BODYBUILDING IS NO MORE SPORT?
The three bodybuilding legends had very emotional reactions to the 2026 Mr. Olympia winner, Nick Walker. Dorian Yates, Milos Sarcev, Shawn Ray.
Much information, articles could be find on international site www.wff.lt
KULTŪRIZMO SPORTO NEBELIKO?
Trys kultūrizmo legendos – Dorianas Yatesas, Milosas Sarčevas ir Shawnas Ray'us – labai emocingai reagavo į Nicko Walkerio pergalę 2026 m. „Mr. Olympia“ varžybose.
Daug informacijos, straipsnių rasite tarptautiniame puslapyje www.wff.lt
КУЛЬТУРИЗМ ПЕРЕСТАЛ БЫТЬ СПОРТОМ?
Три легенды бодибилдинга — Дориан Йейтс, Милош Шарчев и Шон Рэй — очень эмоционально отреагировали на победу Ника Уокера на конкурсе «Мистер Олимпия — 2026».
Много информации, статей найдёте на международной странице www.wff.lt
World Sport History.
PALANGA, 1998: WHEN THE WORLD OF FITNESS CAME TOGETHER ON THE BALTIC SEA.
186 athletes, 15 countries, and the first official WFF World Fitness Championship held in the Republic of Lithuania. At the time, the federation was still experimenting with categories and judging criteria, searching for its own direction. Nearly three decades ago, Palanga became the setting for a chapter that has since become part of fitness history.
The event was supported by the Government of the Republic of Lithuania. The chairman of the Organizing Committee was Kęstutis Skrebys, Minister of Public Administration Reforms and Municipal Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania. One of the main sponsors was the daily newspaper “Respublika”. The championship in Palanga was filmed by Eurosport television, which prepared an approximately one-hour report for European audiences. A report for Lithuanian national television was prepared by journalist Laima Janušonytė.
JUNE 6, 1998. PALANGA
A seaside resort, the eve of the summer season, and athletes arriving in Lithuania from across Europe.
But on that day, the most important thing happening in Palanga was neither the beach nor the summer entertainment. The city was hosting a World Fitness Championship.
186 athletes from 15 countries came together: Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Belarus, Russia, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Ukraine, France, Slovenia, Greece, the United Kingdom, Uruguay and Italy.
This was more than just another international competition. In historical WFF sources, the Palanga event is described as the first official World Fitness Championship held in Lithuania.
Today, looking back at the championship protocols, we can see more than just names and rankings. They reflect the entire European fitness scene of that era.
FITNESS SEARCHING FOR ITS OWN IDENTITY
In the late 1990s, fitness was not yet what we know it as today.
Gym culture was growing rapidly, while attitudes toward the body, physical conditioning, and athletic aesthetics were changing. Alongside traditional bodybuilding, a new discipline was becoming increasingly visible – fitness.
The championship program included Classic Fitness and Aerobic Fitness categories.
It was an important development.
Athletes were not expected to demonstrate muscle mass alone. Body proportions, physical conditioning, aesthetics, athleticism, and overall presentation were becoming increasingly important.
Palanga in 1998 became a place where these emerging ideas of fitness were tested on an international stage.
15 COUNTRIES – ONE STAGE
The geographical diversity of the championship was impressive.
Athletes from Western, Central, and Eastern Europe met on the same stage.
Germany arrived in Palanga with a particularly strong team. Switzerland was also among the leading nations. They were challenged by athletes from Belarus, Russia, Austria, Slovenia, the United Kingdom, Greece, Ukraine, and the Baltic states.
It was a period when the European sporting landscape was changing rapidly, and new international connections were allowing athletes to meet more frequently on the same stage.
The Palanga championship became one of those meeting points.
THE MEN'S STAGE – TWO DIFFERENT STORIES
The men's Classic Fitness program consisted of two categories, and each produced a different championship story.
In the first category, Valdas Slimanavičius took the victory, ahead of Belarusian athlete Sergej Kalmykov and Germany's Andreas Müller.
Behind them came athletes from Switzerland, Austria, Germany, and other countries.
The second category had a different winner – Germany.
Jürgen Koch won the category, and his name would later appear in the most important line of the championship results.
JÜRGEN KOCH – ABSOLUTE CHAMPION
Koch did not win only his category.
He was also named the 1998 men's absolute fitness champion.
This was the highest possible recognition.
Winning an individual category made him a category champion; winning the overall title made him the champion of the entire men's fitness competition.
That is why Jürgen Koch remains one of the most important names in the history of the 1998 Palanga championship.
WOMEN'S FITNESS: A GERMAN DOUBLE
While the men's victories were shared between athletes from different countries, the women's competition produced a different picture.
German athletes won both women's Classic Fitness categories.
In the first category, Mandy Kietzke took first place, with her compatriot Janine Raschka finishing second.
The second category was won by Claudia Machmor.
Germany therefore claimed both women's Classic Fitness gold medals.
But the story did not end there.
CLAUDIA MACHMOR – ABSOLUTE CHAMPION
Claudia Machmor became more than just the winner of her category.
She was named the women's absolute fitness champion.
As a result, German athletes claimed both absolute fitness titles – men's and women's – at the 1998 Palanga championship.
It remains one of the most striking statistical facts of the event.
AEROBIC FITNESS – ANOTHER SIDE OF THE SPORT
The Palanga championship was not limited to Classic Fitness.
In the separate Aerobic Fitness category, female athletes demonstrated a different type of conditioning – with greater emphasis on movement, dynamics, and elements of aerobic sport.
The winner was Tanja Baumann of Switzerland.
Second and third places went to German athletes Pia Luttenberger and Diana Partheymüller.
The result once again demonstrated the strength of German female athletes, although this time the highest step on the podium belonged to Switzerland.
Interestingly, Tanja Baumann later became one of the notable figures in aerobic fitness. Historical WFF results list her as a champion in subsequent years as well.
WHAT DO THE NUMBERS TELL US?
Looking at the championship protocol as a whole, several clear points stand out:
186 participants.
15 countries.
Two men's Classic Fitness categories.
Two women's Classic Fitness categories.
A separate Aerobic Fitness program.
Absolute men's and women's fitness champions.
It was a sufficiently broad program for a one-day event to become a genuine international fitness gathering.
GERMANY – THE CHAMPIONSHIP'S STRONGEST FORCE
When we look specifically at the highest-placed athletes, one country stands out particularly clearly.
Germany.
A German athlete won the men's Classic Fitness II category.
German women won both women's Classic Fitness categories.
Germany claimed both absolute fitness titles.
In addition, German athletes took second and third places in the Aerobic Fitness category.
Therefore, even without attempting to create an official team ranking, the results allow us to draw a clear conclusion:
At the 1998 Palanga championship, Germany was one of the most prominent and successful fitness nations.
THE EUROPEAN FITNESS MAP
Yet the story of the championship is not only a German story.
Switzerland won the Aerobic Fitness gold medal.
Belarus had high-level athletes in the men's competition.
A Slovenian athlete became runner-up in one of the men's categories.
Representatives of Greece, Russia, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, Austria, Latvia, Estonia, France, and Italy also contributed to the international competition.
This was not a celebration belonging to one country alone.
It was a snapshot of the European fitness scene of that period.
PALANGA, A CITY THAT BECAME PART OF HISTORY
Today, the results of the 1998 championship may look like a simple archival table.
A name. A country. A placing.
But behind those numbers lies much more.
At the time, fitness was still developing its international identity. Athletes from different countries were learning to compete according to common criteria. Organizations were establishing championship traditions. New champions were emerging.
And for one day, all of this moved to Palanga.
186 athletes from 15 countries took part in what historical WFF sources describe as the first official World Fitness Championship.
Many years later, this fact allows us to look at the event differently.
Not simply as one of many sporting events held in 1998.
But as an important moment in the early history of international fitness, when athletes from different European countries met in Lithuania and new traditions within the sport were being formed.
KEY NAMES OF THE 1998 PALANGA CHAMPIONSHIP
Jürgen Koch – Germany
Absolute men's fitness champion.
Claudia Machmor – Germany
Absolute women's fitness champion.
Mandy Kietzke – Germany
Winner of Women's Classic Fitness Category I.
Valdas Slimanavičius – Lithuania
Winner of Men's Classic Fitness Category I.
Tanja Baumann – Switzerland
Aerobic Fitness winner.
EPILOGUE
The 1998 Palanga championship took place at a time when the modern fitness industry was only beginning to take the shape we recognize today.
There were no social media platforms, athlete personal brands, livestreams, or audiences of millions online.
But there was what matters most in sport – people, a stage, competition, and the desire to be the best.
On June 6, 1998, 186 athletes from 14 countries met in Palanga.
Some of their names remained in history.
Others disappeared into the pages of archives.
But the event itself endured.
In 1998, Palanga became a place where the world of fitness came together on the Baltic Sea.
60 YEARS OF LITHUANIAN BODYBUILDING:
ATHLETES WHO LEFT A LASTING MARK ON HISTORY.
1965–2025: The history of Lithuanian bodybuilding spans six decades of hard work, outstanding personalities, memorable victories, and sporting traditions that have reached far beyond Lithuania's borders.
In 2025, the 60th anniversary of Lithuanian bodybuilding was solemnly celebrated in Gargždai, Lithuania. This anniversary provided an excellent opportunity to look back on the journey, remember the pioneers of the sport, and pay tribute to the athletes whose achievements have left a lasting mark on the history of Lithuanian and international bodybuilding.
Over six decades, countries, political systems, sporting organizations, and competition formats have changed. Yet the most important things have remained the same: the determination of athletes, the dedication of coaches, and the ambition to demonstrate that Lithuanian bodybuilding can earn recognition not only at home but also on the international stage.
The history of Lithuanian bodybuilding includes numerous names and victories. However, certain athletes stand out not only for the titles they won but also because their achievements marked important milestones in the development of the sport.
Česlovas Tamulevičius and the Vilnius School of Bodybuilding
Any account of Lithuanian bodybuilding history must begin with Česlovas Tamulevičius and his contribution to the establishment of what became known as the Vilnius School of Bodybuilding.
This school became an important center for the development of bodybuilding in Lithuania. It produced athletes whose results subsequently earned recognition throughout the Soviet Union. The Vilnius School influenced not only individual athletes' preparation but also training methods, approaches to bodybuilding, and standards of athletic excellence.
It was a period when bodybuilding faced considerable obstacles. Its enthusiasts had to do more than train and pursue sporting achievements; they also had to work toward gaining recognition for bodybuilding itself.
For this reason, the efforts of the sport's early pioneers deserve an important place in Lithuanian sporting history.
Valdas Aliubavičius and Leonas Pivoriūnas — Symbols of Early Victories
Among the most prominent representatives of the Vilnius School of Bodybuilding were Valdas Aliubavičius and Leonas Pivoriūnas.
Both athletes demonstrated exceptional ability and achieved significant victories. Their place in the history of the early Amber Prix International competitions is particularly noteworthy: both became overall winners of the tournament.
Valdas Aliubavičius also distinguished himself by winning an official USSR bodybuilding championship. This achievement demonstrated that Lithuanian athletes could compete successfully against the strongest bodybuilders of their era and attain the highest levels of success.
The achievements of Valdas Aliubavičius and Leonas Pivoriūnas became an important part of Lithuanian bodybuilding history. Their names remain associated with the sport's early period of major victories.
Pranas Murauskas — Triumph at the Georg Tenno Memorial
Another outstanding representative of the Vilnius School of Bodybuilding was Pranas Murauskas, whose sporting achievements secured him a prominent place in Lithuanian bodybuilding history.
One of his most significant accomplishments was winning the overall title at the Georg Tenno Memorial competition in 1974.
This victory was particularly important because of the high standard of the competition. Murauskas faced some of the strongest bodybuilders in the Soviet Union at the time, and his ultimate victory confirmed his exceptional athletic ability.
Achievements of this kind strengthened Lithuania's position in bodybuilding and demonstrated that athletes from a relatively small country could become leaders within a large and highly competitive sporting system.
Viktoras Jucys — A Historic Achievement at the USSR Championship
A special place in Lithuanian bodybuilding history belongs to Viktoras Jucys of Klaipėda, a multiple overall winner of the Amber Prix International tournament.
His career was marked by consistent results and the ability to demonstrate his superiority in high-level competitions. However, one particular achievement became a defining moment in his sporting career.
In 1988, Viktoras Jucys became the overall USSR bodybuilding champion. The significance of this victory lay in the fact that a Lithuanian athlete had won the highest title at an official Soviet Union bodybuilding championship.
Jucys's victory demonstrated the strength of Lithuanian athletes and once again confirmed that Lithuania's bodybuilding schools were capable of producing competitors of the highest standard.
Natalija Murnikovienė and Rolandas Bučinskas — European Champions
The achievements of both men and women hold an important place in Lithuanian bodybuilding history.
Natalija Murnikovienė of Klaipėda and Rolandas Bučinskas of Šiauliai were known as multiple winners of the Amber Prix International tournament. One of the most significant milestones in their sporting careers came at the 1991 NABBA European Championships in France.
Both athletes won European championship titles.
These results acquired particular symbolic significance during a period of historic change. Lithuania was moving toward the restoration of its independence, and the victories of its athletes on the international stage became an important expression of the country's sporting identity.
The achievements of Natalija Murnikovienė and Rolandas Bučinskas demonstrated that Lithuanian bodybuilding had not only preserved the experience accumulated over previous decades but was also competing successfully at the international level.
Their victories became a significant milestone in Lithuanian bodybuilding history, associated with the period surrounding the restoration of Lithuania's independence.
Olegas Žuras — A World Championship Title
As the twenty-first century began, another outstanding athlete emerged in Lithuanian bodybuilding history: Olegas Žuras of Vilnius.
A multiple winner of the Amber Prix International tournament, Žuras continued Lithuania's bodybuilding traditions and achieved the highest level of international recognition.
In 2004, Olegas Žuras became the overall IFBB World Champion. This achievement is regarded as one of the most significant results in the history of Lithuanian athletes competing at world bodybuilding championships.
A world championship title represents more than an individual's success. Behind it lie years of preparation, discipline, coaching, and experience gained through participation in competitions at various levels.
Žuras's victory became a powerful symbol of international recognition for Lithuanian bodybuilding and demonstrated that athletes from Lithuania could achieve the highest honors in the world.
Amber Prix International — An Important Part of Lithuanian Bodybuilding History
It is impossible to discuss Lithuania's outstanding bodybuilders without highlighting the Amber Prix International tournament.
These competitions occupy an important place in the history of Lithuanian bodybuilding. They gave athletes opportunities to test their abilities, pursue outstanding results, and demonstrate their sporting excellence.
The careers of many athletes mentioned in this article were closely connected with the Amber Prix International tournament. Their victories illustrate the important role these competitions played in developing athletes and establishing Lithuania's bodybuilding traditions.
The tournament's history also reflects broader developments in the sport, from the activities of the first bodybuilding enthusiasts to Lithuanian athletes competing on the international stage.
Six Decades That Shaped Lithuanian Bodybuilding
Over sixty years, Lithuanian bodybuilding has traveled a remarkable path. Its history has been shaped by successive generations of athletes, coaches, organizers, and judges. Each generation has contributed to the development of the sport, and their victories have become part of Lithuania's shared sporting heritage.
The work of Česlovas Tamulevičius and the Vilnius School of Bodybuilding; the victories of Valdas Aliubavičius and Leonas Pivoriūnas; Pranas Murauskas's triumph at the Georg Tenno Memorial; Viktoras Jucys's achievement at the USSR Championship; the European championship titles won by Natalija Murnikovienė and Rolandas Bučinskas; and Olegas Žuras's world championship victory represent important milestones in Lithuanian bodybuilding history.
These athletes' achievements illustrate how the opportunities available to Lithuanian bodybuilders evolved over several decades and how the sport's international profile grew.
Of course, the history of Lithuanian bodybuilding extends far beyond these names. Many other athletes, coaches, and organizers have also made contributions that deserve recognition. Nevertheless, the achievements described here stand out for their historical significance and their place in the development of bodybuilding in Lithuania.
The 60th anniversary of Lithuanian bodybuilding, celebrated in 2025, offers an opportunity not only to remember the past but also to recognize the people whose dedication helped shape the history of the sport.
Sixty years is more than an anniversary. It represents sporting traditions, a legacy preserved through memory, and the achievements of Lithuanian athletes that have become part of our country's sporting history.
More detailed information about the history of Lithuanian, European, and world bodybuilding is available on the international website www.wff.lt.
WORLD BODYBUILDING AT A DEAD END.
ONLY WFF-WBBF IS TRYING TO FIND A WAY OUT.
Having launched international sports innovations in 1995, the World WFF-WBBF Federation introduced numerous innovations to world sport — new disciplines, new categories, new nominations, and an optimistic hope for the future.
Today, world bodybuilding is at an obvious dead end. The beginning of this situation dates back to 1998, when the International Olympic Committee refused to recognize the IFBB Federation and, consequently, the sport of bodybuilding itself. Since then, the situation has only deteriorated.
WFF-WBBF has been searching for solutions and continues to seek new prospects for the development of the sport. The Federation receives support from prominent individuals, politicians, and businesspeople in various countries.
It seemed that everything was progressing well. However, first the pandemic and now wars have significantly hindered our initiatives and major projects in India, Thailand, Switzerland, Germany, France, and the United Arab Emirates. Much of our work had to be started all over again.
But we continue to work!
The dialogue with influential representatives of the United Arab Emirates, which began in 2018, made significant progress in the summer of 2026. Through joint efforts, we are now developing an entirely new concept for the development of world sport.
The projects are fantastic, but much work still lies ahead. We will continue working and forging new paths!
The most important things are the desire to act, determination, and faith in success.
World bodybuilding has reached a dead end. Only WFF-WBBF is trying to find a way out and open up new prospects for world sport!
Follow the latest information on the international website: WWW.WFF.LT
WFF-WBBF, ISU and Universities Around the World – Decades of International Academic Cooperation
Alongside its extensive and active international sports activities, we are launching a series of publications dedicated to the cooperation between the World WFF-WBBF Federation and the International Sport University (ISU) with universities in various countries around the world.
The origins of this cooperation date back to 1986, when qualification courses for athletes and methodological seminars for coaches and sports specialists were first organized in Klaipėda, Lithuania. Over time, these initiatives developed into an international network of educational and academic partnerships, extending beyond sports practice to include higher education and scientific collaboration.
For nearly four decades, the World WFF-WBBF Federation has consistently expanded its cooperation with universities, aiming to improve the professional qualifications of athletes, coaches, judges, and sports administrators, while promoting scientific research and international academic exchange. Since 2015, these activities have also been carried forward by the International Sport University (ISU), which has become an important platform for international educational projects and academic cooperation.
Among the Federation's most significant academic partners are one of the largest universities in the Indian State of Punjab, with approximately 200,000 students, the Jozef Raciborski University in Poland, the University of Physical Education in Bydgoszcz, the Polish State Higher School Wyższa Szkoła Gospodarki, the Ivan Franko University of Physical Education in Lviv (Ukraine), Stavropigion University, and a number of other institutions of higher education throughout Europe and Asia.
These partnerships have gone far beyond formal agreements and official visits. Over the years, numerous international conferences, seminars, lectures, qualification development programs, and joint academic projects have been organized, enabling the exchange of scientific knowledge, educational methodologies, and professional experience. Such activities have significantly contributed to the development of sports science, the improvement of coach education, and the strengthening of international professional cooperation.
The greatest value of this collaboration lies in its long-term commitment to connecting the practical world of sport with the academic community. This partnership has enabled the World WFF-WBBF Federation and the International Sport University not only to organize international sporting events but also to become active promoters of sports science, education, and professional development worldwide.
In this series of publications, we will present the major stages of this international cooperation, partnerships with universities across different countries, joint projects, significant meetings, and their outcomes. This is an important chapter in the history of the World WFF-WBBF Federation and the International Sport University, reflecting their enduring commitment to uniting sport, science, education, and international cooperation.
More information is on international site www.wff.lt
16 YEARS OF WORLD CHAMPIONS.
WFF-WBBF WORLD CUP — 2010–2025.
Since 1968 — more than five decades of international bodybuilding and fitness history. Since 2010 — a World Cup stage where new champions have been crowned year after year.
WFF-WBBF International — World Fitness Federation and World Body Building Federation — has been active on the international sports scene since 1968. Over the decades, the Federation has developed into an international sports organization uniting national federations and athletes from countries and continents around the world.
This is the history of a sport where there are no shortcuts.
It is a story of training, discipline, determination and years of preparation. A story of athletes who step onto the stage not only to demonstrate their physical condition, but also to represent their countries and write their names into international sports history.
2010 — THE BEGINNING OF A NEW WFF-WBBF ERA
In 2010, WFF-WBBF International began organizing World Cup competitions.
From that moment, the absolute winner of each year became part of a special chapter in WFF-WBBF history — the World Cup Overall Champion.
The first men's overall World Cup champion in 2010 was Aleksandr Sevcov of Estonia.
It was the first name in a new generation of champions.
In 2011, the title was won by Igor Belodedov of Russia, followed in 2012 by Abolfazi Aghakhani of Iran.
In 2013 and 2014, the overall World Cup title went to Reinaldo Jose Roberto Da Cruz, representing the UK–Portugal. Two consecutive titles became a remarkable achievement in WFF-WBBF World Cup history.
In 2015, the champion was James Sylvester Ono, representing the UK–Nigeria.
In 2016, the top position was claimed by Normunds Jurans of Latvia, while in 2017 the title went to Rasoul Vahid Faraziaghchehkand of Iran.
The 2018 champion was Aleksandr Kuznecov of Russia, followed in 2019 by Maros Kanasz of Slovakia.
In 2020, the overall title was won by Roman Polshin of Estonia.
However, from 2021 onward, a new and particularly notable chapter began in the history of WFF-WBBF World Cup champions.
POLAND AND LITHUANIA — A NEW ERA OF CHAMPIONS
In 2021, the men's overall World Cup title was won by Artur Kamieniak of Poland.
In 2022, the top position went to Vilius Pranckevicius of Lithuania.
In 2023, the title was claimed by Lukasz Kulinski of Poland.
In 2024, the overall World Cup champion was Andrius Pauliukevicius of Lithuania.
And in 2025, the newest WFF-WBBF World Cup men's overall champion was Kamil Kowalczyk of Poland.
Thus, in the most recent five-year period, athletes from Lithuania and Poland have been particularly prominent among the men's overall World Cup champions.
A new chapter in WFF-WBBF World Cup history has been written.
WOMEN — THE HISTORY OF WORLD CHAMPIONS
The women's World Cup history is equally rich, reflecting the international character of WFF-WBBF competition.
In 2010, the first women's overall WFF-WBBF World Cup champion was Liudmila Kolesnikova of Russia.
In 2011, the title went to Natalia Bykova, followed in 2012 by Jelena Kursanova.
Both athletes represented Russia.
In 2013, the overall title was won by Aleksandra Dolzenkova of Belarus, while in 2014 the champion was Svetlana Pugacheva of Russia.
In 2015, the title went to Liudmila Senciugova, and in 2016 to Liudmila Kakaulina.
In 2017, Leonor Hilario Greffel, representing Denmark–Mozambique, entered the history of the World Cup as overall champion.
In 2018, the title was won by Hollie Jade Feeney of the United Kingdom.
The years 2019 and 2020 belonged to Hanna Skytta of Finland, who became overall World Cup champion two years in a row.
In 2021, the title was won by Laura Siugale of Latvia.
In 2022 and 2023, the top position belonged to Anna Sobolewska Kucharska of Poland, who became overall World Cup champion for two consecutive years.
In 2024, the title was won by Vaida Budriene of Lithuania.
And the 2025 WFF-WBBF World Cup women's overall champion was Milena Mlynarczyk of Poland.
FROM ESTONIA TO LITHUANIA AND POLAND
Looking at the entire period from 2010 to 2025, we see much more than simply a list of champions.
It is 16 years of international sporting history.
During this period, WFF-WBBF World Cup overall champions have represented numerous countries, including Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Poland, Russia, Finland, Slovakia, Iran, Belarus, the United Kingdom, Portugal, Denmark, Nigeria and Mozambique.
Each country has contributed its athletes, sporting traditions and champions to this history.
The Baltic region and Poland have held a particularly visible position during the most recent years.
2022 — Lithuania.
2023 — Poland.
2024 — Lithuania.
2025 — Poland.
Four years, four champion names and two countries whose athletes have claimed the men's overall World Cup title.
THE TITLE OF A CHAMPION — A PART OF HISTORY
The WFF-WBBF World Cup overall champion title is more than a victory on a single competition day.
Behind every title stands a long journey.
Training.
Discipline.
Nutrition.
Preparation.
Stage experience.
The ability to compete against athletes from different countries around the world.
And above all — the determination to become better every day.
That is why every name that enters the history of the WFF-WBBF World Cup Overall Champions becomes part of the international legacy of the Federation.
From Aleksandr Sevcov in 2010 to Kamil Kowalczyk in 2025 — the men's history.
From Liudmila Kolesnikova in 2010 to Milena Mlynarczyk in 2025 — the women's history.
16 years. 32 champion names. Many countries. One World Cup history.
WFF-WBBF — A HISTORY THAT CONTINUES
Since 1968, WFF-WBBF International has worked to develop bodybuilding and fitness on an international level, unite national federations and provide athletes with opportunities to compete on the world stage.
Since 1990, the Federation has organized the annual World AM-Pro Championships, which have become an important part of its international sporting activities.
Since 2010, the WFF-WBBF World Cup has added another important tradition to this history — the annual recognition of overall World Cup champions.
Today, the names of the 2010–2025 champions already form a distinct chapter in WFF-WBBF history.
But the story does not end here.
Because every new season brings new athletes.
New challenges.
New champions.
And new names that will one day become part of this history.
WFF-WBBF WORLD CUP.
Since 2010 — the road of champions.
Since 1968 — international sporting history.
And the history continues.
“AMBER PRIX INTERNATIONAL”: 60 YEARS OF HISTORY THAT CANNOT BE ERASED FROM LITHUANIA’S SPORTING MAP.
In 2027, the “Amber Prix International” competition in Klaipėda will reach a remarkable milestone. It will mark the 60th anniversary of this historic event. Six decades is a period in which states, borders, political systems, sporting cultures and even the very understanding of competition have changed. Yet “Amber Prix” has survived. And the history of its champions allows us to see not only the development of bodybuilding, but also Lithuania’s place in the history of international sport.
It Is More Than Just a List of Winners
The name of the first “Amber Prix International” champion entered the competition’s history in 1967. The inaugural winner was Lithuanian athlete Klemensas Alšauskas.
Almost six decades later, in 2026, the title was once again won by a Lithuanian athlete — Grazvydas Naruševičius.
These two names, separated by nearly sixty years, symbolically close one great historical circle.
Between them lies an entire era of Lithuanian bodybuilding.
It is the story of athletes who trained under conditions completely different from those of today; the story of a period when Lithuania was not yet an independent state; the story of preserving sporting traditions after 1990; and, ultimately, the story of a competition that grew from a regional Baltic event into an international arena.
That is why “Amber Prix International” cannot be viewed simply as another bodybuilding competition.
It is a living sports archive.
Lithuania Was There From Day One
One of the most striking features of the competition’s entire history is the dominance of Lithuanian athletes.
The first years of “Amber Prix” were, in many ways, a chronicle of Lithuanian sport. In 1967, Klemensas Alšauskas won the title; in 1968, Leonas Pivoriūnas; and in 1969 and 1970, Antanas Mineikis.
The list of Lithuanian champions continued to grow.
During the 1970s, titles were won by athletes such as Risardas Krinickis, Stasys Cukanovas and Vytautas Zenkevičius.
In the 1980s, a new generation emerged — Vladas Kapcevičius, Saulius Misevičius, Jevgenij Gorelik, Vincas Dubickas, Algirdas Ivanauskas and Rolandas Bučinskas.
And then came the era of Viktoras Jucys.
In 1987, 1988 and 1989, he became the “Amber Prix International” champion three consecutive times.
Three consecutive victories are more than a statistical fact. They demonstrate that the competition stage was a place where an athlete could establish a reputation and become part of history.
The Soviet Era: A Competition That Survived
The history of “Amber Prix” cannot be separated from the era in which it was born.
In 1967, Lithuania was part of the Soviet Union. This means that the competition’s first decades developed within a completely different political and sporting system.
But sport has a special quality — it can preserve things that official documents sometimes fail to preserve.
Names remain.
Results remain.
Victories remain.
And today, by looking at the history of “Amber Prix International,” we can trace the development of entire generations of Lithuanian bodybuilding from a time when an independent Lithuanian state sporting system did not exist.
That gives the competition additional historical significance.
The 1990s: Lithuania Rediscovers Itself
After Lithuania restored its independence, it was not only the country’s political status that changed.
The sporting world changed as well.
Lithuanian athletes gained greater freedom to participate in international competitions, new opportunities emerged, new connections were established, and a new competitive environment developed.
But the “Amber Prix International” tradition did not disappear.
In 1990 and 1991, the winner was Olegas Žuras.
In 1994 and 1996, the title went to Algirdas Kilčiauskas.
In 1997, Rolandas Pocius became champion; in 1998, Ricardas Gurskas; and in 1999, Darius Buksnaitis.
This was a critically important period.
Lithuania was now independent, yet a competition that had begun during the Soviet era continued to exist.
This means that “Amber Prix” managed to cross the boundaries of political eras.
Klaipėda Becomes an International Stage
In the 21st century, the competition entered another fundamental phase.
“Amber Prix International” gradually ceased to be primarily a regional event.
Athletes from an increasing number of countries began travelling to Klaipėda.
In 2003, the winner was Latvia’s Aivars Visockis. In 2005, the title went to Russian athlete Ivan Sergeyev. In 2006, Latvia’s Aleksandr Liubomirov won, followed by Estonia’s Aleksandr Sevcov in 2007.
These names matter not only because they belong to champions.
They demonstrate that the competition had become a meeting point for the sporting schools of the Baltic region.
Klaipėda, geographically situated on the Baltic Sea, proved to be a particularly appropriate setting for an international sporting tradition.
The Real Turning Point — The Second Decade of the 21st Century
If, during the previous decades, the geography of “Amber Prix” had been primarily connected with Lithuania and other European countries, the 2010s changed the situation.
In 2010, Dharmender Singh of India won the title.
In 2011, another Indian athlete, Naftej Singh, became champion.
In 2012, victory went to Pir Sarandib Mehdi of Iran.
In 2013, Andrzej Brzezinski of Poland won.
In 2015, the champion was Ahmadi Arash of Iran.
In 2016, the title went to Jörg Fuchs of Germany.
In 2018, Aleksandr Sacharov of Uzbekistan won.
In 2019, the champion was Golap Rabha of India.
This was no longer simply a Baltic geographical footprint.
It was an international stage.
India, Iran, Uzbekistan, Germany, Poland, Slovakia, Ukraine, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania — different sporting schools, different cultures, different training traditions.
And at different points in history, all of them met on the stage in Klaipėda.
“Amber Prix” Is Also a Story of Champions Returning
Another interesting feature of the competition is the return of former champions.
Radik Manafov won in 2000 and 2002.
Aleksandr Maslovskij won in 2001 and 2004.
Darius Buksnaitis won in 1999 and 2008.
Maroš Kanaš won in 2017 and 2020.
This means that “Amber Prix” was not simply a one-time stop in an athlete’s career.
For some champions, the stage became a place worth returning to.
From a sporting perspective, this is one of the strongest indicators of a competition’s prestige.
The Modern Era: The International Character Is Here to Stay
In 2021, the champion was Poland’s Artur Kamieniak.
In 2022, the title went to Ukrainian athlete Vasilij Bespalenko.
In 2023, Estonia’s Aleksej Lapshin won.
In 2024, the champion was India’s Rahul Joshi.
In 2025, Poland’s Szymon Lubecki took the title.
And then came 2026.
Grazvydas Naruševičius. Lithuania.
This victory came at a particularly significant moment.
Exactly 60 years earlier, Klemensas Alšauskas had become the first “Amber Prix International” champion.
Now, on the eve of the competition’s 60th anniversary, a Lithuanian athlete has once again brought the title back to Lithuania.
It is a powerful symbol.
2027 — More Than an Anniversary
Sixty years is a point at which a competition can no longer be judged only by what is happening today.
Its history begins to matter.
How many athletes have appeared on its stage?
How many times have champions changed?
How many countries have been represented?
How many athletes went on from “Amber Prix” to become recognised on the international stage?
And, most importantly — why has this competition survived while many other events from the same era have disappeared?
The answer lies in tradition.
“Amber Prix International” has survived political changes, transformations of the sporting system, the restoration of Lithuania’s independence, the emergence of new international federations and the appearance of new competitions.
It survived because it was never merely a one-year event.
It became an institution in the history of Lithuanian bodybuilding.
From Lithuanian Champions to the World
During the competition’s first decades, Lithuanian athletes were the undisputed leaders.
Then athletes from Latvia and Estonia arrived in Klaipėda.
Later came competitors from Russia, Poland, Slovakia, Ukraine and Germany.
Eventually, the competition opened its doors to Asia — India, Iran and Uzbekistan.
This evolution is extremely significant.
It does not represent the loss of Lithuania’s position. It represents the growth of “Amber Prix” itself.
When a competition becomes attractive enough for athletes from different continents to compete for its title, its significance automatically changes.
It is no longer simply a Lithuanian or Baltic championship.
It is an international stage whose roots are firmly planted in Klaipėda.
A History That Must Be Preserved
Today, when sporting events are often judged by the results of a single day, “Amber Prix International” reminds us of another value of sport — continuity.
One champion arrives.
Another leaves.
Records are broken.
Generations of athletes change.
But the competition itself can survive.
And that is the greatest value of “Amber Prix International.”
From Klemensas Alšauskas to Grazvydas Naruševičius — almost six decades of history.
From Lithuanian dominance to champions from India, Iran, Uzbekistan, Poland, Ukraine, Slovakia, Germany, Latvia and Estonia.
From the Soviet era to independent Lithuania.
From a regional stage to an international competition.
“Amber Prix International” does not simply count the years — it counts generations of sporting history.
60 Years — And the Story Continues
The 2027 anniversary edition of “Amber Prix International” in Klaipėda will be more than another competition.
It will be a moment when today’s athletes meet six decades of history.
In 1967, the first stone was laid.
In 2026, a Lithuanian athlete once again brought the title back to Lithuania.
And in 2027, the 60th anniversary will arrive.
That is why the history of this competition should be regarded as more than a collection of bodybuilding results.
It is part of Lithuania’s sporting memory.
And as long as new champions continue to step onto the stage in Klaipėda, this story is not finished.
It continues.
60 YEARS OF THE HISTORIC AMBER PRIX!
In 2025, the Lithuanian bodybuilding community celebrated the 60th anniversary of the sport in Lithuania in Gargždai.
In 2026, it marked 60 years since the first international bodybuilding tournament in Eastern Europe was held in Vilnius.
In 2027, it will be 60 years since the first Amber Prix International tournament was held in Klaipėda in 1967. This international tournament has continued to this day, becoming an integral part of Lithuanian bodybuilding history and a unique sporting tradition in Eastern Europe.
Other long-established competitions also hold a special place in the history of world bodybuilding. One of the oldest is the NABBA Mr. Universe competition, first held in London in 1950. The Mr. Olympia competition, launched in the United States in 1965, also became an important milestone in the history of international bodybuilding.
In May 2027, Klaipėda will host three days of celebrations marking the 60th anniversary of the Amber Prix International. Distinguished figures from Lithuanian and international sport, public life, and politics are being invited to this special commemorative event.
To mark the anniversary, the organizers also plan to publish a historical book in several languages. It will document the history of the Amber Prix International, its development, and its significance for Lithuanian and international bodybuilding.
Six decades represent not only a remarkable anniversary but also a testament to enduring sporting traditions, dedication to bodybuilding, and a legacy that unites generations of athletes, organisers, and enthusiasts of the sport.
For more information, visit the international website: WFF.lt
WORLD FITNESS FEDERATION (WFF-INTERNATIONAL)
WORLD BODYBUILDING FEDERATION (WBBF INTERNATIONAL)
SERIA INTERNATIONAL EVENTS 2026
Nida, Lithuania, October 24–26, 2026
Over 300 international athletes gathered in Nida, Lithuania, for a series of prestigious international bodybuilding and fitness events.
FINAL RESULTS
OVERALL WINNERS
37th WORLD AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP
Diana Vasylijeva (Ukraine)
Iori Nishizawa (Japan)
22nd WORLD PRO CHAMPIONSHIP
Marina Legenzova (Lithuania)
Piotr Sevcenko (Lithuania)
16th WORLD AMATEUR CUP
Eva Tejfalussy-Gesce (Hungary)
Piotr Soszynski (Poland)
16th WORLD PRO CUP
Iori Nishizawa (Japan)
41st AMATEUR WORLD GRAND PRIX
Jevgenija Stepanova (Lithuania)
19th PRO WORLD GRAND PRIX
Kamil Kowalczyk (Poland)
51st LITHUANIA CUP INTERNATIONAL
Ernestas Matukas (Lithuania)
Austeja Mazelyte (Lithuania)
3rd NERINGA MAYOR'S CUP
Dominika Volodina (Lithuania)
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE WINNERS!
Congratulations to all the champions and participants who contributed to the success of these international events!
Full results will be published soon.
For the latest updates, visit the official international website: www.wff.lt
WORLD FITNESS FEDERATION (WFF-International)
WORLD BODYBUILDING FEDERATION (WBBF-International)
International sporting activities since 1968 | 141 member countries | 60 international events annually!
MAJOR INTERNATIONAL SPORTING EVENTS OF 2027
May 7–9, 2027 | Klaipeda, Lithuania
Three major international bodybuilding and fitness competitions will take place in Klaipeda over three days:
60th AMBER PRIX INTERNATIONAL
27th AM/PRO UNIVERSE CHAMPIONSHIP
31st AM/PRO EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP
KLAIPEDA WELCOMES THE INTERNATIONAL SPORTING COMMUNITY!
The World Fitness Federation (WFF-International) and the World Bodybuilding Federation (WBBF-International) invite athletes, coaches, sports officials, bodybuilding and fitness enthusiasts, and the general public to join these outstanding international sporting events.
Distinguished guests from various countries are also expected to attend, including representatives from political, sporting and public life.
Klaipeda will become an international meeting point for the bodybuilding and fitness community!
Dates: May 7–9, 2027
Location: Klaipeda, Lithuania
For further information, visit: www.wff.lt www.worldfitness.lt
See you in Klaipeda in 2027!
PRESS RELEASE
WFF History and Identity Once Again in the Spotlight: WFF-WBBF International Calls for Facts, Documents and Transparency
September 24, 2026
WFF-WBBF International is drawing public attention to recent developments in Singapore involving an organisation using the World Fitness Federation (WFF) name and activities publicly promoted by Graeme Lancefield.
A document issued by WFF Singapore announces the appointment of Ibrahim Sihat as Athlete Director and his participation in the WFF Singapore Executive Committee. The document also refers to the establishment of the WFF in 1968.
This development is significant in the context of an ongoing dispute concerning the history, identity and organisational continuity of the World Fitness Federation (WFF).
A Dispute Over WFF History
The position of WFF-WBBF International is clear: the history and legacy of WFF should be established through historical documents, official archives and verifiable organisational records.
At the same time, the organisation associated with Graeme Lancefield presents its own historical account of WFF and also connects the federation's origins with 1968.
As a result, there are currently different publicly presented accounts of WFF's history and organisational continuity.
The Latest Example: Singapore
The WFF Singapore document states that Ibrahim Sihat has been appointed Athlete Director, with responsibilities including identifying promising athletes, encouraging participation in competitions and developing a pathway from beginner level to international competition.
Graeme Lancefield has also publicly congratulated Ibrahim Sihat on the appointment and referred to the development of the WFF Singapore fitness community and the identification of local talent for international teams.
WFF-WBBF International points out that these developments once again raise an important question: who represents the historical legacy of WFF, and on what documented basis are different organisations using the WFF name?
“History Must Be Supported by Documents”
WFF-WBBF International emphasises that the history of an international sporting organisation should not be established solely through public statements, social-media publications or recently issued national documents.
“WFF has a history spanning many decades. Therefore, claims concerning the organisation's origins, continuity and international identity should be examined through historical documents, official records and verifiable evidence.”
WFF-WBBF International continues to publish historical information, competition records and archival material through its international website:
WFF-WBBF International – WFF.lt
A Question for the International Fitness Community
WFF-WBBF International believes that athletes, coaches, federations and the public have the right to know which organisations represent the WFF name, what their documented history is, and what evidence supports their claims.
The organisation therefore calls on the international fitness community to examine this matter on the basis of facts, historical documentation and verifiable evidence.
WFF history should not be rewritten through social-media statements alone.
A history dating back to 1968 is too important to be defined by declarations without supporting documentation.
About WFF-WBBF International
WFF-WBBF International is an international organisation involved in bodybuilding, fitness and related sports disciplines, with historical records and archives documenting international competitions and organisational activities.
More information:
WFF-WBBF International – www.wff.lt
Media contact: WFF-WBBF International
Subject: WFF history, organisational continuity and the use of the WFF name.
IFBB UNDER FIRE!
NEW SCANDAL IN IFBB.
IFBB OFFICIAL SPEAKS.
Below is an independent, structured summary of the letter, distinguishing verifiable facts, allegations made by the author, legal interpretations, and conclusions that remain unproven.
Important: This assessment is based on the contents of the letter you provided. I have not independently verified the underlying Spanish registry documents, statutes, correspondence, financial records, or court decisions. The author's assertions should not be treated as established facts without reviewing the supporting evidence.
1. Executive Summary
The letter, written by Boris Presečki, General Secretary of the Croatian Fitness and Bodybuilding Federation (CFBF), challenges the legal status, governance, disciplinary authority, and financial transparency of the International Fitness and Bodybuilding Federation (IFBB) and the European Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation (EBFF).
Its central argument is that the IFBB and EBFF operate using publicly available constitutions that allegedly differ from the statutes registered with the Spanish Ministry of the Interior.
According to the author, the registered statutes do not grant the organizations the same governance, disciplinary, and anti-doping powers described in their publicly available constitutions.
The letter consequently challenges:
• The authority of IFBB President Rafael Santonja to discipline or exclude members.
• The legitimacy of the IFBB's and EBFF's governance and election procedures.
• The legal basis for delegating anti-doping functions to the International Testing Agency (ITA).
• The treatment of the Croatian federation and its representatives.
• The financial transparency and potential conflicts of interest within the organizations.
• The accuracy of certain representations concerning the organizations' legal status and leadership.
The author also alleges irregularities involving other national federations, the appointment of officials, financial reporting, and Santonja's academic title.
Finally, the letter invites affected parties to consider collective legal action and questions whether the current leadership can lawfully continue to hold office following the scheduled elections.
Central issue: Does the constitution used by the IFBB for its international activities correspond to the legally registered statutes of the Spanish association, and, if not, what consequences follow for its decisions?
That question is important, but the letter does not, by itself, establish that the disputed constitutions are legally invalid or that all decisions made under them are void.
2. Distinguishing Facts, Allegations, and Legal Conclusions
The following classification distinguishes statements that can be objectively checked from claims that require further evidence.
A. Legal status of the IFBB and EBFF
Claim 1: The IFBB is registered as a Spanish association.
Classification: Verifiable fact, subject to confirmation of the registry documents.
The letter identifies the IFBB with Spanish Registry Number 589776 and states that its registered purposes concern education, recreation, and advisory activities.
The author claims that the registered statutes do not expressly mention bodybuilding or fitness as sporting activities.
Evidence cited:
• Documents allegedly obtained from the Spanish Ministry of the Interior.
• Registered statutes bearing official verification codes.
• Apostilles attached to the documents.
What needs verification:
1. The exact legal name of the registered entity.
2. Its current registration status.
3. The complete text of its registered statutes and amendments.
4. The precise wording of Article 3.
5. Whether additional registrations, statutes, or legal entities are relevant to its international activities.
Important distinction: Registration as a private association does not, by itself, establish that an organization is prohibited from organizing bodybuilding competitions or governing its own sporting activities.
Nor does the absence of the word bodybuilding automatically mean that all of its activities are unlawful.
Claim 2: The IFBB uses a constitution different from its registered Spanish statutes.
Classification: Specific, verifiable allegation.
The author alleges that the constitution published on the IFBB website contains provisions that do not appear in the statutes registered in Spain.
The letter provides links to:
• A publicly available IFBB constitution.
• A historical version of the EBFF constitution.
• The alleged registered statutes, which the author says are attached to the original email.
This is arguably the most important factual allegation in the letter.
To establish it, the documents should be compared article by article.
The comparison should identify:
• Differences in membership rules.
• The composition and appointment of governing bodies.
• Presidential powers.
• Disciplinary procedures.
• Election procedures.
• Anti-doping provisions.
• Assembly notice requirements.
• Provisions concerning suspension and termination of membership.
What remains unproven: Even if the documents differ, it does not automatically follow that the publicly available constitution is fraudulent. That conclusion would require evidence about the document's origin, intended legal status, adoption, and use.
The letter's use of terms such as fictitious, falsified, and illegal goes beyond the fact that two documents may differ.
B. Disciplinary powers and member suspensions
Claim 3: The IFBB President has no authority to discipline or exclude members.
Classification: Legal conclusion requiring further analysis.
The author argues that the registered statutes do not establish disciplinary powers equivalent to those described in the IFBB's publicly available constitution.
He alleges that Rafael Santonja has imposed disciplinary measures and excluded members without an adequate legal basis.
What must be established:
• The exact powers granted by the registered statutes.
• Whether validly adopted internal regulations supplement those statutes.
• Whether the association's members agreed to any applicable disciplinary rules.
• Whether Spanish law permits the relevant powers to be established through other instruments.
• Whether the particular sanctions complied with applicable procedural and substantive requirements.
The absence of an express disciplinary clause in the registered statutes would be relevant, but it would not, by itself, conclusively establish that every disciplinary measure is unlawful.
Claim 4: All long-term disciplinary sanctions imposed by the IFBB are illegal.
Classification: Unsupported generalization.
The letter concludes that all such sanctions are illegal because the registered statutes allegedly do not authorize them.
That conclusion is too broad without examining individual cases.
The legality of a sanction may depend on:
• The applicable rules.
• The authority of the body imposing it.
• The procedure followed.
• The nature of the alleged violation.
• The available appeal mechanisms.
• The law governing the relevant association and sporting relationship.
Assessment: A lack of authority could provide grounds to challenge particular sanctions. It does not establish that every sanction is automatically void.
C. Anti-doping authority and the ITA
Claim 5: The IFBB lacked authority to delegate anti-doping functions to the International Testing Agency.
Classification: Legal argument, not an established fact.
The author argues that because the registered Spanish statutes allegedly lack anti-doping provisions, the IFBB could not have delegated anti-doping testing and related functions to the ITA.
This argument requires a more detailed examination.
Relevant questions include:
1. What authority did the IFBB possess under its registered statutes and other applicable rules?
2. What obligations did it accept under the applicable anti-doping framework?
3. What agreements or delegations were made with the ITA?
4. Which organization is responsible for each particular anti-doping function?
5. What rules govern the specific athlete or federation concerned?
The ITA's authority to conduct testing or administer anti-doping activities may arise from contractual arrangements, applicable anti-doping rules, and the relevant sporting framework.
Consequently, the alleged absence of an express anti-doping clause in the Spanish statutes does not, without further analysis, establish that the delegation was invalid.
Claim 6: The IFBB altered its publicly available constitution in August 2025 to shift responsibility for anti-doping irregularities.
Classification: Allegation requiring documentary evidence.
The author alleges that provisions concerning the appointment of the President of the Medical Commission were changed on August 20, 2025.
He further alleges that the changes were intended to shift responsibility to Dr. Alfonso Moran and enable the President to dismiss him unilaterally.
Evidence needed:
• Archived copies of the constitution before and after the alleged change.
• Reliable timestamps or other evidence establishing when the changes occurred.
• The relevant minutes or resolutions, if any.
• Evidence supporting the alleged motive.
Even if a change can be demonstrated, the allegation about its purpose remains separate and requires independent evidence.
3. Governance and Elections
A. Composition of governing bodies
Claim 7: The publicly available constitutions provide for governing bodies larger than those authorized by the registered statutes.
Classification: Verifiable documentary allegation.
The letter states that:
• The publicly available IFBB constitution provides for an Executive Council exceeding 25 members.
• The registered IFBB statutes provide for eight members.
• The publicly available EBFF constitution provides for a governing body of approximately 17 members.
• The registered EBFF statutes provide for eight members.
These numbers should be checked against the complete documents.
If confirmed, the discrepancy could raise questions about the legal basis for appointing or electing particular officials.
However, it would still be necessary to establish whether the publicly available documents apply to the same legal entities and whether subsequent amendments or separate organizational structures are relevant.
B. Presidential appointment powers
Claim 8: Santonja appoints officials despite lacking authority under the registered statutes.
Classification: Allegation supported by a potentially verifiable legal question.
The author claims that the registered statutes require governing-body members to be elected by the relevant assembly and do not permit the President to appoint them personally.
If the documents confirm this, particular appointments could be open to challenge.
However, the letter does not identify every contested appointment or provide the resolutions needed to establish the circumstances of each one.
C. General Assembly notices
Claim 9: Members were not given the required 15-day notice and agenda.
Classification: Allegation requiring meeting records and correspondence.
The author states that the registered statutes require members to receive advance notice specifying the date, location, and agenda of General Assembly meetings.
He alleges that the required notice was not provided.
If the relevant statutory provision and the absence of proper notice are established, this could raise a significant question about compliance with the association's rules.
Nevertheless, the further claim that all decisions adopted at those meetings are automatically unlawful requires legal analysis.
The consequences of a procedural defect depend on the applicable law, the seriousness of the defect, and the circumstances of the meeting and the decisions concerned.
D. The November 2, 2026, term-expiry claim
Claim 10: Santonja's and Ralph Decelis's terms expire on November 2, 2026, and they will no longer be legally registered.
Classification: Prediction and legal assertion, not an established fact.
The letter states that their terms expire on November 2, 2026, and predicts that they will no longer be officially recorded in the Spanish Register of Associations.
To verify this, it would be necessary to establish:
• The applicable term limits and commencement dates.
• The relevant election and appointment records.
• The legal effect of the term expiry.
• The procedure for registering changes in the governing bodies.
• Whether the Spanish registry has taken or announced any relevant action.
An approaching term-expiry date does not, by itself, establish that the registry will refuse to record an individual or that the individual's subsequent acts will automatically be invalid.
4. Recognition by Spanish Sports Authorities
Claim 11: The Spanish High Council for Sports does not register the IFBB as a Spanish sports federation.
Classification: Potentially verifiable official fact.
The letter reproduces a purported response from the Spanish High Council for Sports, the Consejo Superior de Deportes (CSD).
According to the quoted response, a search of the relevant register did not identify a Spanish sports federation under the name Federación Internacional de Fitness y Fisicoculturismo or a similar name.
If authentic, this would establish a limited but important point: the authority did not find an entity registered under that name in the specified register at the time of its inquiry.
It would not necessarily establish that:
• The international IFBB does not exist as a legal entity.
• The IFBB cannot organize international competitions.
• The IFBB cannot establish membership requirements for its own events.
• Every IFBB decision is invalid.
• The IFBB has no legal rights or obligations.
Key distinction: Recognition as an official national sports federation is different from registration as a private association and different again from recognition by international sporting bodies.
The letter's legal conclusions must account for these distinctions.
Claim 12: Bodybuilding is not recognized as a sport in Spain.
Classification: Broad legal claim requiring clarification.
The letter uses the alleged absence of an IFBB entity from the CSD register to support the broader assertion that the Spanish authorities do not recognize bodybuilding as a sport.
These are not equivalent propositions.
The absence of a particular federation from a register does not, by itself, prove that a sporting discipline has no legal recognition or status in Spain.
The precise legal status of bodybuilding and the applicable recognition framework would need to be examined separately.
5. IFBB's Relationship with IFBB Inc. in Canada
Claim 13: The Spanish IFBB could not have been the natural successor to IFBB Inc. because the Canadian entity was dissolved in 2015.
Classification: Historical allegation with an incomplete legal argument.
The author claims that:
• The Spanish association was established in 2007.
• It was presented as the successor to IFBB Inc.
• The Canadian entity was not dissolved until June 18, 2015.
• Ben Weider continued to conduct business through IFBB Inc. in 2008.
The letter provides links to company-record websites and a historical webpage.
The dates and corporate records may be independently verifiable.
However, the dissolution date alone does not determine whether the Spanish association could have become a successor in 2007.
That would depend on the legal nature of the succession, the applicable corporate law, the relevant resolutions and agreements, and the meaning of successor in the documents concerned.
The distinction between a legal successor, an organization continuing sporting activities, and an organization claiming historical continuity is particularly important here.
6. Croatian Federation and National Representation
Claim 14: The IFBB unlawfully prevented the Croatian federation's leadership from representing Croatia.
Classification: Allegation requiring evidence from both organizations.
The author alleges that the IFBB refused to recognize the leadership of the Croatian Fitness and Bodybuilding Federation, despite its election in Croatia and confirmation by the Croatian Olympic Committee.
He further alleges that Croatian athletes were prevented from competing under the Croatian national flag and anthem.
Evidence needed:
• The Croatian federation's election records.
• Relevant Croatian Olympic Committee documentation.
• The IFBB's recognition and membership rules.
• Correspondence between the parties.
• Decisions concerning Croatian representation.
• Competition rules and records showing the arrangements imposed on athletes.
Even if the Croatian leadership was lawfully elected under Croatian law, it does not automatically follow that the IFBB was legally required to recognize that leadership for all purposes under its international membership arrangements.
Conversely, the IFBB's internal rules would not automatically exempt it from applicable legal obligations.
The legal question is whether the IFBB's decisions were authorized, procedurally fair, consistent with applicable rules, and lawful under the relevant legal framework.
Claim 15: The IFBB President is attempting to install Filip Dropulić as Croatian federation president.
Classification: Allegation of motive and conduct, currently unverified.
The letter alleges that Rafael Santonja and Ralph Decelis are attempting to install a particular individual as president of the Croatian federation.
It also refers to alleged scandals, unlawful conduct, and court judgments involving that individual.
These claims should not be repeated as established facts without supporting documents.
A responsible assessment would require evidence of the alleged intervention and identification of any relevant court judgments.
7. Disciplinary Proceedings Against Boris Presečki
Claim 16: Santonja initiated a disciplinary proceeding against Presečki after an anonymous email became public in April 2025.
Classification: Specific allegation with potentially verifiable supporting evidence.
The author states that:
• An anonymous email raised allegations of irregularities and anti-doping violations.
• A disciplinary proceeding was initiated against him on the same day the email became public.
• A lifetime ban was sought.
• He submitted an appeal.
• No response had been received for more than a year.
These claims can be checked against correspondence, dated decisions, the appeal submission, and the applicable disciplinary rules.
The sequence of events, if confirmed, could be relevant to assessing procedural fairness.
However, the timing alone would not establish that the proceeding was fabricated or retaliatory.
The absence of a response to the appeal could be significant, but its legal consequences depend on the applicable rules, the appeal body's obligations, and any available remedies.
Important: The letter's account represents the author's version of the events. The IFBB's response and the complete procedural record are not included.
8. Allegations Involving Other National Federations
Claim 17: The IFBB improperly replaced the Georgian federation, sanctioned the Jordanian federation, and lost the Iranian federation to a competing organization.
Classification: Mixed claims requiring separate verification.
The letter refers to:
• A change in the Georgian federation's recognized leadership.
• Sanctions involving the Jordanian federation.
• The Iranian federation's departure from the IFBB and reported move to the World Bodybuilding and Physique Sports Federation (WBPF).
• Changes involving Indian bodybuilding organizations.
The cited announcements may help verify whether organizational changes occurred.
However, the fact that a federation changed affiliation or was sanctioned does not, by itself, demonstrate that the IFBB acted unlawfully.
Each case would need to be examined independently, including the applicable membership rules, decisions, reasons, and procedural history.
These examples may provide context, but they do not establish the central legal argument concerning the Spanish registered statutes.
9. Financial Transparency and Potential Conflicts of Interest
A. EBFF tax identification
Claim 18: The EBFF's tax identification number does not correspond to its status as a registered association.
Classification: Verifiable allegation requiring official tax and registry records.
The letter states that the Spanish Register of Associations does not show an official tax identification number for the EBFF, while invoices issued by the organization display the number V: 83519447.
The author infers that the entity may have an unclear or inconsistent legal status.
To evaluate this claim, the following would be required:
• The official registry extract.
• The entity's tax registration records.
• The relevant invoices.
• Confirmation of the legal entity to which the number belongs.
• An explanation of the Spanish tax identifier's classification and meaning.
The absence of a tax number from a particular association-register extract does not establish that an organization lacks a valid tax identification number or legal personality.
Conclusion: This is a legitimate verification question, but the alleged discrepancy does not yet establish wrongdoing.
B. Annual revenues and financial reporting
Claim 19: The EBFF generates several million euros annually without adequate financial transparency.
Classification: Financial allegation requiring documentary evidence.
The author refers to an official credit report and raises questions about annual revenues and financial reporting.
The letter does not provide the underlying report, financial statements, accounting records, or a detailed reconciliation of revenue and expenditure.
The following should be obtained:
• The credit report and its methodology.
• Annual accounts for the relevant years.
• The entity's accounting and reporting obligations.
• Documents showing which legal entity received the funds.
• Any applicable statutory or regulatory reporting requirements.
An organization's legal reporting obligations depend on its legal form and applicable law.
The absence of public annual accounts does not, by itself, prove a legal violation.
C. Premises and possible related-party transactions
Claim 20: IFBB or EBFF funds may have been used to pay rent benefiting the President's family.
Classification: Serious allegation of a potential conflict of interest, not proven by the letter.
The author states that the organizations have paid rent for premises in Las Rozas and that Santonja's wife owns property in the same area.
He suggests that the rental arrangement may have benefited the President or his family at the organizations' expense.
The letter does not establish that the rented premises are owned by Santonja's wife or a company she controls, nor does it provide the relevant lease agreements or rental amounts.
To substantiate the allegation, evidence would be needed of:
• The actual property owner.
• The contracting parties.
• The lease terms and rental payments.
• The market value of comparable premises.
• The approval process and any disclosure of related-party interests.
• The organizations' accounting treatment of the payments.
Even a related-party transaction would not automatically be improper. The critical questions would include whether it was properly disclosed, authorized, commercially reasonable, and consistent with the applicable duties of the governing body.
10. Academic Title and General Secretary
Claim 21: Rafael Santonja improperly uses the title of doctor.
Classification: Allegation requiring documentary verification.
The letter cites a sports news article concerning Santonja's use of the title.
The allegation should be evaluated using reliable evidence about his academic qualifications, the institution concerned, and the circumstances in which the title was used.
A media report alone is not necessarily sufficient to establish deliberate deception.
Claim 22: William Bill Tierney performed the General Secretary's duties without holding the corresponding registered position.
Classification: Historical allegation requiring records.
The author claims that Jose Ramos Tomas Munoz was listed as General Secretary in the Spanish registry while Tierney actually performed the role.
To verify this, one would need:
• Registry extracts covering the relevant years.
• Appointment and resignation records.
• Minutes of governing-body meetings.
• Evidence of the duties performed by each individual.
• Any applicable delegations of authority.
A discrepancy between a registered officeholder and the person performing administrative work could raise governance questions, but it would not automatically establish that the latter lacked all legal authority.
11. Liability Under Spanish Association Law
The letter refers to Article 15 of Spain's Organic Law 1/2002 on the Right of Association.
It argues that governing-body members may face personal liability for losses caused by fraudulent, intentional, or negligent conduct.
Classification: Legal principle requiring precise application.
The provision is relevant to the responsibilities of association governing bodies. However, the letter's description of liability should not be treated as a complete statement of the law.
In particular, the existence of a board position does not automatically make every board member personally liable for every disputed decision or financial loss.
The relevant legal analysis would need to consider:
• The exact statutory provisions.
• The conduct attributable to each individual.
• The applicable standard of fault.
• The existence and amount of actual damage.
• The causal relationship between the conduct and the damage.
• Any applicable defenses or other legal requirements.
The assertion that all board members must necessarily pay the full amount of every loss from their personal assets is too categorical without examining the circumstances and applicable legal rules.
Similarly, the letter's references to potential multimillion-euro lawsuits and a joint action should be understood as statements of intended legal action, not evidence that liability has already been established.
12. European Union Law and Sports Governance
The letter invokes European legal principles and refers generally to judgments of the European Court of Justice in 2024 and 2025.
Classification: Potentially relevant legal framework, but insufficiently specified.
The letter does not identify the particular judgments, case numbers, or precise legal holdings on which it relies.
That makes it impossible to determine from the letter alone whether those judgments support its conclusions.
European Union law can be relevant to sporting rules, particularly where they affect competition, market access, or other matters within the scope of EU law.
However, it does not follow that every internal sporting decision is automatically governed by every EU principle in the same way.
The analysis must identify:
1. The relevant judgment.
2. The legal rule established by that judgment.
3. The sporting decision being challenged.
4. The connection between that decision and the applicable EU legal framework.
The allegation of discrimination against the Croatian federation also requires evidence that comparable cases were treated differently without an adequate justification.
Assessment: The legal argument may be worth investigating, but the letter does not provide enough detail to establish the alleged violations.
13. Claims About Pending Investigations and Future Consequences
Claim 23: Spanish and international institutions have been alerted to irregularities.
Classification: Assertion about procedural developments, requiring confirmation.
The author states that multiple institutions have been notified.
This could be verified through copies of complaints, acknowledgments of receipt, reference numbers, and official correspondence.
A complaint being submitted does not establish that its allegations are true or that an investigation has confirmed wrongdoing.
Claim 24: Changes to the Spanish Register of Associations will soon be suspended.
Classification: Prediction requiring official evidence.
The letter predicts that the processing of changes to the register will be suspended pending clarification of alleged irregularities.
No formal suspension order or official notice is reproduced in the text.
The prediction should therefore not be presented as an established decision by the Spanish authorities.
Claim 25: A collective lawsuit will be initiated.
Classification: Statement of intent.
The author invites affected parties to contact him regarding a proposed joint claim for compensation.
The letter does not establish that proceedings have been filed, that a court has accepted the case, or that a particular collective-action procedure is available under the applicable law.
The procedural route, standing, jurisdiction, and individual claims would need to be assessed by qualified legal counsel.
14. The Most Important Distinction: What the Evidence Could Actually Prove
The letter sometimes moves directly from a factual allegation to a broad legal conclusion.
The following examples illustrate the difference.
If the evidence establishes… It could support… It would not automatically establish…
The published constitution differs from the registered statutes. Questions about which document governs the Spanish association. That the published document is fraudulent.
The registered statutes do not expressly provide a particular disciplinary power. A challenge to the legal basis for a specific sanction. That every IFBB sanction is void.
The IFBB is not registered as a Spanish national sports federation. A distinction between private-association status and official national-federation recognition. That the IFBB cannot organize international competitions.
A General Assembly did not receive the required notice. A possible procedural challenge to the meeting or its decisions. That every decision is automatically null and void.
A related-party rental agreement exists. A need to examine disclosure, authorization, and commercial terms. That the arrangement constitutes fraud or financial misconduct.
A person is absent from a particular registry extract. A need to check the relevant registration requirements and records. That the person has no authority under any other valid arrangement.
A complaint has been filed with an authority. Confirmation that an allegation was formally submitted. That the authority has confirmed the allegation.
A federation changes its international affiliation. Confirmation of a change in sporting relationships. That the previous federation acted unlawfully.
15. Final Summary: The Strongest and Weakest Parts of the Letter
Strongest points to investigate
1. The alleged discrepancy between the registered statutes and the publicly available constitutions.
This is the central documentary issue. If the documents differ materially, the consequences should be examined under the law governing the relevant legal entities.
2. The legal basis for disciplinary decisions.
Specific sanctions may be challengeable if the decision-maker lacked authority or failed to follow applicable rules and procedures.
3. The validity of governing-body appointments and election procedures.
The registered statutes, meeting notices, minutes, election records, and appointment resolutions could provide objective evidence.
4. The treatment of the Croatian federation.
The Croatian election records, Olympic Committee documentation, IFBB decisions, and correspondence could help establish what happened and which rules applied.
5. Financial governance and potential conflicts of interest.
Lease agreements, accounting records, tax documentation, and related-party disclosures could establish whether there are genuine compliance issues.
Weakest points as currently presented
1. The assertion that all IFBB disciplinary sanctions are illegal.
This is an overly broad conclusion without case-specific legal analysis.
2. The claim that the IFBB cannot conduct or delegate anti-doping activities.
This requires examination of the applicable anti-doping framework and the specific agreements and rules involved.
3. The assertion that the absence of registration as a Spanish sports federation invalidates the IFBB's international activities.
These are distinct legal questions.
4. The allegation that the disputed constitution is deliberately falsified or fraudulent.
A difference between documents does not establish intent to deceive.
5. The claim that the President and all governing-body members will necessarily be personally liable for substantial damages.
Liability must be assessed against the applicable legal requirements and the evidence concerning each person.
6. Predictions about the Spanish registry's future actions.
These should not be presented as confirmed unless supported by official decisions or correspondence.
16. Recommended Next Steps
If the purpose is to prepare a credible legal complaint or communicate with international sports organizations, I would prioritize the following:
1. Obtain certified registry documents for both the IFBB and EBFF, including their complete registered statutes and amendments.
2. Compare the documents article by article against the constitutions published on the organizations' websites.
3. Obtain the records for specific disputed decisions, including disciplinary sanctions, appeals, elections, and governing-body appointments.
4. Verify the CSD's response and establish precisely what it confirms about registration and recognition.
5. Collect financial evidence before making allegations about tax status, revenue, rental arrangements, or conflicts of interest.
6. Identify the specific European court judgments relevant to the claims of arbitrary exclusion or discrimination.
7. Separate each complainant's alleged harm from general criticisms of the organizations, identifying the decision, evidence, applicable rule, and remedy sought.
8. Have a Spanish association-law specialist review the evidence before asserting that particular decisions are void or that named individuals have incurred personal liability.
Overall conclusion
The letter raises several potentially significant questions about organizational governance, the relationship between registered statutes and publicly available constitutions, disciplinary authority, election procedures, and financial accountability.
However, it also contains serious allegations and legal conclusions that cannot be accepted as established merely because the author states them or refers to official documents.
The most defensible approach is to establish the documentary discrepancies first, identify the legal consequences second, and assess individual allegations of misconduct separately.
That approach would produce a stronger, more credible submission than treating all the allegations as proven or asserting that every IFBB decision is automatically illegal.
LITHUANIA'S BODYBUILDING PRIDE OF 2026 – PIOTR SEVCENKO!
Vilnius Bodybuilder Piotr Sevcenko – Absolute World Professional Champion!
Vilnius-based bodybuilder Piotr Sevcenko is an experienced athlete with a long and successful competitive career. Over the years, he has participated in numerous bodybuilding competitions at various levels. His sporting journey began more than 25 years ago, when he first competed in events organized by the worldwide WFF-WBBF federation.
The year 2026 proved to be an exceptional one for Piotr Sevcenko, bringing him outstanding victories and international recognition.
In May, at the 27th International „Universe“ Tournament held in Klaipėda, Lithuania, Piotr Sevcenko won the overall title and earned his WFF-WBBF Professional Card. This achievement opened the doors to the world of professional bodybuilding.
However, his success story did not end there.
In autumn, at the WFF-WBBF World Professional Championship held in the resort town of Nida, Piotr Sevcenko once again demonstrated his outstanding abilities. Displaying exceptional physical conditioning, impressive preparation and outstanding stage presentation, he claimed the overall title of World Professional Champion!
This is a prestigious bodybuilding achievement that athletes from many countries around the world aspire to accomplish. Only one competitor can claim the overall champion's title – the athlete who delivers the best performance.
Piotr Sevcenko’s victory is the result of years of hard work, determination, discipline and dedication to bodybuilding. His sporting journey is an inspiring example of how great ambitions can be achieved through consistent effort and belief in oneself.
Congratulations to Piotr Sevcenko on his outstanding achievements in 2026! We wish him many more victories on the international bodybuilding stage!
For more information about the competitions, results and WFF-WBBF activities, visit the federation's international website: www.wff.lt
WFF-WBBF AND THE GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT OF FIT-KIDS.
From the Historic Initiative of 1999 to an International Sports Movement in 2026
HISTORICAL BEGINNINGS: 1990–1999
The World WFF-WBBF Federation occupies a special place in the history of children's fitness sports. Its activities became one of the important organisational foundations for the development of an international system of children's fitness.
The origins of this process date back to 1990, when the Federation began organising World Aerobic Fitness Championships. These competitions provided the foundation for expanding fitness activities and involving increasingly younger athletes.
In 1999, the WFF-WBBF Federation began systematically developing a separate children's sports division known as "Fit-Kids".
This was a significant milestone in the history of sports organisation. Children's physical fitness, coordination, flexibility, artistic expression and stage performance began to be recognised as an independent sporting discipline requiring specialised preparation and its own competition system.
THE EXPANSION OF AGE CATEGORIES – AN INDICATOR OF SYSTEMATIC SPORTS DEVELOPMENT
One of the most important stages in the development of WFF-WBBF children's fitness was the continuous improvement of its age-category system.
Initially, athletes were divided into several main age groups: up to 6, 8, 10, 12, 14 and 16 years of age.
As the number of participants increased and sporting competition intensified, these categories no longer met all practical requirements. Consequently, the Federation introduced a more detailed system in which athletes were classified by individual years of age, from 6 to 16.
This development had considerable sporting significance.
First, it created opportunities for a fairer assessment of children with different levels of biological and physical development.
Second, it provided more opportunities for children to participate in international competitions and achieve results within their respective age categories.
Third, it established the foundations for a more consistent athlete-development system in which each age group has specific physical preparation and stage-performance requirements.
Thus, the expansion of age categories was not merely an administrative change. It reflected the growing professionalism of children's fitness sports.
A NEW STAGE: THE DEVELOPMENT OF SPECIALISED SPORTS DISCIPLINES
As children's fitness continued to develop, different athletic abilities and interests became increasingly evident among young competitors.
Some children demonstrated outstanding general physical fitness, while others excelled in acrobatic skills, artistic expression, dance technique or the ability to create stage performances.
The WFF-WBBF Federation responded to these developments.
At the initiative of Alexandra Kobielak, Head of the Federation's Children's Division, the classification of sporting disciplines was further developed and expanded.
Five main disciplines emerged:
1. "Fit-Kids" – the principal children's fitness discipline, incorporating physical conditioning, body control, flexibility, coordination and stage performance.
2. "Performance" – a discipline focusing on individual athletic execution, movement quality and performance technique.
3. "Acrobatic" – a discipline demonstrating acrobatic skills, complex movements, flexibility and coordination.
4. "Show" – a combination of sport and artistic performance, emphasising creativity, stage culture and individual expression.
5. "Dance" – an integration of dance technique, musicality, choreography and physical fitness.
This classification demonstrates that children's fitness gradually moved beyond the traditional boundaries of aerobic sports. It developed into a diverse sporting activity combining physical conditioning, coordination, artistic expression and stage performance.
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS – A MEASURE OF INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION
One of the most important indicators of the stability of an international sports movement is the regular organisation of competitions and the historical record of their results.
The list of WFF-WBBF "Fit-Kids" World Championship Overall Champions covers the period from 1999 to 2026.
During this period, championship titles were won by representatives of Lithuania, Poland, Belarus, Russia, Ukraine, Serbia, Slovakia and Hungary.
These results reveal several significant trends.
The first trend – international geographical expansion.
The list of champions demonstrates that success has not been limited to a single country. This indicates that children's fitness competitions have developed into an international arena in which athletes from different countries compete.
The second trend – Lithuania's contribution.
The contribution of Lithuanian athletes is particularly significant. Lithuanian representatives won the Overall World Champion title in 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2022, 2023 and 2024.
This demonstrates the continuity of Lithuanian sporting achievements across different historical periods.
Lithuania's importance in this history is not limited to championship victories. It also reflects the country's participation in the development of international children's fitness.
The third trend – the achievements of Polish athletes.
Polish athletes also occupy a prominent position in the history of Overall Champions. Wiktoria Parkot deserves particular recognition for winning the title in two consecutive years, 2014 and 2015.
In 2025 and 2026, Polish athletes once again claimed the Overall World Champion titles.
The fourth trend – international competitiveness.
Victories by representatives of Belarus, Russia, Ukraine, Serbia, Slovakia and Hungary demonstrate that the history of the World Championships is not the sporting chronicle of just one country. It is a history of competition between different national sporting traditions.
THE CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY OF 1999–2026 – A REFLECTION OF THE SPORTING MOVEMENT
Over the 28 calendar years from the first championship in 1999 to 2026, the list records 28 Overall Champions.
It is particularly important that this period encompasses several distinct stages in the development of children's fitness:
• 1999–2005 – the initial formation of the international movement;
• 2006–2015 – the expansion of international competition and athletic performance;
• 2016–2020 – further geographical and sporting development;
• 2021–2026 – the modern stage of children's fitness sports.
This periodisation makes it possible to view "Fit-Kids" not simply as a series of individual competitions, but as a long-term sporting development process.
CHILDREN'S FITNESS – MORE THAN JUST COMPETITIVE RESULTS
When analysing the development of children's "Fit-Kids", it is important to remember that young athletes' achievements should not be evaluated solely by their World Championship titles.
The significance of this sporting discipline is much broader.
It provides children with opportunities to develop physical abilities, coordination, flexibility, movement skills, discipline and self-confidence.
Participation in international competitions also encourages cultural awareness, communication with peers from different countries and the acquisition of international sporting experience.
At the same time, it is essential to emphasise that children's health, safe training loads, age-appropriate preparation and positive sporting experiences must always remain the highest priorities.
CONCLUSIONS: THE PLACE OF WFF-WBBF IN THE GLOBAL HISTORY OF FIT-KIDS
The development of the children's "Fit-Kids" division by the WFF-WBBF Federation, initiated in 1999, became an important milestone in the organisation of international children's fitness sports.
From the World Aerobic Fitness Championships launched in 1990 to today's specialised system of children's sporting disciplines, a long journey of organisational and athletic development has taken place.
Throughout this period, the age-category system was improved, the diversity of sporting disciplines expanded, international competition traditions were established, and a historical record of World Championship results was accumulated.
A particularly important role in this development belongs to Alexandra Kobielak, whose initiative contributed to the expansion and further classification of children's sporting disciplines.
Lithuania's contribution is equally significant. The victories of Lithuanian athletes across different periods demonstrate the country's prominent position in the history of WFF-WBBF "Fit-Kids" World Championships.
The main historical conclusion: Since 1999, the activities of the WFF-WBBF Federation have provided one of the important organisational foundations for the development of international children's "Fit-Kids" sports.
Today, the championship record covering 1999–2026 represents much more than a list of sporting results. It is a 28-year historical record of an international movement, reflecting the achievements of athletes from different countries and the evolution of children's fitness sports.
Information source: World WFF-WBBF Federation. Official international website: www.wff.lt (Forum sections).
28 YEARS OF FIT-KIDS – A GLOBAL REVOLUTION IN CHILDREN'S SPORT
WFF-WBBF: From the Origins of a Historic Sports Movement to a New Global Era of Children's Fitness
AN INTERNATIONAL SPORTS HISTORY CREATED BY CHILDREN
The World WFF-WBBF Federation is an international sports organisation whose activities began in 1968 and which today brings together members from 141 countries worldwide. Over the decades, the Federation has consistently developed various sports disciplines, while children's sport has remained one of its most important strategic priorities.
Launched 28 years ago, the international „Fit-Kids“ sports movement represents much more than just a sports programme for children today. It is a new philosophy, a new approach to the younger generation and a significant milestone in the development of children's sport worldwide.
WFF-WBBF was among the organisations that recognised early on that children's sport cannot simply be a scaled-down version of adult sport. Children need their own sporting environment, where physical fitness, creativity, music, choreography, acrobatics and stage performance come together as an integrated sports system.
An idea that has developed into an international sports movement over 28 years.
FIT-KIDS – A SPORTS REVOLUTION THAT HAS GONE BEYOND THE BOUNDARIES OF TRADITIONAL SPORT
Having started with a single main discipline, the international „Fit-Kids“ movement is now entering a new stage of development.
At the initiative of Aleksandra Kobielak, Head of the Children's Sports Department of the World WFF-WBBF Federation, the children's fitness concept has been expanded to include several distinct sporting disciplines:
• Fit-Kids Fitness;
• Performance Fitness;
• Show Fitness;
• Acrobatic Fitness;
• Dance Fitness.
Each discipline has its own specific characteristics, but they are all united by a common objective: the comprehensive development of children's physical, artistic and sporting abilities.
Today, Fit-Kids athletes do much more than demonstrate physical fitness. They create sports performances, express their individual talents, develop stage skills and learn the values of sporting discipline.
This is a new generation of sport, where children become not merely competition participants, but creative and independent sporting personalities.
The WFF-WBBF Fit-Kids movement demonstrates that children's sport can be dynamic, diverse and internationally significant.
THE WORLD IS CHANGING – CHILDREN'S SPORT MUST MOVE FORWARD
In today's world, children's physical activity is becoming an increasingly important social issue. Technological development, declining everyday physical activity and the limitations of traditional sports models all demand new solutions.
The Fit-Kids concept developed by the WFF-WBBF Federation offers an alternative approach: sport should be accessible, attractive, creative and adapted to children's needs.
Through the Federation's initiative, children's fitness has moved beyond the boundaries of traditional sport, combining physical activity, art, music, choreography and acrobatics.
This direction reflects a broader trend in international sports development: the need to create new sporting formats capable of engaging younger generations and encouraging long-term physical activity.
Fit-Kids is not a passing trend. It is an international sports concept that has been developing for 28 years.
2027 – HISTORIC INTERNATIONAL WFF-WBBF SPORTS EVENTS IN LITHUANIA
In 2027, Lithuania will become an important international centre for WFF-WBBF sporting events. Competitions held in Klaipėda and Nida will bring together international sporting traditions, global competition and performances by a new generation of athletes.
KLAIPĖDA – THE 60TH AMBER PRIX INTERNATIONAL
On 7–9 May 2027, Klaipėda will host the 31st WFF-WBBF European Amateur and Professional Championships, together with the 60th Amber Prix International tournament.
The 60th edition of the Amber Prix International is a remarkable historical event. Sixty years of tournament history symbolise longstanding sporting traditions, international cooperation and the consistent development of sport.
This is more than just a competition. It is a history created over many years by athletes, coaches, organisers and entire sporting communities.
Klaipėda will become an international meeting point for sport, where tradition meets modern sporting achievements and new directions of development.
NIDA – THE 38TH WFF-WBBF WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
On 5–7 November 2027, Nida will host the 38th WFF-WBBF World Amateur and Professional Championships.
The World Championships are among the most important international events organised by the Federation, bringing together athletes and sports professionals from different countries.
Nida, one of Lithuania's most distinctive resort destinations, will become an international sporting arena showcasing the highest levels of athletic preparation, sporting culture and the achievements of the WFF-WBBF Federation's international activities.
Both major events in 2027 will also have special significance for the development of children's sport, giving young Fit-Kids athletes the opportunity to participate in an international sporting environment.
28 YEARS – AND THIS IS ONLY THE BEGINNING
Over 28 years of developing the international Fit-Kids movement, the WFF-WBBF Federation has established the foundations of a new concept in children's sport.
Today, Fit-Kids is no longer simply an individual sporting discipline. It is a multidirectional international movement combining physical education, sporting excellence, creativity and the discovery of young talent.
The Federation's activities reflect a clear strategic vision: children's sport should not merely be a part of the sporting system, but an independent and promising international sports discipline in its own right.
28 years of Fit-Kids history. 141 countries represented in the international activities of the WFF-WBBF Federation. New sporting disciplines. A new philosophy of children's sport.
This is the WFF-WBBF Federation's contribution to the future of world sport.
The revolution in children's sport is already underway!
More international news, information about sporting events and the activities of the WFF-WBBF Federation: www.wff.lt www.worldfitness.lt
THEY BANNED BODYBUILDING.
HE HELD THE COMPETITIONS ANYWAY.
From illegal competitions in Soviet Lithuania to a Pope’s medal in the Vatican — a story that sounds almost impossible today
1976. Soviet Lithuania.
Bodybuilding was banned.
The authorities did not want it. The system regarded it as something foreign, suspicious and unnecessary.
But someone decided that a ban would not be the final word.
Edmundas Daubaras began organizing bodybuilding competitions.
Public competitions.
At the time — illegal in the eyes of the authorities.
And this is where a story began that, decades later, would lead from Lithuania to Moscow — and ultimately to the Vatican.
NOT IN A GYM. AGAINST THE SYSTEM.
Today, bodybuilding competitions seem completely ordinary.
A stage. Spotlights. Athletes. Judges. Medals.
But in Soviet Lithuania, everything was different.
In 1976–1977, organizing public bodybuilding competitions meant challenging the system.
Athletes wanted to train.
They wanted to compete.
They wanted to demonstrate the results of their work.
And the system said: no.
The answer was simple:
“The competitions will take place anyway.”
And they did.
In Klaipėda, the authorities later permitted bodybuilding competitions to be held.
But that was not the end of the story.
It was only the beginning.
1978. A PETITION — TO MOSCOW
When organizing competitions was no longer enough, an even bolder step was taken.
In 1978, Edmundas Daubaras wrote a petition defending bodybuilding.
And he did not take it to some local authority.
Not to a sports club.
Not to a newspaper editorial office.
He took it to Moscow. To the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union.
It was an attempt to address the system itself.
Directly.
Without intermediaries.
To demand recognition of the right of a sport to exist — a sport to which the system had imposed restrictions.
Today, individual circumstances of that period may be interpreted in different ways. But one fact cannot be denied:
A man living under the Soviet system chose to openly defend something that the system sought to restrict.
DECADES PASSED.
Time changed the world.
The Soviet Union disappeared.
The Iron Curtain fell.
Bodybuilding became an international sport.
And a story that had once been associated with bans and state control eventually reached a completely different place.
The Vatican.
2011. THE VATICAN.
During an official reception for WFF-WBBF leaders at the Vatican, representatives of the Catholic Church were introduced to this history.
They learned about the position of bodybuilding under the communist system.
About the bans.
About the first competitions.
About the petition to Moscow.
About the activities of Edmundas Daubaras.
And then something happened that nobody at the beginning of this story could have predicted.
Cardinal Jozef Tomko described Edmundas Daubaras’s actions toward the communist regime as dissident in nature.
And there was more.
Edmundas Daubaras was awarded a medal of Pope Benedict XVI.
Later, the WFF-WBBF federation received an official letter from the Vatican blessing the federation’s activities.
From illegal competitions in Soviet Lithuania — to the Vatican.
From prohibition — to blessing.
Could there be a more striking historical irony?
60 YEARS. AND ONE EXTRAORDINARY STORY.
Today, WFF-WBBF celebrates its 60th anniversary.
Six decades of sporting history.
But among the countless dates, championships, athletes and titles, there is one story that stands out.
Because it did not begin under comfortable circumstances.
Not in a free country.
Not at a time when everything was permitted.
It began when people had to fight for the very right to organize bodybuilding competitions.
And that is precisely why this story deserves to be remembered.
BECAUSE SOMETIMES A MEDAL IS NOT FOR MUSCLES.
In sports history, medals are usually awarded for victories.
For records.
For championship titles.
But in this story, the medal presented at the Vatican carried an entirely different meaning.
It became a symbolic recognition of the work of a man who began acting at a time when even the right to organize bodybuilding competitions could not be taken for granted.
1976–1977 — illegal competitions.
1978 — petition to Moscow.
2011 — the Vatican.
Medal of Pope Benedict XVI.
Recognition by Cardinal Jozef Tomko.
Official Vatican blessing of WFF-WBBF activities.
That is the journey.
And so, as the federation marks its 60th anniversary, one can say it very simply:
WHEN THE SYSTEM SAID “NO” — SPORT SAID “YES.”
And history remembered it.
