PRO CHAMPIONSHIP.

59-TH “AMEBR PRIX INTERNATIONAL”.

3 - D WORLD POLE DANCE FITNESS CHAMPIONSHIP

3 - D WORLD AERIAL FITNESS CHAMPIONSHIP

3 - WORLD MINI TRAMPOLINE CHAMPIONSHIP

On May 9-10, 2026 the 37-th W.F.F. - W.B.B.F. (World Fitness Federation, World Bodybuilding Federation) World AM-Pro Championship and representing World Sport History the 59-th “Amber Prix International” (1968 - 2025) will be held in Klaipeda Zveju Palace (Republic Lithuania).

More information on International Site  www.wff.lt

Contest Registration - www.worldfitness.lt 

1978. HISTORIC ‚AMBER PRIX INTERNATIONAL“.

WHAT WAS KEPT IN SILENCE?

Why today name DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS  stay together with BEN WEIDER, OSCAR HEIDENSTAM, OSCAR STATE and BOB FOFFMAN? Why Russia journalists call DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS „The Father of Russia Bodybuilding?“ („Отец российского культуризма»).

We would like to underline that in 1973 bodybuilding sport was prohibited in the U.S.S.R. and Socialist countries. Bodybuilders were prosecuted.  DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS was alone to fight against the bodybuilding prohibition after the 1977 another more strict order of the U.S.S.R. Ministry of Sport (Министерство спорта С.С.С.Р., Госкомспорт С.С.С.Р.) to prosecute bodybuilding. No one bodybuilder or organizer dared to stay together with DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS in his fight to defend bodybuilding. No one thought that DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS will succeed.

The 1977 „Amber Prix International“ („Gintarinis prizas“, «Янтарный приз», 1968 – 2025, Klaipėda, Lithuania, organizer DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS) was like a rehearsal for the following risky steps of DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS. The 1977 contest was held in public at the Klaipeda Sea Port Palace. Bodybuilders of the DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS gym collected the spectators that were their friends and family members. First time after bodybuilding prohibition hall was full of people. The contest was illegal to the political powers of that time.

The 1978 „Amber Prix International“ was organized just after DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS visited Moscow to defend bodybuilding sport. In Moscow DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS presented his petition to the U.S.S.R. highest political organizations. The petition was given to the Central Committee of the U.S.S.R. Communist Party  (Центральный Комитет Коммунистической партии С.С.С.Р.), to the U.S.S.R. Supreme Council (Верховный Совет С.С.С.Р.) and to the U.S.S.R. Ministry Council (Совет Министров С.С.С.Р.) and to the U.S.S.R. cental political newspapers  „Pravda“ («Правда») and „Izvestija“ («Известия»). Due to the petition of DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS U.S.S.R. political powers gave permeation to organize „Amber Prix International“ in Klaipeda (Lithuanian SSR).

But DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS wanted much more. He dared to organize the „U.S.S.R. Bodybuilding Championship“ («Чемпионат С.С.С.Р. по культуризму») together with 1978 „Amber Prix“. No one knew what the reaction of political powers will be. Anyway DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS had taken the risk and did this step.

NOTICED AND EVALUATED IN VATICAN.

In 2011 the Official Visit of the President W.F.F. – W.B.B.F. (World Fitness Federation, World Body Building Federation) International DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS was organized to Vatican. Listening about the Bodybuilding activities during the years of prohibition of this sport in the Socialist Countries the Vatican Congregate Prefect Cardinal J. Em. JOZEF KARDINAL TOMKO (Кардинал Иозеф Томко) was interested very much. Very big interest was shown to the bodybuilding defending petition of DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS and the victory that was achieved due to this. J. Em. JOZEF KARDINAL TOMKO positively evaluated our efforts to fight for the Bodybuilding Sport recognition and at once he named DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS as a „dissident of the Communist Regime“. For this work done the Vatican Congregate Prefect Cardinal J. Em. JOZEF KARDINAL TOMKO presented the Original Vatican Pontific Medal (Medaglia Ufficiale di Pontificato di Sua Santita Benedetto XVI) to the International President W.F.F. – W.B.B.F. Federation EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS (Headquarters State Vatican, Cita del Vaticano, March 29, 2011).

UNIQUE STAGE OF THE CONTEST.

We will start with very clear and simple items. Now working on the „World Bodybuilding Encyclopedia“ («Энциклопедия всемирного культуризма») we scrutinized information, pictures of all previous U.S.S.R. bodybuilding competitions: since 1965 until 1978. No one contest stage was equal to the stage of the 1978 „Amber Prix International“. We can state that the stage of the 1977 „Amber Prix“ was more or less like the stage of the 1972 „Georg Tenno Memorial“ («Мемортал Георга Тенно», 1971 – 1924, Tallinn, Estonian SSR, organizer Innar Mardo, Иннар Мардо). But the stage of the 1978 „Amber Prix International“ was unique with it‘s capacity and decorations. In the centre of the stage was a big picture of FRANK ZANE. In the background of FRANK ZANE was a huge map of the U.S.S.R.. On both sides of the decoration were all fifteen National flags of the Socialist Republics of the U.S.S.R.. Who has seen anything like this in the U.S.S.R. before? How DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS dared to do this? Nobody knew what the reaction of the U.S.S.R. political powers will be after this. This was a real confrontation with the communist regime. Anyway DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS took the risk and did it.

NO SUPPORT. BODYBUILDERS SLEPT IN PIONEER CAMP.

Nobody supported and nobody financed the 1978 „Amber Prix International“. All working group consisted of DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS himself, mother of his wife, his wife and some bodybuilders from the gym of DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS. Competitors of the competition were given sleeping places at the sea coast in a Giruliai resort children‘s pioneer camp. The vocation season did not started yet and beds were free. The stage decoration was done by the mother of DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS wife -  it was made of the children‘s nappies. As DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS asked a known Belorussia painter OLEG ISAJEV (Олег Исаев) painted a figure of FRANK ZANE. In the background of it he painted the map of the U.S.S.R.. The prizes for the first six places of each category of this non official “U.S.S.R. Championship” were made by Klaipeda bodybuilder OLEG SEROV (Олег Серов). Medals and diplomas were made by a Klaipeda design company. The expenses were covered by DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS himself.

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