The History of the “Amber Prix”.
Albertas Besakirskas – a prize-winner whose journey began during the years of the ban.
During the socialist period, Albertas Besakirskas, a bodybuilder from Kaunas’s “Olimpas” sports club, was one of the most prominent Lithuanian bodybuilders of his generation. Between 1978 and 1985, he competed in 21 events and finished among the prize-winners in all of them. As many as 15 of these competitions were international.
A particularly significant part of Albertas Besakirskas’s career was his participation in the “Amber Prix” tournaments. He competed in this international event six times and finished among the prize-winners on every occasion. This is not merely impressive statistics; it is evidence of his skill and consistency at a time when every international appearance was a significant achievement for Lithuanian bodybuilders.
Victories that became career highlights
Among Albertas Besakirskas’s finest achievements were his victories in his respective qualifying categories in 1981. That year, he won his category at the “Komsomol Cup” Championships in Kaunas, and later that same year he also won his category at the Georg Tenno Memorial in Tallinn.
These victories were important not only because of the places he achieved. They demonstrated that Lithuanian athletes were already capable of competing successfully on the international bodybuilding stage. Besakirskas was among those athletes whose performances helped establish the reputation of Lithuanian bodybuilding.
A story that began when bodybuilding was still banned
Albertas Besakirskas’s story is particularly remarkable because the beginnings of his international sporting path date back to a period when bodybuilding was still officially banned in the USSR.
In 1978, Dr. Edmundas Daubaras, working together with the Czechoslovak bodybuilding federation, was preparing a project for joint international competitions. Albertas Besakirskas, together with several other leading bodybuilders of the time, was included in the planned USSR national team.
Two competitions were envisaged. One was to take place in Klaipėda in 1979, during the “Amber Prix” tournament, while the other was planned in Czechoslovakia, during that country’s national bodybuilding championships.
Considerable preparations had already been made. During several visits by Dr. Edmundas Daubaras to the Czechoslovak Ministry of Sport, approval was obtained for such international events to be organized. The Czechoslovak side even sent personal invitations to members of the USSR national team. This was particularly important at the time, as such official invitations were essential for athletes seeking permission to travel abroad from the USSR.
Everything appeared to be ready for the international exchange.
But the project ultimately collapsed.
According to accounts from the period, Roman Kalinauskas, secretary of the then formally operating USSR bodybuilding federation, undermined Dr. Edmundas Daubaras’s initiative by submitting complaints to various authorities. Personal and institutional disagreements reportedly played a role: the initiative had not originated with Kalinauskas, and he himself had not been included in the planned delegation.
Thus, a carefully prepared project for international cooperation never became a reality.
The “Amber Prix” – more than just a competition
Albertas Besakirskas’s story also reveals the broader significance of the “Amber Prix.” At that time, the tournament was more than simply a sporting competition. It became one of the venues where Lithuanian bodybuilders could meet athletes from abroad, gain international experience and demonstrate their abilities on a broader stage.
Besakirskas’s six prize-winning appearances at the “Amber Prix” are an important part of this history. His results show that Lithuanian bodybuilders were not merely enthusiasts operating on the margins of organized sport. They were ambitious athletes capable of competing successfully at an international level.
Conclusion
Albertas Besakirskas was one of the athletes whose achievements helped shape the history of Lithuanian bodybuilding. Twenty-one competitions and twenty-one finishes among the prize-winners, six prize-winning appearances at the “Amber Prix,” and category victories in 1981 demonstrate an exceptional level of consistency and sporting ability.
Yet another aspect of his story is equally important. Besakirskas’s career developed during a period when bodybuilding in the USSR was subject to bans and severe administrative restrictions. Consequently, every international appearance represented not only a sporting challenge but also an organizational and political one.
Looking back today, Albertas Besakirskas’s story reminds us that Lithuania’s international bodybuilding achievements did not emerge by themselves. They were built by athletes, coaches and organizers who, despite the circumstances of the time, sought ways to enter the international arena. The “Amber Prix” was one of the platforms that made this possible.
More information is on international site www.wff.lt
THE HISTORY OF THE “AMBER PRIX”.
BRONÉ DUBAR – A PIONEER IN WOMEN’S SPORTS HISTORY.
The woman who entered sports history before the world was ready to call it fitness.
There are athletes whose names are written into history by medals. There are champions whose names are preserved in record books. But there are also people whose historical significance lies somewhere entirely different.
They appear before the sporting system.
Before the rules. Before the championships. Before the federations. Before established social perceptions.
Broné Dubar (Broné “Brownie” Dubar, Daubaraitė, 1906–1986) was one of these individuals.
An American of Lithuanian origin, she represents an early era when women’s physical education and sport were only beginning to make their way into the public sphere. Today, her activities can be viewed as one of the early manifestations of women’s fitness culture. But what matters most is not what we would call her activities today. What matters is that Broné Dubar was doing, in her time, what later became part of modern women’s fitness culture.
THE HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF A HISTORICAL FIGURE
A historical figure is not simply a famous person. A historical figure is someone whose activities help us better understand the changes of their era and the subsequent development of history. Broné Dubar’s story meets this criterion.
She lived at the beginning of the 20th century – an era when the place of women in sport was still being shaped. Women’s sports were only beginning to establish themselves in international sporting life. Modern fitness sport did not yet exist. There was no contemporary system of women’s fitness competitions. There were no world championships. There was no international fitness sports structure.
Yet Broné Dubar was already training, creating physical exercise programs, and publicly demonstrating her physical abilities.
This is the core of her historical significance. She was ahead of the system.
LITHUANIA, AMERICA, AND A WOMAN OF A NEW ERA
In 1912, Broné Dubar emigrated from Lithuania to the United States with her parents and four brothers.
This detail is important not only to her biography. It places Broné’s story within the broader context of Lithuanian emigration to America. She belonged to a generation of people whose lives connected two different cultural worlds: Lithuanian heritage and the American environment; tradition and a rapidly modernizing world.
In this environment, Broné chose sport.
She grew up in an athletic family. Her brothers participated in boxing, ice hockey, and baseball competitions. Broné herself took part in swimming and diving. But her interests were broader. She enjoyed books and chess.
Thus, in her personality, physical and intellectual development formed a unified whole.
She represented the portrait of a modern 20th-century woman – a person who wanted to develop not only the body, but also the mind.
SHE DID NOT JUST PRACTICE SPORT – SHE CREATED
This is where Broné Dubar’s true historical distinctiveness begins.
She did not limit herself to the sporting activities common at the time. Through constant training, she achieved a high level of physical fitness and created her own exercise program.
This was an important step.
An athlete who performs already-known exercises is a participant in an existing sporting system. A person who begins creating their own physical training program and presenting it to the public becomes a disseminator of an idea.
Broné chose the second path.
She did not merely practice sport. She created her own form of sport.
Today, we would easily recognize this type of activity as part of fitness culture. But in Broné’s time, this phenomenon still lacked its modern name, structure, and sporting institutions.
Her innovation, therefore, lay not in using an established system, but in acting before that system had been formed.
THE WOMAN WHO TURNED HER BODY INTO HER MESSAGE
Broné Dubar’s sporting activities went beyond training. She began giving public performances.
During the 1920s and 1930s, she traveled across the United States with her programs – from New York to Seattle, from Ohio to California. This was an era when a woman publicly demonstrating physical strength, endurance, flexibility, and acrobatic abilities was an unusual phenomenon. Through her body, Broné communicated something that was not yet universally accepted at the time: A woman can be strong. A woman can be athletic. A woman can publicly demonstrate her physical abilities. A woman can create her own path in sport. This was not merely a sporting performance. It was a social statement.
INNOVATION THAT CAME BEFORE THE NAME
Broné Dubar’s activities contain several elements that later became foundations of modern fitness:
• an individual training program;
• systematic physical development;
• a combination of strength and flexibility;
• the development of endurance and coordination;
• the public demonstration of physical fitness;
• the promotion of health and an active lifestyle;
• the aesthetics of the athletic body.
She did all of this at a time when these elements were not yet united by a single global sporting system.
Therefore, Broné Dubar’s historical significance lies not only in her personal abilities.
She helps us see that fitness culture did not appear overnight. It developed through people who began consciously training their bodies, demonstrating their achievements, and inspiring others long before a formal system existed.
Broné was one of the representatives of this early culture.
STRENGTH, ACROBATICS, AND AESTHETICS
Broné Dubar’s performances were original. During one performance, she carried out her program on a second-floor balcony so that the audience could see her better. The climax was a jump over the heads of the assembled spectators into a swimming pool below. This story is important not only because of the stunt itself. It reveals Broné’s approach to sport.
For her, sport was an action that had to be performed in a way that left an impression.
Her performances brought together: athleticism, acrobatics, courage, and aesthetics. It was an early synthesis of sport and public spectacle.
THE ATHLETE WHO ATTRACTED THE ATTENTION OF THE PRESS
Broné Dubar’s performances attracted the attention of the American press of the time. Newspapers wrote about her physical abilities, but they also noted her clothing and appearance. In photographs, she was compared to the image of a Vogue magazine cover. Today, this may seem like nothing more than a colorful biographical detail. But from a historical perspective, it is significant. In Broné’s case, society encountered a new image of a woman: an athlete did not necessarily have to abandon femininity; physical strength could coexist with aesthetics. Today, this is a completely ordinary part of fitness culture. At the time, it was one of its innovations.
THE HISTORICAL FIGURE TEST – WHAT REMAINS AFTER A PERSON?
Broné Dubar ended her public performances with the beginning of the Second World War. She never returned to the stage. But this is precisely where we can distinguish short-lived fame from historical legacy. Short-lived fame ends when a person withdraws from public life. Historical legacy begins when an idea remains after the person is gone. In Broné’s case, the sporting tradition continued within her family. And this is one of the strongest elements of her historical story.
FAMILY CONTINUITY – A LIVING LINE OF HISTORY
A close relative of Broné Dubar, Dr. Edmundas Daubaras, became an international fitness sports organizer and leads the global WFF-WBBF federation. His daughter, Edita Daubaraitė (Sendrienė), became the first absolute world fitness champion representing Eastern Europe in 1997. These facts give Broné’s story a special sense of continuity. In one generation there was a pioneer. In the next – an international sports organizer. And in another – a world champion. This is more than a family genealogy. It is a genealogy of a sporting idea. Broné’s generation developed a personal understanding of physical training. Later generations transferred that idea into organized sport. Eventually, it reached the level of a world championship. This is the journey from personal initiative to an international sporting system.
BRONÉ DUBAR – THE PIONEER, EDITA – THE CHAMPION
The comparison between these two generations is particularly revealing. Broné Dubar worked at a time when the modern world of women’s fitness championships did not yet exist. Edita Daubaraitė (Sendrienė) became a world champion within an established international fitness system. One began the journey. The other followed it all the way to the top of the world. This is the true meaning of sporting continuity. The significance of a pioneer is not always measured by their own titles. Sometimes it is measured by how far later generations travel along the path they began.
THE “AMBER PRIX” – NOT A PRIZE, BUT A SYMBOL OF MEMORY
Here, the true symbolism of the “Amber Prix” emerges. Amber in Lithuania is not merely a beautiful stone. It is a symbol of the Baltic region, Lithuania, and historical time. Amber preserves what became trapped within it thousands of years ago. In the same way, the memory of sport should preserve what began decades ago. Broné Dubar’s family left Lithuania in 1912. Her life took shape in America. Yet the family’s sporting tradition survived. Across several generations, it connected Lithuanian heritage, American sporting culture, and international fitness. Therefore, the “Amber Prix” can become a symbol of this memory.
Symbolically, it connects:
Lithuania and the world.
The past and the present.
Pioneers and champions.
Family and the sporting community.
An idea and its continuation.
AMBER AS THE MEMORY OF SPORT
If a medal commemorates a specific victory, amber can commemorate historical memory. A medal says: “Today, you won.” Amber says: “We have not forgotten those who came before you.” This distinction is essential. Because without pioneers, there would be no champions. Without the first training sessions, there would be no sporting systems. Without traditions passed down through families and teachers, there would be no sporting generations. Therefore, the value of the “Amber Prize” may lie not only in the award itself, but also in preserving memory.
BRONÉ DUBAR – HISTORICAL TESTIMONY
Broné Dubar’s story demonstrates that the history of sport does not begin with the first world championship. It begins much earlier. With the person who first asks: “What if I can do more?” With the person who begins training. With the person who is not afraid to be different. With the person who shows their achievements to others. With the person who inspires another person.
Broné Dubar was one of those beginnings. Therefore, her place in history belongs not only in a family album. She is part of a broader story – the story of the development of women’s sports, physical education culture, and the path toward modern fitness.
HISTORICAL CONCLUSION
Broné Dubar deserves to be remembered not because she lived at a time when sport was different. She deserves to be remembered because she herself was one of the signs of change. She lived in an era when women’s sports were still searching for their place. She trained. She created her own programs. She publicly demonstrated her physical abilities. She traveled throughout America. She inspired women to take an interest in physical education. And she left behind a sporting tradition that continued within her family. Her activities did not have the modern name of fitness in her own time, yet many of her principles are inseparable from fitness culture today. Therefore, Broné Dubar can be regarded as an early pioneer of women’s fitness and physical education, a historical figure whose activities were ahead of the sporting understanding of her time.
EPILOGUE
Broné Dubar – the beginning.
Her family – continuity.
Edita Daubaraitė – championship.
The “Amber Prix” – memory.
This four-word chain contains more than one family story. It contains more than the history of a single sport. It contains a story about how a person’s idea can outlive its time, be passed on to another generation, and ultimately become part of international sport. Therefore, Broné Dubar’s name in the history of the “Amber Prix” should not be spoken merely as the name of a sportswoman who lived long ago. It should be spoken as the name of a pioneer. A woman who was there when there was still no path. And she was the first to begin walking it. Because every sports champion has a predecessor. Every sport has its pioneers. Every tradition has its first generation. And history begins with those whom later generations must not forget. Broné Dubar – one of them.
World Bodybuilding History.
W.F.F. – International / W.B.B.F. – International World Amateur Championship Overall Winners (1990–2025).
For more than three decades, the World Fitness Federation (W.F.F. – International) and the World Bodybuilding Federation (W.B.B.F. – International) have organized World Amateur Bodybuilding Championships, bringing together athletes from dozens of countries around the globe. Throughout the years, these championships have become an important part of international bodybuilding history, while the title of Overall World Champion has remained one of the highest distinctions an amateur bodybuilder can achieve.
From 1990 through 2025, Overall World Championship titles have been won by outstanding athletes representing Europe, Asia, South America, and other continents. Their achievements reflect the continuous growth of the federation, its expanding international recognition, and the exceptionally high competitive standards maintained over the years.
Men's Overall World Champions
Year Competitor Country
2025 Dainius Dzikevičius Lithuania
2024 Andrius Pauliukevičius Lithuania
2023 Łukasz Kuliński Poland
2022 Vilius Pranckevičius Lithuania
2021 Artur Kamieniak Poland
2020 Roman Polshin Estonia
2019 Arkadiusz Demidowicz Poland
2018 Tolga Murat Balıkçı Türkiye
2017 Maroš Kanasz Slovakia
2016 Glayson Souto Ferreira Brazil
2015 Maroš Kanasz Slovakia
2014 Nikolaj Vorobjov Russia
2013 Mostafa Golmirza Eskandari Iran
2012 Nikolaj Vorobjov Russia
2011 Ali Imani Iran
2010 Aleksandr Sevcov Estonia
2009 Aleksandr Anaskin Russia
2008 Wojciech Nadolski Poland
2007 Roman Dubovickij Russia
2006 Antonio Osta Uruguay
2005 Aleksandr Baldin Russia
2004 Konstantin Zacharov Russia
2003 Aleksandr Tumasevic Russia
2002 Franco Carlotto Switzerland
2001 Mindaugas Kvasys Lithuania
2000 Massimo Monaco Italy
1999 Franco Carlotto Switzerland
1998 Jurgen Koch Germany
1997 Jurgen Koch Germany
1996 Jan Bolken Germany
1995 Holger Dannheim Germany
1994 Dirk Karregarn Germany
1993 Klaus Martin Germany
1992 Murat Aibbyak Türkiye
1991 Reiner Gorbracht Germany
1990 Volker Fortsch Germany
Women's Overall World Champions
Year Competitor Country
2025 Olga Bogacz Poland
2024 Vaida Budrienė Lithuania
2023 Anna Sobolewska Kucharska Poland
2022 Anna Sobolewska Kucharska Poland
2021 Laura Siugale Latvia
2020 Hanna Kristina Skitta Finland
2019 Hollie Jade Feeney United Kingdom
2018 Hanna Kristina Skitta Finland
2017 Aleksandra Antipova Russia
2016 Yamila Toledo Argentina
2015 Liudmila Senciugova Russia
2014 Jelena Kursanova Russia
2013 Maria Sol Farinelli Argentina
2012 Dalvaniza Aquino Brazil
2011 Crecky Chaves Brazil
2010 Liudmila Kolesnikova Russia
2009 Liudmila Kolesnikova Russia
2008 Jolanta Mileriūtė Lithuania
2007 Irina Riabova Russia
2006 Rosalia Dutra de Campos Argentina
2005 Rachel Kauppila Finland
2004 Marina Burinskaja Latvia
2003 Marie Pierre Dominique Ripert France
2002 Irina Zincenko Russia
2001 Svetlana Pugacheva Russia
2000 Maria Konstantinidou Greece
1999 Tina Push Germany
1998 Claudia Machmor Germany
1997 Edita Daubaraitė Lithuania
1996 Daniela Haric Croatia
1995 Alexandra Baumann Germany
1994 Manuela Neugebauer Germany
1993 Sandra Bauertle Germany
1992 Manuela Franc Germany
1991 Sabine Weeke Germany
1990 Bettina Binder Germany
Summary
During the 36-year history of the W.F.F. – International and W.B.B.F. – International World Amateur Championships, Overall World Champion titles have been won by athletes representing numerous countries worldwide. In the early years of the federation, German competitors dominated the championships. Later, champions emerged from Russia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, Finland, Argentina, Brazil, Iran, Estonia, Switzerland, Türkiye, Italy, Uruguay, Greece, Latvia, Croatia, France, and the United Kingdom.
Particularly noteworthy is the remarkable progress achieved by Lithuanian athletes. Over the last five years alone, Lithuania has produced three Men's Overall World Champions (2022, 2024, and 2025), while in 2024 Vaida Budrienė captured the Women's Overall World Champion title. These accomplishments demonstrate the outstanding level of Lithuanian bodybuilding and the country's significant contribution to the history of W.F.F. – International and W.B.B.F. – International.
Conclusions
The results of the World Amateur Championships from 1990 to 2025 clearly illustrate the steady development of W.F.F. – International and W.B.B.F. – International and their important role in the evolution of international amateur bodybuilding. For more than three decades, the federations have brought together thousands of athletes from every continent, providing them with an opportunity to compete at the highest international level.
Today, the list of Overall World Champions represents far more than a record of sporting achievements. It stands as a living chronicle of the international bodybuilding community, with every champion contributing to the rich traditions, prestige, and enduring legacy of W.F.F. – International and W.B.B.F. – International in the history of world bodybuilding.
NIDA TO WELCOME THE WORLD OF SPORT: 37th WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS.
An exceptional international sporting event will take place in Neringa on October 24–26.
Nida will become an international sports hub. From October 24 to 26, the prestigious “Agila” Cultural Centre in Nida will host the 37th World Championships for amateurs and professionals, the 51st International “World Grand Prix” Tournament, and the 3rd Neringa Mayor’s Cup Championships.
For three days, amateurs and professionals from various countries around the world will compete in Nida.
ALMOST 40 YEARS OF WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP TRADITION
WFF-WBBF World Championships have been held for almost four decades. Throughout this long history, the championships have faced many challenges, yet the tradition has never been interrupted – competitions were held even during difficult periods, including the COVID-19 pandemic.
Athletes representing all continents have taken part in the championships.
The 2026 event in Neringa will continue this long-standing tradition of international sport.
742 ATHLETES FROM 32 COUNTRIES
One of the most impressive chapters in the history of the championships was 2005, when a record 742 athletes from 32 countries took part in the competition.
That year, the overall champions received exceptional prizes – original valuable diamonds.
The championship was broadcast live on the Internet to audiences around the world. AB “Lietuvos telekomas” supported the live broadcast, providing more than 144,000 Lithuanian litas, equivalent to more than EUR 40,000 at the time.
It was one of the signs that WFF-WBBF international events had already gone far beyond the boundaries of conventional sporting competitions.
THE EVENTS RECEIVED SUPPORT FROM THE LITHUANIAN STATE
The history of WFF-WBBF World Championships also includes significant attention and support from the Lithuanian state.
The 1998, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007 World Championships received support from the Lithuanian state budget.
The organizing committees have been chaired by senior Lithuanian public officials, including ministers and even two Prime Ministers.
Lithuanian Ministers of Sport Vytas Nėnius and Algirdas Raslanas attended championship opening ceremonies.
Following several championships, international press conferences were held at the ELTA news agency, while the heads of foreign delegations were received at the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania.
NIDA – AN IMPORTANT DESTINATION ON THE 2026 SPORTS MAP
The 2026 World Championships in Neringa are more than a sporting competition. They represent the continuation of a long-standing international tradition and provide Neringa with another opportunity to become a meeting place for the international sports community.
The organizers hope that this year’s championship will leave a lasting mark both on sports history and on Neringa’s international profile.
Registration for participants is already open.
The full event programme, competition schedule and registration are available at www.worldfitness.lt
A STEP TOWARDS THE 60th “AMBER PRIX”
The Nida championships will also serve as a kind of rehearsal for another major event in 2027 – the 60th International “Amber Prix” Tournament in Klaipėda.
Preparations for this anniversary event began as early as 2025. A unique historical book, to be published in several languages, is planned to mark the occasion and preserve the long history of the “Amber Prix” tournament.
The year 2026 promises to be an exceptional one in the WFF-WBBF sporting calendar – with the World Championships in Nida, the International “World Grand Prix” Tournament and in 2027 the upcoming 60th “Amber Prix” in Klaipėda forming an impressive chain of international sporting events.
More information: www.wff.lt
“Amber Prix” Today – 60 Years of History, a Legacy Far Greater Than Bodybuilding.
There are sporting competitions. There are tournaments. And then there are phenomena that, over time, become history. The “Amber Prix” belongs to the latter category.
In May 2027, Klaipėda will host the 60th historic “Amber Prix” tournament. This will be neither an ordinary bodybuilding competition nor simply an anniversary event.
It will be a moment in a six-decade-long history.
In terms of longevity, few bodybuilding events in the world can rival the “Amber Prix.” Only the NABBA “Universe,” first held in 1950, and Joe Weider’s “Olympia,” launched in 1965, have somewhat older traditions.
Yet longevity alone does not explain why the “Amber Prix” matters.
What matters most is what has happened around it during those six decades.
What is often misunderstood today
Some athletes of earlier generations, coaches, and people who were in one way or another connected with the historic “Amber Prix” tournament still remember it as it was in their youth.
To them, the “Amber Prix” was, is, and remains simply a bodybuilding competition.
But this is precisely where the fundamental misunderstanding lies.
Over six decades, almost everything has changed: countries, political systems, sports organizations, international relations, the concept of bodybuilding, the geographical reach of competitions, and the scale of the event itself.
Thousands of athletes from different countries and continents have participated in the history of the “Amber Prix.” They left Klaipėda, but they also took with them knowledge of Lithuania, of the tournament, of its organizational culture and its traditions.
The “Amber Prix” traveled with the people who took part in it.
Its history spread far beyond Klaipėda and Lithuania.
Therefore, today it is no longer possible to speak of the “Amber Prix” as just another bodybuilding competition.
It is an international sporting phenomenon that has endured for more than half a century.
1978 – Breaking Through the Wall
There are dates in this history that deserve to be recorded in the history of Lithuanian sport.
One of them is 1978.
Thanks to a petition by Dr. Edmundas Daubaras, presented in Moscow to the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, the exclusive right to organize bodybuilding competitions in Klaipėda was secured.
Today, this might look like a formal administrative decision.
At the time, it was something entirely different.
The position of bodybuilding within the Soviet sports system was complicated. Therefore, the opportunity to organize competitions of this kind in Klaipėda meant more than sporting freedom.
It created an opportunity to build.
To build a tradition.
To build international relationships.
To build Lithuania’s sporting authority.
And this is where the true historical significance of the “Amber Prix” begins.
1986 – Thinking Not About One Competition, but About an Entire Sport
In 1986, at the initiative of Dr. Edmundas Daubaras, a decision was made during the “Amber Prix” tournament in Klaipėda to establish the USSR Bodybuilding Federation in 1987 and seek official recognition of bodybuilding as a sport.
This was a crucial moment.
Why?
Because the “Amber Prix” was no longer limited to a stage, judges and medals.
The future of the entire sport was being discussed and shaped there.
The tournament became a place where not only athletes, but also people capable of influencing the development of the sport, could meet.
It was no longer simply a competition.
It had become a platform.
1988–1991 – An Attempt to Bring Lithuania into the World
Another historic stage came between 1988 and 1991.
Building on the international experience and connections accumulated through the “Amber Prix” tournaments, Dr. Edmundas Daubaras conducted negotiations with IFBB President Ben Weider regarding Lithuania’s independent admission and participation in IFBB activities, bypassing the USSR Bodybuilding Federation.
Ben Weider did not support this possibility and maintained the Moscow position.
But history is not measured only by what was ultimately achieved.
Sometimes, what people attempted before their time is equally important.
Lithuanian sports leaders were already thinking about an independent place for Lithuania in the international bodybuilding community.
This was a period when political reality still restricted possibilities, while the ambitions of sportspeople had already gone beyond the borders of the USSR.
Independence – and the First Signs of International Recognition
After the restoration of Lithuania’s independence, this work gained entirely new momentum.
With the support of the Ministry of Sports of the Republic of Lithuania and personally Minister Algirdas Raslanas, the first national bodybuilding organization in independent Lithuania – LNKA – was registered.
Under the leadership of Dr. Edmundas Daubaras, the first gold medals were brought to Lithuania from France. They were awarded by the international NABBA organization to “Amber Prix” champions Natalija Murnikovienė and Rolandas Bučinskas.
Recognition documents from the international NABBA organization were also obtained from the Republic of Lithuania and the Lithuanian National Olympic Committee.
This was a symbolic yet very important turning point: Lithuanian bodybuilding was leaving the Soviet sphere and beginning to establish its own international identity.
When Lithuania Became Not a Spectator, but a Host
In 1996, 1997 and 1998, under the leadership of Dr. Edmundas Daubaras, European Championships were organized in Klaipėda, Vilnius and Palanga with state support and financing. Events were televised by “Eurosport”.
In 1998, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007, World Championships were held in Palanga and Vilnius.
The organizing committees were chaired by the highest-ranking representatives of the Republic of Lithuania.
This fact is highly significant.
Lithuania was no longer merely sending athletes into the world. The world was beginning to come to Lithuania.
And this is one of the most important achievements in the history of the “Amber Prize.”
Klaipėda, Palanga and Vilnius became venues for major international bodybuilding events.
Foreign delegations were received at the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania. International press conferences were held at the ELTA news agency.
This was no longer just sport.
It was Lithuania representing itself to the international community through sport.
2007 – Recognition by the State
In 2007, the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania decided that the 40th anniversary “Amber Prix” tournament in Klaipėda would receive a separate line of funding from the national state budget.
Today, viewed from a historical distance, this should be understood as one of the clearest signs of state recognition.
The international stature of the event was further emphasized by an extraordinary gesture.
Professor Alfred Gerstl, President of the Austrian Parliament, sent to Klaipėda an authentic collection of photographs of Arnold Schwarzenegger, Governor of California, as well as a film about his life.
The collection was displayed to participants and spectators, while the film was shown before the competition.
Arnold Schwarzenegger’s name became a symbolic bridge between the history of world bodybuilding and Klaipėda.
When CNN Reported on Klaipėda
Another symbolic moment came with the 50th anniversary of the “Amber Prix.”
Global CNN television broadcast a report about the tournament from Klaipėda to billions of viewers around the world.
The significance of this fact should not be underestimated.
A bodybuilding event taking place in Klaipėda had become an object of attention for global television media.
This meant that the “Amber Prix” had already moved beyond Lithuania’s information space.
Its name had reached a worldwide audience.
Therefore, 2027 Is Not Just Another Anniversary
We are now approaching a new historic milestone.
In May 2027, Klaipėda will host the 60th “Amber Prix” tournament.
Preparations have already been underway since 2025.
This is not simply another event on the calendar.
It is an opportunity to reassess what has been built over six decades.
A particularly solemn international event is being planned, with prominent guests from Lithuania and abroad to be invited.
To mark the 60th anniversary, a unique historical book will also be published, telling the story of the “Amber Prix” against the broader background of events in Lithuania, Europe and the world.
And this is extremely important.
History must not only be remembered. History must be recorded.
Because what is not recorded can be lost after a few generations.
Sixty Years Is Not Just a Number
Sixty years means six decades during which the world has changed beyond recognition.
Countries have changed.
One political system collapsed.
Independent Lithuania was restored.
International sports organizations evolved.
Bodybuilding itself changed.
Generations changed.
And the “Amber Prix” remained.
Therefore, today its significance cannot be measured merely by medals, champions’ names or competition results.
Its true scale must be measured by the people it brought together.
By the countries with which it established connections.
By the international events it helped create.
By the Lithuanian name it carried into the world.
And, above all, by the fact that a bodybuilding tradition born in Klaipėda survived changing eras and became part of international sporting history.
The Main Conclusion
Therefore, the 60th “Amber Prix” tournament in 2027 should not be understood as a beautiful remembrance of the past.
This is not an event of nostalgia.
It is an event of historical continuity.
It must demonstrate that what was created decades ago can not only be remembered today, but also carried forward.
And this is where the greatest value of the “Amber Prix” lies.
It has survived eras.
It has outlived political systems.
It has crossed national borders.
It has grown from a sporting event in one city into an international phenomenon.
Therefore, in May 2027, Klaipėda will not merely celebrate 60 years of bodybuilding competitions.
It will celebrate a part of Lithuania’s sporting history.
It will celebrate the history of Klaipėda.
It will celebrate the history of the people who built this tradition over decades.
And it will look toward the future.
Because a true tradition is not simply what remains in the past.
A true tradition is what passes from the past into the future.
And the history of the “Amber Prix” is certainly not over.
2027 should mark not the closing of a chapter in history, but the beginning of a new one.
WORLD BODYBUILDING ENCYCLOPEDIA.
WHAT IS N.A.B.B.A.? DRAWING CONCLUSIONS.
THE HISTORY OF THE N.A.B.B.A. ASSOCIATION.
While preparing material for the third volume of the World Bodybuilding Encyclopedia, we continue our review of the history of international bodybuilding organizations.
Until the collapse of the socialist system, the situation was relatively clear. From 1971 to 1998, the officially recognized bodybuilding sport was represented by the International Federation of BodyBuilders (I.F.B.B.), while the National Amateur Body-Builders’ Association (N.A.B.B.A.), established in 1950, represented an independent bodybuilding movement that did not possess official international sports recognition.
In this article, we examine the history of the N.A.B.B.A. association and its place in the development of world bodybuilding.
THE BEGINNING OF N.A.B.B.A.
BOB HOFFMAN BROUGHT BODYBUILDING TO LONDON
From 1947 to 1969, official world bodybuilding was governed by the Fédération Internationale Haltérophile et Culturiste (F.I.H.C.), a member of the International Olympic Committee (I.O.C.).
Largely through the efforts of American sports promoter Robert Collins Hoffman (Bob Hoffman, 1898–1985), the first F.I.H.C. “Universe” contest was held in the United States in 1947. In 1948, during the London Olympic Games and with the approval of the International Olympic Committee, the second F.I.H.C. “Universe” contest took place in London.
The event was organized not only by Bob Hoffman but also by the British Amateur Weight Lifting Association (B.A.W.L.A.) and the magazine Health and Strength.
Inspired by the activities of the F.I.H.C., British bodybuilding enthusiasts founded the National Amateur Body-Builders’ Association (N.A.B.B.A.) in 1950 and organized their own “Mr. Universe” contest. However, until the F.I.H.C. ceased its involvement in bodybuilding in 1969, neither N.A.B.B.A. nor the privately operated I.F.B.B. organization could claim official international recognition.
THE DEVELOPMENT OF N.A.B.B.A.
When discussing the history of sports federations, both athletes and administrators are important. Nevertheless, the identity of an organization is often shaped more strongly by its leaders and organizers, as athletes frequently compete in events organized by different federations.
For many years, American athletes dominated the N.A.B.B.A. Mr. Universe competitions. Supported by the structures of F.I.H.C. and the Amateur Athletic Union (A.A.U.), they regularly traveled to Europe and won the most prestigious titles. One reason for this dominance was their advanced training methods and the earlier adoption of anabolic substances in athletic practice.
During the 1980s, the British sports administrator Oscar Heidenstam emerged as one of the most influential figures within N.A.B.B.A. It was during this period that Dr. Edmundas Daubaras began corresponding with him and exchanging information and historical materials.
At the end of 1990, while meeting I.F.B.B. President Ben Weider in New York, Dr. Edmundas Daubaras did not receive support for Lithuania’s efforts to establish independent participation in international bodybuilding following the restoration of national independence. According to the author, the I.F.B.B. leadership declined to accept Lithuanian bodybuilders directly, bypassing the sports authorities of the Soviet Union. As a result, cooperation with N.A.B.B.A. became a practical alternative.
In 1991, Lithuanian athletes participated in the N.A.B.B.A. European Championships in Épinal, France. Natalija Murnikovienė of Klaipėda and Rolandas Bučinskas of Šiauliai became the first European bodybuilding champions in the history of independent Lithuania.
At the same time, another organization, the Lithuanian SSR Bodybuilding Federation headed by Romanas Kalinauskas, continued to operate within the Soviet sports structure.
ONE N.A.B.B.A. – THREE PRESIDENTS
Following the death of Oscar Heidenstam in 1991, the N.A.B.B.A. organization was led for nearly two decades by Irish administrator Ivan Dunbar. Although dedicated to the association, his tenure was marked by increasing internal disagreements.
By 1999, an unusual situation had developed in which three individuals competed for leadership within the organization: Ivan Dunbar, German official Klaus P. J. Hoffmann, and Australian representative Joe Lopez.
Various national federations competed for influence, while administrative and legal issues became increasingly apparent. Questions regarding the organization’s legal status and governance were raised by a number of national representatives.
THE N.A.B.B.A. SPLIT
At the end of the twentieth century, Joe Lopez became one of the most active and ambitious figures within N.A.B.B.A. His disagreements with Klaus Hoffmann and Ivan Dunbar gradually intensified.
During the 1999 N.A.B.B.A. World Championships in Austria, tensions reached a climax at the international congress held alongside the event. Financial disputes within the organization further complicated the situation.
At the congress, Joe Lopez announced that he and several supporting national federations were leaving the British-based N.A.B.B.A. structure and creating a new organization called “N.A.B.B.A. International.”
For several years, this organization promoted alternative “Mr. Universe” contests in Spain. Eventually, however, its activities declined, and the organization disappeared from the international bodybuilding scene.
WHAT IS N.A.B.B.A.? DRAWING CONCLUSIONS
Following the death of Oscar Heidenstam, N.A.B.B.A. no longer possessed a leader capable of providing a strong strategic direction for the organization. It preserved its traditions and historical legacy but did not pursue major ambitions for international expansion.
Nevertheless, N.A.B.B.A. remains one of the oldest and historically most significant bodybuilding organizations in the world. Since its foundation, it has served as an important alternative within the international bodybuilding movement and has left a lasting mark on the history of the sport.
After the International Olympic Committee abandoned support for bodybuilding’s Olympic aspirations in 1998, and following the closure of the Global Association of International Sports Federations (G.A.I.S.F.) in 2023, the international status of bodybuilding organizations became increasingly complex and less clearly defined.
Today, N.A.B.B.A. and I.F.B.B. occupy different positions within the global bodybuilding landscape, yet both organizations remain important in understanding the development, traditions, and historical heritage of bodybuilding.
More information is on international site www.wff.lt
World Bodybuilding History.
VYTAUTAS ZUMERIS – PIONEER AND ARCHITECT OF ORGANIZED BODYBUILDING IN LITHUANIA.
Vytautas Zumeris (born 1944) was a physician, one of the pioneers of bodybuilding in Lithuania, and one of the leading organizers of the sport during its formative years. His importance extends beyond the history of Lithuanian bodybuilding: he also played a significant role in the emergence and organization of bodybuilding throughout the Soviet Union.
While studying at the Kaunas Medical Institute, Zumeris became interested in bodybuilding in 1965. His involvement, however, quickly went beyond personal interest. He became actively engaged in the organizational development of bodybuilding, at a time when the sport had virtually no established institutional structure in Lithuania.
The first leader of organized bodybuilding in Lithuania
In 1967–1969, Vytautas Zumeris headed the Lithuanian Athletic Gymnastics Committee. In 1969–1971, he became chairman of the Lithuanian Athletic Gymnastics Federation. The establishment of an organized bodybuilding structure in Lithuania was a remarkable development: the sport was being institutionalized at a time when it was still viewed with considerable suspicion within the Soviet sports system.
The official establishment of the Lithuanian Athletic Gymnastics Federation was confirmed on March 5, 1969, and Vytautas Zumeris was elected its first president.
This was more than the creation of a sports organization. It was an attempt to establish and legitimize a new form of physical culture, strongly influenced by Western bodybuilding, within a system in which the sport had no secure institutional position.
Lithuania's role extended beyond its borders
Zumeris's activities were not limited to Lithuania. Together with Vilnius-based Valerij Koreshkov, he became one of the key figures involved in the development of organized bodybuilding structures in the Soviet Union.
In 1968, Zumeris was elected to a five-member public Soviet bodybuilding committee. This group played a leading role in coordinating bodybuilding activities in the USSR until the sport was officially suppressed in the 1970s.
Particularly important were the international contacts established with Poland. In 1968–1969, bodybuilding competitions between the USSR and Poland were organized in Kaunas, Sopot, and Warsaw.
These events were highly significant because they represented some of the earliest international contacts between Soviet bodybuilding enthusiasts and athletes from abroad.
Zumeris can therefore be viewed as a bridge-builder – a person who helped Lithuania become one of the channels through which bodybuilding entered the broader sports environment of the Soviet Union.
Bodybuilding between sport and prohibition
The importance of this period must be understood within its political context. Bodybuilding was a young and distinctive form of physical culture, strongly influenced by developments in the West. In the Soviet Union, it did not fit easily into the officially approved model of physical education and sport.
In 1973, bodybuilding was effectively prohibited in the Soviet Union. This brought the first period of organized bodybuilding to an end.
Vytautas Zumeris subsequently withdrew from active bodybuilding activities. Nevertheless, the work carried out during the preceding years did not disappear. Lithuania already had an organizational tradition, international contacts had been established, and a generation of enthusiasts had emerged who would later contribute to the revival of bodybuilding.
Historical significance
Vytautas Zumeris's contribution is important primarily because he was not merely a bodybuilding enthusiast, but an organizer and leader. His organizational work helped transform an individual sporting interest into a structured movement.
His activities also demonstrate that Lithuania was not simply a passive participant in the Soviet sports system during the 1960s. In certain areas, Lithuanian sports enthusiasts themselves created new structures and established international contacts. In the history of bodybuilding, Vytautas Zumeris was one of these pioneering figures.
His greatest historical achievement was not a collection of sporting titles, but the creation of a beginning. He belonged to the small group of people who, in the late 1960s, transformed bodybuilding in Lithuania from an individual interest into an organized sporting activity.
Recognition and legacy
On September 28, 2020, at the Parliament of the Republic of Lithuania, Vytautas Zumeris was presented with the WFF–WBBF International Silver Medal of Honor for his contribution to the history of bodybuilding and his public activities.
Conclusion
Vytautas Zumeris can rightly be regarded as one of the architects of organized bodybuilding in Lithuania. His importance lies not simply in the formal positions he held, but in the fact that, as a young physician and medical student, he helped institutionalize a sport that had no established place within the Soviet sports system.
His and Valerij Koreshkov's activities demonstrated that the Lithuanian bodybuilding movement was capable of establishing international contacts as early as the late 1960s. The subsequent prohibition of bodybuilding only further highlighted the importance of the pioneers of this first period: they laid the foundations upon which the Lithuanian bodybuilding system could later be rebuilt.
Vytautas Zumeris's place in Lithuanian sports history should therefore be understood primarily as that of a pioneer, organizer, and one of the principal initiators of the institutionalization of bodybuilding in Lithuania.
His legacy extends beyond bodybuilding itself. It represents an important chapter in the history of Lithuanian sport – a story of initiative, organizational courage, international cooperation, and the determination to develop a new sporting culture under exceptionally difficult political circumstances.
More information is on international site www.wff.lt
“Amber Prix” Stories.
Michael Glass - United States of America.
Michael Glass (Mike Glass) was an American bodybuilder and sports organizer who played an active role in the development of the WFF–WBBF federation in the United States and in the organization of international sporting events.
Michael Glass competed in bodybuilding only once — at the 1971 A.A.U. “Mr. California” competition, where he won the junior category.
Later, his activities were mainly associated with sports administration and organization. From 2004 to 2008, Michael Glass served as President of the U.S. WFF–WBBF federation and was responsible for organizing the participation of American athletes in international WFF–WBBF events.
In 2006, Michael Glass organized a major international WFF–WBBF competition in Mexico, which, according to federation information, attracted approximately 300 athletes.
In 2007, Michael Glass was a member of a U.S. delegation that was officially received at the Parliament of the Republic of Lithuania (Seimas). During the meeting, the activities of the WFF–WBBF federation were presented, preparations for the 2007 World Championships in Vilnius were discussed, as well as the forthcoming 40th “Amber Prix International” tournament in Klaipėda.
During the reception at the Seimas, Michael Glass was presented with the WFF–WBBF International Diploma of Honour. Following the meeting, he participated, together with heads of delegations from various countries, in a press conference at ELTA, the Lithuanian news agency.
In 2006, Michael Glass led the U.S. delegation to the WFF–WBBF World Championships in Tver, Russia. Following the championship, he and other federation officials were received by the Governor of Tver and participated in an international press conference.
Michael Glass’s connection with Lithuanian sports organizers continued in subsequent years. In 2008, a letter from him published in the WFF–WBBF archives congratulated federation leader Edmundas Daubaras on the 40th anniversary of the “Amber Prix International” tournament. Glass emphasized the tournament’s long history and its importance to athletes and spectators.
Thus, Michael Glass’s story in the context of the “Amber Prix International” is not only the story of a former bodybuilder, but also of an international sports organizer who contributed to strengthening relations between bodybuilding and fitness organizations in the United States and Lithuania.
More information is on international site www.wff.lt
The History of the “Amber Prix”.
EDITA DAUBARAITĖ – THE FIRST OVER ALL WORLD FITNESS CHAMPION.
In 2027, Klaipėda will commemorate an important anniversary in the history of the “Amber Prix”, one of the long-standing international sporting tournaments associated with the city and with Lithuania’s sporting heritage.
This history is inseparable from the name of Edita Daubaraitė (now Sendrienė). Thirty years ago, in 1997, in Mannheim, Germany, she became the over all World Fitness Champion at the W.F.F. World Fitness Championships.
This was more than a personal sporting victory. At the time, it represented a remarkable achievement for Lithuanian sport: a representative of Lithuania—and, more broadly, of the former socialist world—had reached the very top of the emerging international fitness movement.
From ballet and gymnastics to the fitness stage
Edita’s path to fitness was unusual. From an early age, she was involved in ballet and artistic gymnastics, disciplines in which movement, flexibility, coordination, musicality and stage presence are essential.
A turning point came in 1995. While attending N.A.B.B.A. competitions in Malta, Edita saw athletes whose performances combined physical strength with aesthetics, choreography and gymnastics.
One athlete in particular made a strong impression on her: Daniela Harič of Croatia. Her performance stood out for its lightness, sophisticated gymnastics elements and stage presence.
Edita remembers thinking:
“I want to do that, too...”
That thought marked the beginning of a new chapter in her sporting life.
After returning to Lithuania, she began serious fitness training. Her first successes came at national competitions, followed by victories at the Lithuanian National Championships and increasingly important international appearances.
The “Amber Prix” – an important part of her career
International “Amber Prix” tournaments held in Klaipėda also became an important part of Edita Daubaraitė’s sporting career.
In 1996, she won first place in the fitness category, and in 1997, she finished second.
This was a period when fitness was still defining itself as a distinct sporting discipline. There was growing emphasis on separating fitness from traditional bodybuilding and highlighting a combination of physical conditioning, flexibility, gymnastics, choreography and stage presentation.
Edita’s athletic background made her particularly well suited to this emerging concept of fitness.
A new federation and a new sporting concept
In 1995, Dr. Edmundas Daubaras, German Klaus P. J. Hoffmann, Greek Anargiros Tsopouridis and Austrian Peter Papula met at the Sheraton Hotel in Stuttgart, Germany. The foundations of the World Fitness Federation (W.F.F.) were established there.
The federation sought to develop a different concept of the sport—a form of fitness in which physical development was combined with movement, gymnastics, flexibility, aesthetics and stage performance. A new chapter in the history of fitness had begun.
Edita Daubaraitė would soon become one of Lithuania’s most prominent representatives of this new sporting movement.
1997 – the historic triumph in Mannheim
The decisive moment came in 1997 in Mannheim, Germany.
At the W.F.F. World Fitness Championships, Edita Daubaraitė won the title of over all World Fitness Champion. W.F.F. archival material lists her as the first athlete among the absolute women’s world champions. W.F.F. archival material
Her achievement was presented as a historic event in Lithuanian fitness. Reports of her victory also reached a wider international audience, including television coverage on Eurosport. W.F.F. archival material states that her performance was broadcast several times. W.F.F. archival material
Edita’s victory was significant in an even broader historical context. W.F.F. historical sources describe her as the first over all World Fitness Champion representing the former socialist world. W.F.F. archival material
But the most important point is not simply the title.
A Lithuanian athlete demonstrated that success on the international stage could be achieved not only through physical strength, but also through movement, gymnastics, elegance and stage mastery.
A victory that might have received state recognition
Edita Daubaraitė’s achievement did not go unnoticed in Lithuania.
At the time, Rimas Girskis, a deputy ministerial-level official within the Lithuanian national sports administration, sought to have her achievement recognized with a state award.
The initiative, however, was not ultimately successful. W.F.F. archival material also refers to the consideration of state recognition for Edita, but confirms that the award was not granted. W.F.F. archival material
Three decades later, this part of the story can be viewed more calmly.
What remains most important in sporting history is not the controversy or disagreements of the time, but the achievement itself:
a Lithuanian athlete had reached the international summit of a rapidly developing new sport.
From champion to coach
After completing her physical education studies at Klaipėda University, Edita Daubaraitė-Sendrienė chose a career as a coach.
This was a natural continuation of her sporting journey.
Her competition experience, understanding of stage performance, gymnastics background and international knowledge became valuable tools in preparing a new generation of athletes. A number of her students later achieved major victories, including titles and medals at World and European Championships.
Her contribution to sport therefore did not end with her 1997 victory.
The champion became a coach, and the coach became a mentor to a new generation of champions.
The “Amber Prix” and Edita’s story
Edita Daubaraitė’s story has particular meaning as the anniversary of the “Amber Prix” approaches.
The “Amber Prix” is more than the name of a competition or an award. It represents decades of sporting history, bringing together athletes, coaches, organizers, judges and spectators across generations.
Edita’s story stands out because it reflects one of the important turning points in the development of the sport—the transition from traditional bodybuilding concepts toward a more modern understanding of fitness.
Her journey began with ballet and artistic gymnastics, continued on the “Amber Prix” stage, and ultimately led to the title of over all World Fitness Champion.
Later, that same journey continued through coaching.
Conclusion: history must not only be remembered – it must be preserved
Thirty years after Edita Daubaraitė’s historic triumph, her achievement should be viewed not merely as an episode in the career of one athlete.
It is part of the history of Lithuanian fitness.
It is the story of a woman from Klaipėda who moved from ballet and artistic gymnastics into a new sporting discipline, accepted an international challenge and, in 1997, reached the highest level of world fitness competition.
It is also the story of a period when fitness itself was still developing and establishing its identity as a distinct sport.
And finally, it is a story of continuity: the athlete became a coach, and her experience was passed on to a new generation.
As the anniversary of the “Amber Prix” approaches, it is worth remembering not only competition results and lists of winners. Behind every name is a person, a choice, years of work, courage and an era.
Edita Daubaraitė’s story is one of those stories.
1997 remains a landmark year in Lithuanian fitness history—the year when Klaipėda-born Edita Daubaraitė reached the summit of the sport and became over all World Fitness Champion.
And the 2027 anniversary of the “Amber Prix” provides an opportunity to bring this story back into the light—not merely as a legend, but as a valuable part of Lithuania’s sporting heritage.
World Bodybuilding History.
GEORG TENNO – The Man Who Opened the Door to Athletic Training in the Soviet Union.
During the 1950s and 1960s, one of the most important promoters of athletic training and bodybuilding in the Soviet Union was the Estonian-born Georg Tenno (Georg Tenno, Георгий Павлович Тэнно, 1911–1967). His life story is about much more than sport. It is the story of a man who survived the Soviet system of political repression, attempted to escape from the Gulag five times, and later used his knowledge and experience to help shape the development of athletic training and bodybuilding in the Soviet Union.
Georg Tenno was a naval officer, a World War II veteran, an athlete, coach and translator. In 1948, he was arrested, accused of espionage and sentenced to a long term in the Gulag. He was released and rehabilitated in 1956.
Eight Years in the Gulag
Georg Tenno spent eight years in the Soviet camp system. He repeatedly refused to accept the life imposed upon him as a prisoner and took part in five escape attempts. Although none of them succeeded, his determination and courage later made him one of the most memorable figures in Alexander Solzhenitsyn's writings.
Tenno and Alexander Solzhenitsyn knew each other from their years in the camp system. Solzhenitsyn devoted a chapter entitled “The Committed Escaper” (“Убеждённый беглец”) to Tenno in The Gulag Archipelago. He also included Tenno's account of one of his escape attempts elsewhere in the book.
Solzhenitsyn later remembered Tenno as a hero, fighter and athlete – one of the strongest, bravest and most daring people he had known. He regarded Tenno as one of the principal figures associated with The Gulag Archipelago.
Their relationship became important not only because of their shared experience of imprisonment. After his release, Tenno helped Solzhenitsyn locate former political prisoners whose experiences could contribute to the emerging Gulag Archipelago. He also played a crucial role in protecting the manuscript of the work. In 1965, Tenno secretly transported the manuscript to Estonia, where it could be kept out of the reach of the Soviet security services.
In 1970, Alexander Solzhenitsyn was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature.
Returning to Life – and to Sport
After his release in 1956, Georg Tenno returned to the world of sport. He began working at the All-Union Scientific Research Institute of Physical Culture (ВНИИФК), where his work involved foreign literature and translations.
This access to foreign publications was particularly important. At a time when Western training methods and bodybuilding literature were largely inaccessible to ordinary Soviet citizens, Tenno was able to study foreign methodological material and make use of it in his own work.
He was helped in obtaining employment at the institute by Roman Moroz, a former coach of the Soviet national weightlifting team.
It was during this period that Tenno began systematically promoting athletic training and bodybuilding. His approach was remarkably modern for its time. Physical exercise was not merely a means of increasing muscle size. It was intended to improve health, develop strength and endurance, build a harmonious physique and increase a person's overall physical capabilities.
Tenno became one of the people who introduced Soviet readers to training principles that had already been developed and tested in Western countries. His articles appeared in Sportivnaya zhizn Rossii (“Sports Life of Russia”) and other sports publications. From 1964, he was a member of the Athletic Gymnastics Commission of the All-Union Weightlifting Federation.
Athletism – The Book That Became a Landmark
In 1968, one year after Georg Tenno's death, his book Athletism (Атлетизм), written together with Yuri Sorokin, was published.
The book presented training methods and exercises for developing different muscle groups, as well as information on sports nutrition and recovery after physical exertion. At the time, this was exceptional material for Soviet readers. The book quickly became popular among people who wanted to train independently with weights and develop their physical strength and appearance.
Tenno understood very well the ideological environment in which he was working. In the Soviet Union, bodybuilding was not regarded simply as a legitimate form of sport and self-development. It could easily be criticized as excessive individualism or vanity.
For this reason, Tenno presented athletic training primarily as a means of improving health, strength, physical fitness and working capacity. The aesthetic side of bodybuilding was deliberately kept in the background.
This was both a practical and politically cautious approach. In the Soviet context, the promotion of bodybuilding had to be justified not simply by appearance, but by physical preparedness and usefulness to society.
“Every Athlete Is His Own Adviser and Coach”
The essence of Tenno's training philosophy was conscious and independent exercise. He believed that a person who trained regularly and paid attention to the body's response to physical stress could learn to determine the methods and workloads best suited to him.
This approach was later discussed by Vladimir Chudinov, who argued in Sportivnaya zhizn Rossii that the Soviet physical-education system should make greater use of Tenno's athletic-training methodology.
Chudinov emphasized that Tenno translated foreign literature and drew upon already developed training methods. He also noted that Tenno did not make a strict distinction between the concepts of bodybuilding and athletic training. What mattered was not the label, but the physical result.
This philosophy – that the athlete should learn to understand his own body and take responsibility for his training – was particularly progressive in an era when organized sport in the Soviet Union was dominated by highly structured systems.
Georg Tenno's Legacy
Georg Tenno died in Moscow on October 22, 1967, at the age of 56. He was buried in Estonia, at Pärnamäe Cemetery in Tallinn.
His legacy extended far beyond the book Athletism. Tenno became one of the key figures in the development of early Soviet athletic training and bodybuilding. His writings and methods influenced numerous followers who later continued to develop and popularize bodybuilding throughout the Soviet Union.
His life brought together several seemingly different worlds: sport, political repression, the Gulag, journalism, translation and his close association with one of the most important writers of the twentieth century.
The fact that a man who had attempted to escape the Gulag system five times later became one of the leading pioneers of athletic training and bodybuilding in the Soviet Union makes Georg Tenno's story extraordinary.
The Georg Tenno Memorial
Georg Tenno's memory was also preserved through international bodybuilding competitions in Estonia. Inaro Mardo's efforts led to the organization of the first Georg Tenno Memorial in 1971. Fourteen memorial competitions were held between 1971 and 1989.
Together with the international Amber Prix International tournament, the Georg Tenno Memorial was for many years among the few regular bodybuilding competitions held in the Soviet Union and throughout the socialist world.
In 2024, organizers in Pärnu, Estonia, revived the tradition of the Georg Tenno Memorial. The event was presented as the 15th Georg Tenno Memorial, continuing the competition's historical legacy after the long interruption.
The return of the memorial was more than a sporting event. It was a reminder of a remarkable Estonian figure whose influence reached far beyond the borders of his homeland.
Georg Tenno's name remains an important part of the history of athletic training and bodybuilding in Estonia, the former Soviet Union and the wider socialist world.
His life demonstrates that sport can sometimes be much more than the development of physical strength. It can become an expression of personal freedom, determination and resistance – a way for a human being to preserve his dignity even under the most difficult circumstances.
More information is on international site www.wff.lt
The Years of Bodybuilding Prohibition in Klaipeda.
The Period Before the Public “Amber Prix” Tournament (Until 1976).
The history of bodybuilding in Klaipeda differed little from developments in other Lithuanian cities or throughout the socialist countries. It was a period when an officially prohibited sport survived solely through the efforts of enthusiasts — in basements, bomb shelters, and illegal clubs. Today, this era is regarded as a unique testimony to its time and an important part of Lithuania’s sports history.
In 1969, Edmundas Daubaras purchased his first barbell and, together with Algis Zivelis, began training at home. Soon, increasing numbers of local young people gathered at the Daubaras family apartment to exercise. As the constant flow of visitors became difficult for the family to accommodate, training sessions were moved first to the basement of an apartment building and later to the railway workers’ pioneer camp in Giruliai. One of the leading authorities of the time became Rimantas Budrys. Although conditions were extremely modest, the athletes remained dedicated.
In 1970, after the withdrawal from active activity of Klaipeda bodybuilding leader Antanas Jonuskutis (1942–2003), the city’s athletes dispersed among various adapted and non-adapted training premises. Nevertheless, the bodybuilding movement did not stop.
A major turning point came in 1971, when Klaipeda Seaport employee Vytautas Daubaras obtained premises for young athletes in a bomb shelter belonging to the port on Sportininku Street. There, the “Gintaras” (“Amber”) club was established, becoming the main bodybuilding center in Klaipeda during the harshest prohibition years. Around one hundred enthusiasts attended the club. Remarkably, the club’s traditions continue to this day — it is now known as “Amber Gym” and remains one of the organizers of the “Amber Prix” competition.
In 1971, in Tallinn, then part of the Estonian SSR, Innar Mardo (1945-2002) launched the tournament that later became a traditional event known as the “Georg Tenno Memorial.” The overall winners of the first competition were Valdas Aliubavičius from Vilnius in the junior division (the 1968 overall junior winner of the “Amber Prize” tournament) and Vladimir Dubinin from Leningrad in the adult division.
A few words about Georg Tenno. An officer in the Soviet Army, he was accused of espionage in 1948 and sentenced to imprisonment in the Gulag system. While incarcerated, he shared a prison cell with the future Nobel Prize laureate Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn. During his imprisonment, Georg Tenno attempted to escape five times. In his famous work “The Gulag Archipelago” (“Архипелаг ГУЛАГ”), Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn dedicated a chapter to him titled “The Convicted Escapee” (“Убежденный беглец”).
In 1972, Edmundas Daubaras left to study philology at Vilnius State University but maintained close ties with Klaipeda athletes. He continued to lead the “Gintaras” club through his associates Algimantas Stalnionis and Algimantas Ratas.
After the USSR and other socialist countries officially banned bodybuilding, activities moved underground. In 1973, Edmundas Daubaras organized illegal bodybuilding competitions in the basement of the old city prison, attended by the bravest Klaipeda athletes of the time. In the adult division, Mindaugas Liaugaudas won first place, while the youth category was won by Algimantas Ratas.
That same year, Edmundas Daubaras gathered athletes from illegally operating clubs in Vilnius and organized strength dual competitions. Forty-six athletes from Vilnius, Klaipeda, and Siauliai participated. It was one of the first attempts to preserve a united Lithuanian bodybuilding community despite the prohibitions.
In 1974, the “Amber Prix” tournament was held in the bomb shelter premises of the “Gintaras” club. Athletes from four underground Klaipeda clubs took part. The competition program consisted of three parts: strength exercises, mandatory posing routines, and freestyle performances.
The junior divisions were won by Antanas Kazlauskas, Algimantas Ratas, and Sigitas Kisonas. In the youth divisions, the strongest competitors were Kestutis Virketis and Evaldas Sorius, while the adult categories were won by Sigitas Vilutis and Vytautas Zenkevicius. The absolute winners of their respective age groups were Antanas Kazlauskas, Evaldas Sorius, and Vytautas Zenkevicius.
After a two-year break, Estonian organizer Inar Mardo (Innar Mardo, 1945–2002) managed to revive the “Georg Tenno Memorial” competition in 1974. He succeeded in convincing Estonian political authorities that bodybuilding was a national Estonian sport with deep traditions. The competition took place at the Tallinn Technical School. Athletes from the “Vilnius School of Bodybuilding” won all first places except in the tallest height category, where Estonian Olev Annus defeated the favored RSFSR representative Vladimir Dubinin. The overall champion became Pranas Murauskas.
In 1975, the “Amber Prize” tournament was already being held in one of Klaipėda’s secondary schools. In addition to local athletes, competitors from Telšiai and Vilnius participated. The junior groups were won by Leonidas Rodionovas, Rimas Apulskis, and Antanas Dobrodzejus. In the youth categories, first places were claimed by Antanas Bašermanas, Algimantas Ruplys, and Aimontas Dolgichas. In the adult groups, the winners were Vytautas Zenkevičius, Olegas Serovas, and Rišardas Krinickis. The absolute winners were Rimas Apulskis, Algimantas Ruplys, and Rišardas Krinickis.
Despite prohibitions, constant surveillance, and poor training conditions, bodybuilding in Klaipeda not only survived but continued to grow stronger. During this period, the foundations were laid for a tradition that would later become one of most famous international bodybuilding events — the “Amber Prix” competition.
In 1975, during a university student exchange program, Edmundas Daubaras spent two months in Prague (Czechoslovak Socialist Republic). There he met Vojtech Fiala, president of the Czechoslovak Bodybuilding Federation. Vojtech Fiala was delighted to meet a representative of Soviet bodybuilding after a ten-year break. Seeking to demonstrate good relations with the USSR, he introduced Edmundas Daubaras to officials of the Czechoslovak Ministry of Sports (ČSTV – Československý svaz tělesné výchovy).
Edmundas Daubaras was surprised that, during the years when bodybuilding was banned in the USSR, Czechoslovak bodybuilders enjoyed official government support. In 1975, they participated for the first time in the IFBB European Championship held in the West. At that championship, Czech athlete Petr Stach not only won his category but also became the overall European champion.
At the initiative of Vojtech Fiala, Edmundas Daubaras visited the town of Rodotín, where the renowned athlete Petr Stach lived. The European champion welcomed the distinguished guest by holding an exhibition training session, during which he demonstrated his excellent physical condition and impressive musculature.
Among the participants of the “Amber Prix” tournaments were individuals who later became prominent Lithuanian public officials. Risardas Krinickis, who served for many years as one of the leaders of the State Control Committee under the Government of the Republic of Lithuania, made a significant contribution to organizing numerous international “Amber Prix” tournaments between 1995 and 2008. For his merits to the international bodybuilding movement, he was awarded the “International Honor Gold Medal” of the World WFF-WBBF Federation in 2008.
Another participant was Kestutis Virketis, long-time Director of the Legal Department of the Parliament of the Republic of Lithuania. He also made an important contribution to organizing the 40th anniversary “Amber Prix” tournament. In 2024, he too was awarded the “International Honor Gold Medal” of the World WFF-WBBF Federation for his contribution to the international bodybuilding movement.
More information is on international site www.wff.lt
World Professional Sport News.
22 Years at the Top of Professional Bodybuilding: Lithuania Among the World Champions.
The W.B.B.F. International World Professional Championship results from 2004 to 2025 reveal not only the changing geography of world bodybuilding, but also the prominent position of Lithuanian athletes among the international elite. Over more than two decades, champions have repeatedly come from countries such as Russia, Brazil, Finland and others, while in recent years the name of Lithuania has become increasingly prominent.
Lithuania's breakthrough – especially in women's bodybuilding
According to the 2004–2025 summary provided, Lithuania appears five times in the list of women's world professional champions.
Lithuania's world professional champions are:
• Jolanta Mileriūtė – 2006, 2007 and 2008, Light category;
• Vilma Povilionienė – 2024, Light category;
• Svetlana Pugacheva – 2025, Heavy category.
This is particularly significant: Lithuanian women have not only appeared among the world champions in earlier periods, but have also remained at the very top in the most recent era of the championship.
Moreover, 2025 became an exceptional year for Lithuania when Svetlana Pugacheva won the World Professional Championship in the Heavy category.
Svetlana Pugacheva – from international competition to the world professional summit
The 2025 victory also has a broader context. Svetlana Pugacheva's name has appeared repeatedly on the international bodybuilding stage in W.F.F.–W.B.B.F. results. She has also been associated with the federation's international judging and activities.
Therefore, her 2025 victory can be viewed not simply as a one-season achievement, but as the culmination of many years of international experience, dedication and athletic excellence.
Hanna Kristina Skytta – five consecutive years of dominance
One of the most impressive highlights of the entire dataset is the five-year reign of Finland's Hanna Kristina Skytta.
She became World Professional Champion in the Heavy category in:
2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022.
Five consecutive World Professional titles represent one of the most remarkable achievements in the women's championship history covered by the 2004–2025 statistics.
Another outstanding streak belongs to Brazil's Dalvaniza Aquino, who won three consecutive titles in 2012, 2013 and 2014.
Russia – the leading country in women's championships
According to the women's results provided, Russia recorded the highest number of championship victories between 2004 and 2025 – 10 titles.
The next countries are:
Lithuania – 5
Finland – 5
Brazil – 4
Poland – 1
Argentina – 1
Thus, based on the supplied results, Lithuania belongs to the leading group of nations in women's professional bodybuilding during this period.
Equally important, Lithuania's five victories are not concentrated in a single short period, but span different eras of the championship.
A different geography in the men's division
The men's championship picture is somewhat different.
According to the supplied 2004–2025 results, Russia leads with 11 championship victories.
It is followed by:
Iran – 3
Slovakia – 2
Estonia – 2
Brazil – 2
One championship victory each was recorded for Lithuania, Poland, Turkey, South Africa, Uruguay, Italy and India.
Lithuania's men's champion during this period was Dainius Džikevičius, who won the World Professional Championship in the Heavy category in 2020.
This was a major achievement for Lithuanian men's bodybuilding.
The new geography of world champions
The 2004–2025 statistics reveal an important trend: the world professional bodybuilding stage is not limited to a handful of traditional bodybuilding nations.
The champions' list includes countries from:
Europe – Lithuania, Russia, Finland, Poland, Slovakia, Estonia, Italy and Turkey;
South America – Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay;
Asia and the Middle East – India and Iran;
Africa – South Africa.
This demonstrates how international professional bodybuilding has become over the past two decades, with world championship titles reaching an increasingly diverse range of countries.
Lithuania – not merely a participant, but a champion nation
Perhaps the most important conclusion for Lithuania is that the country's presence in the championship records is not incidental.
Five women's and one men's world professional championship victories between 2004 and 2025 represent six championship-winning entries for Lithuanian athletes in the supplied results.
Even more importantly, Lithuanian athletes have continued to achieve strong results in other W.F.F.–W.B.B.F. international competitions. Lithuania's representatives regularly appear among the highest-ranked athletes, while the country continues to feature in recent professional championship results.
Svetlana Pugacheva's 2025 victory is another powerful confirmation of this tradition.
Conclusion
The W.B.B.F. International World Professional Championship history from 2004 to 2025 demonstrates that Lithuania has earned its place among the world's professional bodybuilding elite.
This is not merely the story of isolated athletes or a single successful season. Lithuanian names appear among the champions across different eras – from Jolanta Mileriūtė's three-year reign from 2006 to 2008, to Vilma Povilionienė's 2024 victory and Svetlana Pugacheva's 2025 World Professional Championship title.
At the same time, the international stage has produced remarkable stories of sustained dominance, including Hanna Kristina Skytta's five consecutive titles and Dalvaniza Aquino's three consecutive victories.
The statistics therefore represent far more than a simple list of champions. They provide a 22-year snapshot of professional bodybuilding history in which Lithuania is not merely an observer, but one of the nations whose athletes have reached the highest level of international competition.
Lithuania has every reason to be proud of its bodybuilding heritage – and Svetlana Pugacheva's 2025 World Professional Championship victory once again placed the Lithuanian flag at the very top of the international bodybuilding stage.
Mayor of Lviv, Press Conference, Television Report
The Highest International Recognition of a Lifetime of Achievement
In June 2013, the President of the World Fitness Federation – World Body Building Federation (W.F.F. – W.B.B.F.), Edmundas Daubaras, paid an official visit to Lviv, the historical and cultural capital of Western Ukraine, renowned for its rich academic traditions, architectural heritage, and vibrant public life.
The visit became one of the most significant international recognitions of Edmundas Daubaras' professional career. More than three decades of dedication to building and developing the global W.F.F. – W.B.B.F. movement were acknowledged not only by the international sports community but also by academic institutions and the municipal authorities of one of Ukraine's most distinguished cities.
Upon his arrival in Lviv, the President of the W.F.F. – W.B.B.F. was officially welcomed by a city delegation and accommodated as an honorary guest at the prestigious Leopol Hotel.
The central event of the visit was the solemn ceremony held at Lviv Stavropigion University, one of Ukraine's oldest institutions of higher education, whose origins date back to 1788. In recognition of Edmundas Daubaras' outstanding contribution to international sports development, public service, and international cooperation, the University's Academic Council conferred upon him the honorary academic degree of Doctor Honoris Causa (Doctor of Sciences, D.Sc.).
This distinction represents one of the highest academic honours awarded to individuals whose achievements have made an exceptional and lasting contribution to society, science, culture, sport, and international cooperation.
The ceremony was attended by distinguished scholars and university leaders from Ukraine and abroad. Among them were Professor Dr. Yaroslav Kmit (Ярослав Кміт), Rector of Lviv Stavropigion University and Vice President of the International UNESCO Programs Implementation Center; Professor Viktor Idzio (Віктор Ідзьо), Rector of Moscow University, Academician of the International Eurasian Academy and the Academy of Sciences of Higher Education Institutions of Ukraine, together with numerous other prominent representatives of the academic community.
The honour carried a significance far beyond personal recognition. It represented international acknowledgment of the achievements of the entire W.F.F. – W.B.B.F. movement. Over many years, the organization had united dozens of countries, organized international championships on several continents, and established lasting partnerships with universities, public organizations, and governmental institutions around the world. Its activities had evolved beyond the traditional boundaries of sport, becoming an important platform for international cooperation and cultural exchange.
Official Reception at Lviv City Hall
Following the honorary degree ceremony, Edmundas Daubaras was officially received by Lviv Mayor Andriy Sadovyi. The meeting was attended by representatives of Lviv Stavropigion University, leaders of Ukrainian bodybuilding organizations, municipal officials, and members of the press.
During the meeting, the activities of the World W.F.F. – W.B.B.F. Federation were presented, while discussions focused on opportunities for international sports cooperation, youth engagement, physical fitness, and the promotion of healthy lifestyles in Lviv and throughout Ukraine. The city's leadership expressed its appreciation for the Federation's achievements and its contribution to strengthening international sporting relations.
Following the official reception, a press conference was organized for Ukrainian journalists, during which the history of the Federation, its international championships, and its activities across numerous countries were presented.
The visit continued with a live television interview at Lviv Television, where Edmundas Daubaras spoke about the Federation's mission, principles, and worldwide development. The television report became one of the highlights of the official visit, introducing the international activities of the W.F.F. – W.B.B.F. to a broad Ukrainian audience.
In honour of the distinguished guest, the day's official programme concluded with a ceremonial banquet attended by university officials, representatives of the city administration, leaders of sports organizations, members of the academic community, and invited guests.
Significance for the International Federation
The 2013 visit to Lviv became one of the most remarkable examples of international recognition in the history of the W.F.F. – W.B.B.F. Federation. The conferral of the honorary doctorate, the official reception at City Hall, the press conference, and the extensive television coverage demonstrated that the Federation was regarded not merely as a sports organization but as an international public movement promoting cooperation among nations, universities, and civic institutions.
These events symbolized the culmination of more than thirty years of dedicated work. They confirmed that the consistent development of a worldwide organization and its long-standing international partnerships had earned recognition at the highest academic and public levels. The Lviv visit therefore became not only a significant milestone in the biography of Edmundas Daubaras but also an important chapter in the international history of the World Fitness Federation – World Body Building Federation.
More information is on international site www.wff.lt
2026 News International.
Lithuania Strengthens International Sports Cooperation: Focus on Taiwan and Upcoming WFF-WBBF Events.
On August 27, 2026, an official meeting took place in Vilnius between the leadership of the World WFF-WBBF Federation and representatives of the Taiwan Embassy. The meeting focused on the possibility of Taiwan’s official delegation participating in major international sporting events in Lithuania, as well as prospects for further cooperation between Lithuania and Taiwan in the field of sport.
The World WFF-WBBF Federation is currently preparing for two major international events in Lithuania: the 37th World Championship in Neringa, scheduled for October 24–26, 2026, and the 60th edition of the historic international “Amber Prix” Tournament in Klaipėda, planned for May 2027.
The international significance of these events was further highlighted by the meeting held in Vilnius on August 27 with representatives of the Taiwan Embassy. The meeting was attended by Mr. Elvie Wu, Deputy Head of the Taiwan Embassy, and Ms. Lee Chun-Chih, First Secretary of the Embassy.
The meeting was held with the official support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania, providing an important broader context for the international cooperation being developed by the Federation.
Taiwan’s Participation – One of the Key Issues Discussed
One of the main topics of discussion was the possibility of an official Taiwan delegation participating in upcoming WFF-WBBF international events.
The participation of Taiwanese athletes and an official delegation in the World Championship in Neringa and the “Amber Prix” Tournament in Klaipėda could represent an important step toward strengthening international sporting relations.
In this context, sport serves not only as a field of competition but also as a platform for international dialogue, people-to-people contacts and institutional cooperation. International championships and tournaments with long-standing traditions provide opportunities for representatives of different countries to meet, establish contacts and develop long-term partnerships.
Looking Ahead to 2027
The discussions were not limited to upcoming events in Lithuania. The parties also discussed the possibility of organizing a major international WFF-WBBF event in Taiwan in 2027 – the 52nd International “World Grand Prix” Tournament.
This demonstrates that the potential cooperation is not being considered merely as a one-time participation of a Taiwanese delegation in events held in Lithuania. Rather, the discussions point toward a broader partnership in the organization of international sporting events, potentially involving sports organizations and athletes from both Lithuania and Taiwan.
Lithuania as a Meeting Point for International Sport
As the 37th World Championship in Neringa approaches, Lithuania is once again emerging as a country where sports communities from different parts of the world can meet.
The World Championship in Neringa in October 2026 and the 60th “Amber Prix” Tournament in Klaipėda in May 2027 are more than events on the international sporting calendar. They provide a platform for international cooperation, bringing together countries, federations, athletes and sports organizations.
The possibility of developing new event destinations – from Lithuania to Taiwan – adds another important dimension to this process.
A New Stage in International Cooperation
The August 27 meeting in Vilnius may mark a new stage in Lithuania–Taiwan sports cooperation. The immediate practical step is to continue coordinating the possible participation of a Taiwanese delegation in WFF-WBBF events in Lithuania. The longer-term perspective is the possible organization of the 52nd International “World Grand Prix” Tournament in Taiwan in 2027.
In this way, sport becomes a concrete and practical instrument for strengthening international relations.
The key conclusion of the meeting is that the potential cooperation extends beyond a single event. A broader international sports cooperation framework is taking shape, bringing together Lithuania, Taiwan and the international WFF-WBBF event network.
The coming months will show how the discussed opportunities and arrangements develop in practice. Meanwhile, the WFF-WBBF Federation continues preparations for one of its major events of 2026 – the 37th World Championship in Neringa.
More information is on international site www.wff.lt
The 2008 WFF-WBBF International Congress in Prague:
The Road to International Recognition and Sports Reform.
On October 26, 2008, the WFF-WBBF International Congress was held in the historic Žofín Barocco Palace in Prague, Czech Republic. It became one of the most significant strategic meetings of the organization in the early twenty-first century. The Congress addressed the most important issues facing international bodybuilding and fitness, discussed the principles of international sports governance, and outlined the future direction of WFF-WBBF International.
For more than four decades, WFF-WBBF International has consistently pursued the development of the international bodybuilding movement, promoted transparent sports governance, and worked to establish a legally sound model for the operation of an international sports federation. The Prague Congress became an important milestone in implementing this long-term strategy.
The Congress had not been planned in advance. At that time, Prague was hosting the WFF Professional World Championship, which brought together the organization's executive leadership, presidents of national federations, international judges, and official representatives from various countries. Taking advantage of this unique opportunity, it was decided to convene an international congress to discuss the most pressing issues affecting world bodybuilding and the future strategic development of the federation.
Congress Participants
The Congress was attended by the leadership of WFF-WBBF International, presidents of national federations, international judges, and official representatives from Europe and Asia.
Participants:
• Edmundas Daubaras – President of WFF-WBBF International;
• Peter Papula – President of WFF-WBBF Austria;
• Martin Kuta – President of WFF-WBBF Czech Republic;
• Alena Slovakova – Secretary of WFF-WBBF Czech Republic;
• Ali Reza Rasa – President of WFF-WBBF Asia;
• Markus Kitner – President of WFF-WBBF Germany;
• Andrzej Maciejewski – President of WFF-WBBF Poland;
• Marieta Žigalova – Official Representative of Slovakia;
• Eva Martinkova – Official Representative of Slovakia;
• Prof. Karel Tuchaček – International Judge of WFF-WBBF International (Czech Republic);
• Peter Stach – Chief Judge of the 2008 WFF Professional World Championship (Czech Republic);
• Lubomír Krapek – International Judge of WFF-WBBF International (Czech Republic);
• Silvia Lang – Official Representative of Hungary;
• Jurij Bogdanov – Official Representative of Germany;
• Fedir Khashalov – Official Representative of Ukraine.
The international delegation represented the principal structures of WFF-WBBF International and discussed issues concerning the federation's strategic development, international recognition, anti-doping policy, and organizational reform.
Main Topics of the Congress
The State of World Bodybuilding
The Congress concluded that world bodybuilding was facing significant organizational and legal challenges. Many international organizations lacked a clearly defined legal framework, a consistent governance system, and unified international standards. This situation hindered the development of the sport and weakened the authority of international federations.
Legal Status of International Sports Organizations
During the discussions, participants emphasized that a number of sports organizations operated without a clearly defined international legal status. Attention was also drawn to shortcomings in sports administration, which in some cases negatively affected organizational transparency and international credibility.
The Congress stressed that international federations and the championships they organize must be based on a clear legal foundation. Only such a system can ensure the protection of athletes' rights, organizational stability, and long-term international recognition.
International Cooperation
Considerable attention was devoted to strengthening cooperation among international federations. Participants emphasized that the progress of world bodybuilding could only be achieved through coordinated activities among different organizations, the harmonization of sports governance principles, and the development of a common international framework.
Anti-Doping Policy
One of the principal topics of the Congress was the fight against doping. Participants emphasized that fair competition, the protection of athletes' health, and uniform anti-doping requirements must remain integral elements of modern sport.
The Congress also recalled that in 2007 WFF-International signed a cooperation agreement with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and formally became a signatory to the World Anti-Doping Code, thereby committing itself to internationally recognized anti-doping principles.
Congress Resolutions
Following the discussions, the Congress concluded that:
• world bodybuilding requires consistent organizational and legal reforms;
• international federations must operate in accordance with recognized legal and good governance principles;
• anti-doping policy must remain one of the highest priorities in sports governance;
• international cooperation is essential for the long-term development of bodybuilding and the achievement of international recognition.
Historical Significance
The 2008 Prague Congress marked an important stage in the development of WFF-WBBF International. It established the organization's principal strategic values: legality, transparent governance, international cooperation, unified sporting standards, and responsible anti-doping policy.
The issues discussed at the Congress remained relevant in subsequent years, making this meeting one of the most important strategic forums in the history of WFF-WBBF International. Its resolutions contributed to the federation's continued international expansion, strengthened its international standing, and reinforced its commitment to building a modern, transparent system of bodybuilding based on internationally recognized legal and sports governance principles.
More information is on international site www.wff.lt
Slovakia as an International Center of W.F.F.–W.B.B.F. Bodybuilding and Fitness:
The Role of Patron Stefan Hrčka (2009–2013).
Introduction
At the end of the first decade of the twenty-first century and the beginning of the second, the Slovak Republic emerged as one of the most important centers of the international fitness and bodybuilding movement in Europe. This development was closely linked to the activities of the World Fitness Federation (W.F.F.) and the World Body Building Federation (W.B.B.F.), as well as to the exceptional support provided by Slovak patron and public figure Stefan Hrčka. Through his initiative and organizational capabilities, Slovakia became the host of a series of high-level international sporting events that attracted the attention not only of the sports community but also of the country’s highest political institutions.
The 2009 “Universe” Contest in Brusno Kupele
A significant milestone was the international “Universe” contest held on November 6–8, 2009, in the Brusno Kupele resort located in the Tatra region of Slovakia. Athletes from thirteen countries participated in the event: Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Poland, Germany, Austria, France, Hungary, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, and Venezuela.
The international status of the contest was underscored by the presence of high-ranking Slovak state officials. Among them was Dušan Galis, Member of Parliament and Chairman of the Government Committee for Youth and Sports, who presented a Letter of Appreciation from the Prime Minister of the Slovak Republic, Robert Fico, to the President of the World W.F.F.–W.B.B.F. Federation, Dr. Edmundas Daubaras. This gesture reflected the official recognition of the Federation’s activities and its contribution to the organization of international sporting events.
International Recognition and the “International Honour Gold Medal”
During the 2009 event, former Prime Minister of the Slovak Republic Vladimír Mečiar was awarded the International Honour Gold Medal. The award recognized his personal contribution to the development of sport and the promotion of health and fitness both nationally and internationally.
At that time, the medal represented one of the highest distinctions conferred by the World W.F.F.–W.B.B.F. Federation. Prior to Mečiar, it had been awarded only to former President of the Austrian Parliament Professor Alfred Gerstl. This practice reflected the Federation’s commitment to strengthening cooperation between sport and public institutions while recognizing individuals who contributed significantly to the promotion of healthy lifestyles.
Cooperation with Slovak State Institutions
Following the 2009 “Universe” contest, Dr. Edmundas Daubaras received an official invitation to the Government Office of the Slovak Republic in Bratislava. During the meeting with Prime Minister Robert Fico and Chancellor František Hatar, discussions focused on the future development of international sport and the prospects for organizing further W.F.F.–W.B.B.F. events in Slovakia.
During the visit, Robert Fico was presented with the International Honour Gold Medal as a symbol of the Federation’s appreciation for his support of sport and health-promotion initiatives.
This cooperation continued in 2012. While preparing for the World Championship in Brusno Kupele, Dr. Edmundas Daubaras held a second official meeting with Prime Minister Robert Fico. The meeting was attended by Stefan Hrčka and Lubomir Martinka, the official W.F.F.–W.B.B.F. representative in Slovakia. During the discussions, Prime Minister Fico agreed to serve as Patron of the World Championship, once again demonstrating the Slovak Government’s support for the event.
Slovakia as a Center of International Bodybuilding Events
Between 2009 and 2013, the Brusno Kupele resort became the permanent venue for the most important W.F.F.–W.B.B.F. events, including World Amateur and Professional Championships and international “Universe” contests. The organizational foundation of these events was built upon the close cooperation between the World W.F.F.–W.B.B.F. Federation and Stefan Hrčka.
Particularly significant were the events held in 2013, which were attended by the Speaker of the Slovak Parliament, Ján Figeľ. During his visit, he not only participated in the official ceremonies but also presented Dr. Edmundas Daubaras with the Slovak Parliament’s Certificate of Honour and a special Parliamentary Medal in recognition of his long-standing contribution to the development of international fitness and bodybuilding.
Subsequently, at the invitation of the Speaker, Dr. Daubaras paid an official visit to the Parliament of the Slovak Republic in Bratislava. The meetings focused on issues related to sports policy, public health promotion, and international cooperation.
International Recognition and Continuity
The support of Slovak state institutions for the Federation’s activities continued beyond 2013. During the 2016 W.F.F.–W.B.B.F. World Championship held in Lithuania, Slovak delegation leader Lubomir Martinka presented Dr. Edmundas Daubaras with a Certificate of Honour from the Parliament of the Slovak Republic. The document was signed by Deputy Speaker of the National Council of the Slovak Republic Andrej Hrnčiar.
This award symbolized the long-term cooperation between Slovakia and the World W.F.F.–W.B.B.F. Federation and served as recognition of outstanding contributions to the development of the international fitness and bodybuilding movement.
Development of International Relations
The expansion of international relations also played an important role in the Federation’s activities. In 2011, an official visit to the Embassy of the Republic of Cuba in Bratislava was organized. The meeting with the Cuban Ambassador was attended by Dr. Edmundas Daubaras and Stefan Hrčka. Discussions focused on opportunities for Cuban athletes to participate in W.F.F.–W.B.B.F. events and on future prospects for sports cooperation.
Conclusions
The period from 2009 to 2013 occupies a special place in the history of the W.F.F.–W.B.B.F. Federation. During these years, Slovakia became one of the most significant international centers of fitness and bodybuilding in Europe. This status was achieved not only through the regular organization of world-class sporting events but also through the active involvement of Slovak state institutions.
An analysis of this period demonstrates that a decisive role was played by patron Stefan Hrčka, whose initiatives, organizational efforts, and financial support created the conditions necessary for the successful implementation of long-term international projects. His contribution stands as a notable example of how private patronage and civic initiative can enable a relatively small European nation to become a focal point of a global sporting movement.
More information is on international site www.wff.lt
