03-14-2026, 08:56 AM
WORLD BODYBUILDING ENCYCLOPEDIA.
SOCIALIST BODYBUILDING HISTORY IN ONE PAGE.
Much time passed away since bodybuilding appeared at the Socialist Countries in 1959. Looking through this period of time is evident who was who in Socialist bodybuilding. It is evident through the real works done of the persons who played important role and who did not. Many „Old School Bodybuilders“ today create their stories which are fare away from the truth. Many athletes name themselves as the „U.S.S.R. Bodybuilding Champions“ – like Russian IGOR PETRUCHIN (Игорь Петрухин), Lithuanian ARVYDAS MILVYDAS, Ukrainian VALERIJ LUCAK (Валерий Луцак). But they are not in real because any of them never participated at the „U.S.S.R. Bodybuilding Championship“. Though there were only five „U.S.S.R. Bodybuilding Championships“ – in 1971, 1972, 1989, 1990 and in 1991. Many name themselves as being important personalities in bodybuilding but they were not. Though as many will not like it but we will speak shortly about these problematic historic questions soon.
SOCIALIST BODYBUILDING UNTIL PROHIBITION.
We will list main events until bodybuilding was prohibited in Socialist Countries in 1973.
- In 1959 in Warszawa (People‘s Republic of Poland) a member of the International Olympic Committee (I.O.C.) International Weightlifting Federation F.I.H.C. (Fédération Internationale Haltérophile et Culturiste) organized World Weightlifting Championship. Traditionally F.I.H.C. organized bodybuilding „Universe“ contest too. Due to F.I.H.C. bodybuilding was an officially recognized sport at that time. In 1959 Socialist World first time saw live bodybuilders.
- First famous Socialist bodybuilding organizers were weightlifters ROMAN MOROZ (Роман Мороз), GENADIJ BALDIN (Геннадий Балдин), GEORG TENNO.
- Due to efforts of American BOB HOFFMAN (Robert Collins Hoffman, 1898 – 1985) at the „U.S.S.R. Weightlifting federation“ (Comission, «Федерация культуризма С.С.С.Р.») was created in 1963. That was the first International Bodybuilding Organization in the Socialist World. The Chairman of the federation was ROMAN MOROZ. There were no bodybuilders in the U.S.S.R. at that time and this unit did not work.
- In 1968 during an International contest in Kaunas (Lithuanian SSR) a new one „U.S.S.R. Bodybuilding Federation“ (Committee) was created. The Council Members of this International Organization were Russian weightlifters ROMAN MOROZ, GENADIJ BALDIN, VLADIMIR PETROV (Владимир Петров) and Lithuanians VYTAUTAS ZUMERIS and VALERIJ KORESKOV (Валерий Корешков). Later at the Parliament Republic Lithuania VYTAUTAS ZUMERIS, VALERIJ KORESKOV and GENADIJ BALDIN were awarded with the W.F.F. – W.B.B.F. (World Fitness Federation, World Bodybuilding Federation) „International Honour Silver Medal“.
- In 1966 the first in Socialist sport history International bodybuilding contest was organized in Vilnius (Lithuanian SSR).
- Until bodybuilding prohibition a number of National and International contests were organized in the Socialist countries. Among them one of the oldest bodybuilding competitions in the World – the „Amber Prix Onternational“ („Gintarinis prizas“, «Янтарный приз», 1968 – 2026).
- In 1971 and in 1972 the Official „U.S.S.R. Bodybuilding Championships“ («Чемпионат С.С.С.Р. по культуризму») were held in Russia.
Follow International Page www.wff.lt.
SOCIALIST BODYBUILDING HISTORY IN ONE PAGE.
Much time passed away since bodybuilding appeared at the Socialist Countries in 1959. Looking through this period of time is evident who was who in Socialist bodybuilding. It is evident through the real works done of the persons who played important role and who did not. Many „Old School Bodybuilders“ today create their stories which are fare away from the truth. Many athletes name themselves as the „U.S.S.R. Bodybuilding Champions“ – like Russian IGOR PETRUCHIN (Игорь Петрухин), Lithuanian ARVYDAS MILVYDAS, Ukrainian VALERIJ LUCAK (Валерий Луцак). But they are not in real because any of them never participated at the „U.S.S.R. Bodybuilding Championship“. Though there were only five „U.S.S.R. Bodybuilding Championships“ – in 1971, 1972, 1989, 1990 and in 1991. Many name themselves as being important personalities in bodybuilding but they were not. Though as many will not like it but we will speak shortly about these problematic historic questions soon.
SOCIALIST BODYBUILDING UNTIL PROHIBITION.
We will list main events until bodybuilding was prohibited in Socialist Countries in 1973.
- In 1959 in Warszawa (People‘s Republic of Poland) a member of the International Olympic Committee (I.O.C.) International Weightlifting Federation F.I.H.C. (Fédération Internationale Haltérophile et Culturiste) organized World Weightlifting Championship. Traditionally F.I.H.C. organized bodybuilding „Universe“ contest too. Due to F.I.H.C. bodybuilding was an officially recognized sport at that time. In 1959 Socialist World first time saw live bodybuilders.
- First famous Socialist bodybuilding organizers were weightlifters ROMAN MOROZ (Роман Мороз), GENADIJ BALDIN (Геннадий Балдин), GEORG TENNO.
- Due to efforts of American BOB HOFFMAN (Robert Collins Hoffman, 1898 – 1985) at the „U.S.S.R. Weightlifting federation“ (Comission, «Федерация культуризма С.С.С.Р.») was created in 1963. That was the first International Bodybuilding Organization in the Socialist World. The Chairman of the federation was ROMAN MOROZ. There were no bodybuilders in the U.S.S.R. at that time and this unit did not work.
- In 1968 during an International contest in Kaunas (Lithuanian SSR) a new one „U.S.S.R. Bodybuilding Federation“ (Committee) was created. The Council Members of this International Organization were Russian weightlifters ROMAN MOROZ, GENADIJ BALDIN, VLADIMIR PETROV (Владимир Петров) and Lithuanians VYTAUTAS ZUMERIS and VALERIJ KORESKOV (Валерий Корешков). Later at the Parliament Republic Lithuania VYTAUTAS ZUMERIS, VALERIJ KORESKOV and GENADIJ BALDIN were awarded with the W.F.F. – W.B.B.F. (World Fitness Federation, World Bodybuilding Federation) „International Honour Silver Medal“.
- In 1966 the first in Socialist sport history International bodybuilding contest was organized in Vilnius (Lithuanian SSR).
- Until bodybuilding prohibition a number of National and International contests were organized in the Socialist countries. Among them one of the oldest bodybuilding competitions in the World – the „Amber Prix Onternational“ („Gintarinis prizas“, «Янтарный приз», 1968 – 2026).
- In 1971 and in 1972 the Official „U.S.S.R. Bodybuilding Championships“ («Чемпионат С.С.С.Р. по культуризму») were held in Russia.
Follow International Page www.wff.lt.