WORLD BODYBUILDING HISTORY. HOW IT WAS IN REAL

[Secretary_International]

2026 BODYBUILDING ANNIVERSARIES
61 YEAR OF LITHUANIAN BODYBUILDING
On May 17, 2025, the 60th anniversary of Lithuanian bodybuilding (1965–2025) was solemnly celebrated in Gargždai, on Lithuania's Baltic coast. It was the only official commemorative event in the Republic of Lithuania dedicated to this important milestone in the nation's sporting history.
The anniversary celebrations continue. In May 2027, Klaipėda will host another historic event—the 60th International "Amber Prix" Tournament, one of the world's oldest continuously organized international bodybuilding competitions.
However, 2026 is also a landmark year. It marks a series of important anniversaries of events that have shaped not only the history of Lithuanian bodybuilding but have also left a lasting impact on the international development of the sport.
Anniversary Milestones
1946 – 80 Years Ago
The IFBB commercial company was established in Canada, later after 1971 becoming one of the world's most influential bodybuilding organizations.
1966 – 60 Years Ago
Vilnius hosted the first international bodybuilding competition ever held in the socialist world. This historic event opened a new chapter in the development of bodybuilding throughout Eastern Europe.
1976 – 50 Years Ago
Despite the official prohibition of bodybuilding in socialist countries, Edmundas Daubaras organized a public bodybuilding competition in Telšiai. At that time, he was the only bodybuilding organizer in the Soviet Union to openly undertake such an initiative.
1986 – 40 Years Ago
On the initiative of Edmundas Daubaras, the process of establishing the official USSR Bodybuilding Federation was launched. A meeting held at his home brought together Vladimir Dubinin, Vladimir Shubov, and Arkadiy Kashansky, leading to the official founding of the Federation in Kubinka in 1987.
1996 – 30 Years Ago
Klaipėda hosted the first European Bodybuilding Championship in the history of Lithuanian sport. Organized by Edmundas Daubaras, the championship received official support from the Government of the Republic of Lithuania.
2006 – 20 Years Ago
Vilnius hosted the second World Professional Bodybuilding Championship in the history of Lithuanian sport, organized by Edmundas Daubaras. The championship received official support from the Government of the Republic of Lithuania.
2016 – 10 Years Ago
Leading the organizing committee Dr. Edmundas Daubaras organized the World Professional Bodybuilding Championship in Kaunas.
2026
The international WFF–WBBF events held in Klaipėda brought together 289 athletes from numerous countries, once again confirming Lithuania's position as an important center of international bodybuilding.
Lithuania's Contribution to World Bodybuilding
For more than six decades, Lithuania has repeatedly played a significant role in the international history of bodybuilding. The country hosted the first international bodybuilding competition in the socialist world, organized European and World Championships, and established Klaipėda as a permanent venue for major WFF–WBBF international events.
Equally important is the fact that Lithuanian enthusiasts preserved the traditions of bodybuilding even during the years when the sport was officially prohibited. Competitions continued to be organized despite political restrictions, and after Lithuania regained its independence, the country emerged as one of the most active organizers of international bodybuilding events.
Conclusions
The anniversaries celebrated in 2026 remind us that the history of Lithuanian bodybuilding is far more than a record of sporting achievements. It is a story of determination, vision, organizational leadership, and international recognition.
These milestones provide an opportunity to honor the pioneers, organizers, and athletes who built the foundations of Lithuanian bodybuilding and to pass this remarkable legacy on to future generations.
Looking ahead to the 60th International "Amber Prix" Tournament in 2027, it is evident that Lithuania continues to write new chapters in bodybuilding history. The achievements of the past six decades have become an integral part not only of Lithuania's sporting heritage but also of the history of international bodybuilding.
More information is on international site www.wff.lt

[Secretary_International]

UNPRECEDENTED GRAND CHAMPIONSHIPS IN VILNIUS
Bodybuilders' Gift to the President of the World Federation
While preparing to celebrate the fortieth anniversary of its activities in 2005, the World Fitness Federation (W.F.F.–W.B.B.F. – World Fitness Federation / World Body Building Federation) organized one of the largest and most significant events in its history—the World Amateur and Professional Championships. The event took place at the Vilnius Congress Concert Hall and became an outstanding occasion not only in the history of Lithuanian bodybuilding but also in the development of international physique sport.
A total of 742 athletes from nearly forty countries participated in the championships. This number remains the highest ever recorded in the history of W.F.F.–W.B.B.F. world championships and stands as an all-time federation record. The achievement demonstrated both the rapid international growth of the federation and its increasing prestige within the global bodybuilding community.
Another remarkable feature of the championships was the live television broadcast transmitted worldwide. At that time, such a broadcast represented a highly complex and expensive technical undertaking. The project was supported by the Lithuanian telecommunications company AB "Lietuvos Telekomas," which allocated 144,000 Lithuanian litas (approximately €41,000) for the broadcast. The live transmission significantly enhanced the international visibility of both the federation and Lithuania as a country capable of organizing world-class sporting events.
The championships also received official support from the Government of the Republic of Lithuania. The opening ceremony was attended by Algirdas Raslanas, Director General of the Lithuanian Department of Physical Education and Sports. Among the distinguished guests were Members of the Lithuanian Parliament and Government, including Julius Dautartas, Antanas Bosas, and Kęstutis Virketis. Their participation reflected the importance attached to the event as an international sporting and diplomatic occasion.
The honorary diplomas presented to the athletes were signed by Algirdas Butkevičius, then Minister of Finance of the Republic of Lithuania, who would later become Prime Minister.
The Overall World Champions were Aleksandr Baldin (Russia), Rachel Kauppila (Finland), and Lithuania's Jolanta Mileriūtė. The international corporation "Fabrikantas" presented each of them with original diamonds, symbolizing the prestige and exceptional status of their victories.
Following the championships, an international press conference was held at ELTA, the Lithuanian National News Agency. Afterwards, the heads of the foreign delegations were officially received at the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania, where a ceremonial luncheon was hosted in their honor. These meetings further strengthened international cooperation and contributed to the continued expansion of the federation around the world.
Bodybuilders' Gift to the President of the World Federation
The most emotional moment of the championships came during the awards ceremony. After the presentation of medals and trophies, representatives of the participating countries and numerous athletes surprised W.F.F.–W.B.B.F. President Dr. Edmundas Daubaras with an extraordinary gift—a bronze bust of himself.
The surprise had been secretly prepared well in advance and remained completely confidential until the final moments of the ceremony. The initiative belonged to Natalija Murnikovienė, one of the most celebrated Lithuanian female bodybuilders of all time, who had been coached for many years by Dr. Edmundas Daubaras. Together they achieved numerous victories at European and World Championships, becoming one of the most successful coach-athlete partnerships in Lithuanian bodybuilding history.
The bronze bust symbolized not only personal gratitude toward an outstanding coach but also the appreciation of the international bodybuilding community for a man whose life's work had become inseparable from the development of the W.F.F.–W.B.B.F. Federation. It recognized his decades of organizational leadership, his efforts in establishing international cooperation, organizing World Championships, and promoting the independent development of international bodybuilding.
Conclusions
The W.F.F.–W.B.B.F. World Amateur and Professional Championships held in Vilnius became one of the most important events in the history of the federation. The record number of participants, the worldwide live television broadcast, the official support of the Government of the Republic of Lithuania, and the attendance of numerous international delegations demonstrated that the federation had reached the highest level of international recognition during that period.
Equally significant was the symbolic tribute paid to W.F.F.–W.B.B.F. President Dr. Edmundas Daubaras. The presentation of a bronze bust was an exceptional gesture of respect, rarely seen in the history of international sport. Such honors are traditionally reserved for individuals whose achievements have had a lasting impact on the development of an entire sport.
The World Championships held in Vilnius not only strengthened the city's reputation as an important venue for major international bodybuilding events but also became a significant chapter in the history of Lithuanian sport. Their organizational success, international scale, and enduring historical importance continue to rank among the most remarkable achievements in the history of the W.F.F.–W.B.B.F. Federation.
More information is on international site www.wff.lt