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WHO IN THE U.S.S.R. THOUGHT AND ACTED ON AN INTERNATIONAL LEVEL?
The Role of Personality in Bodybuilding and Life
Human personality is shaped by many factors. One of the most important is the perspective from which a person evaluates events and the scale at which he or she perceives them. When discussing bodybuilding, an athlete, a coach, a sports club manager, and an organizer all view and evaluate the same phenomena differently. Even sports historians, working with the same documents and sources, often arrive at different conclusions.
When assessing the development of bodybuilding, it is important to distinguish between local-level and international-level figures. An international-level specialist must be able to rise above the realities of his era, view processes from a broader perspective, and see the larger picture. Otherwise, it becomes impossible to understand the true causes of events and their consequences.
During the formative years of bodybuilding and throughout the period when the sport was prohibited in the U.S.S.R., there were very few individuals capable of broad strategic thinking. There were also very few organizers. The bodybuilders who participated in international events in the Baltic States generally remained focused on the interests of their own cities, clubs, or regions.
Among them were Yevgeny Koltun of Tyumen in the Russian S.F.S.R., Kaliningrad coach Yuri Smolyakov, U.S.S.R. champion Alexander Lemechov from Severodvinsk, and Leningrad bodybuilder Vladimir Dubinin. In the Latvian S.S.R., a similar role was played by Feliks Sajkovskis, while in the Lithuanian S.S.R. there were essentially no internationally minded bodybuilding leaders at that time. Apart from those mentioned above, almost no active bodybuilding organizers emerged during the years when the sport was prohibited in the Soviet Union.
One exception may be considered Romanas Kalinauskas, General Secretary of the U.S.S.R. Bodybuilding Federation. However, his activities were primarily oriented toward administrative control and state institutions. In seeking to manage processes, he frequently relied on intrigue, conflict, and the pursuit of personal ambitions. Since he spoke no foreign languages, he remained isolated from international bodybuilding developments and was unable to fully comprehend global trends within the sport.
Another exception was Innar Mardo (1946–2002) of the Estonian S.S.R. Nevertheless, his activities were largely confined to Estonia, and he did not seek to influence bodybuilding throughout the entire Soviet Union. The regularly organized international “Georg Tenno Memorial” competitions in Tallinn elevated Innar Mardo above many other Soviet organizers, as there were very few comparable events elsewhere in the U.S.S.R.
A third organizer who can be regarded as operating on an international level was Dr. Edmundas Daubaras. During the years when bodybuilding was banned—1974, 1975, 1976, and 1977—he organized the internationally recognized “Amber Prix” competitions in Klaipėda despite the disapproval of the communist authorities. After years of correspondence with the U.S.S.R. Ministry of Sport, defending the right of bodybuilding to exist, he received only negative responses. Consequently, risking both his own future and that of his family, he prepared a petition in defense of bodybuilding and personally delivered it to Moscow.
The petition was submitted to the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the U.S.S.R., the Supreme Soviet of the U.S.S.R., the Council of Ministers of the U.S.S.R., and the editorial offices of the central newspapers Pravda and Izvestia. The documents were officially registered by these institutions. Some time later, the political authorities permitted the continuation of the Amber Prix competitions in Klaipėda.
Leaders are rarely satisfied with stability. They are distinguished by courage, responsibility, and a willingness to assume risks. They focus on achieving results and seldom consider the possibility of failure. Most people, by contrast, choose the safer role of observers.
This raises an important question: who were the true leaders of Soviet bodybuilding?
Dr. Edmundas Daubaras followed a path similar to that of his long-time international associates—IFBB President Ben Weider, NABBA President Oscar Heidenstam, WABBA President Serge Nubret, and FIHC General Secretary Oscar State. All of them based their activities not on administrative control but on the development of sport, the search for new opportunities, and international cooperation.
The inability to speak foreign languages also limited Innar Mardo’s opportunities. However, Dr. Edmundas Daubaras consistently assisted him in overcoming this barrier. Romanas Kalinauskas, meanwhile, directed all of his efforts toward the Soviet Ministry of Sport and the U.S.S.R. Weightlifting Federation. Yet during the years when bodybuilding was prohibited, little meaningful support could be expected from these institutions.
While studying English and German Philology at Vilnius State University, Edmundas Daubaras attempted to unite sports clubs throughout Vilnius for common purposes. At the time, no one else undertook such an initiative.
It is easy to speak after obstacles have been overcome and development proceeds naturally. However, during the years when bodybuilding faced prohibition and when personal futures were at stake, almost nobody dared openly defend the sport. Only one person assumed that responsibility—Dr. Edmundas Daubaras.
Throughout more than five decades of organizational activity, many individuals sought to become his deputies, successors, or imitators. Yet none achieved comparable results.
Dr. Daubaras’ active and often turbulent work was not welcomed by everyone. Seeking to avoid constant conflicts, he enrolled at Vilnius University for a second time in 1979, having already earned a degree in Germanic Philology, and began studying law.
At approximately the same time, Innar Mardo also faced serious difficulties. Following conflicts and leadership changes within the Estonian bodybuilding federation in 1979, he lost his previous position. Later attempts to return were unsuccessful. According to his letters to Edmundas Daubaras, these events had lasting consequences for his future activities.
Klaipėda has always been distinguished by its independent spirit and unique outlook. During the Lithuanian S.S.R., throughout the Soviet Union, and now internationally, the city has often functioned as an independent cultural and social center. The bodybuilding movement in Klaipėda reflected this same spirit.
Dr. Edmundas Daubaras’ leadership eventually led him to the presidency of the international WFF–WBBF organization. Today, the federation unites national organizations from more than 140 countries around the world. In addition, he participates in the activities of various international organizations, including those cooperating with the United Nations and UNESCO.
As a result of his active international work, Dr. Edmundas Daubaras has met numerous world-renowned politicians, public figures, and representatives of religious organizations.
In 2010, in Portugal, during a convention of the International Order of Knights Templar, he was awarded the St. Nicholas the Wonderworker Medal for promoting ideas aimed at dialogue and cooperation among the world’s religions.
In 2011, an official reception for the President of the WFF–WBBF Federation took place in the Vatican. During the meeting, the federation’s activities and the history of bodybuilding in the Soviet Union were presented to Vatican officials. Cardinal Jozef Tomko, Prefect of the Vatican Congregation, characterized the efforts to defend bodybuilding during the Soviet era as dissident activity directed against the communist regime. In recognition of his contributions to health promotion and the development of professional sport, Dr. Edmundas Daubaras was awarded the Vatican Pontifical Medal.
In subsequent years, he met with parliamentary leaders, prime ministers, ministers, and other senior state officials from various countries across Europe and Asia.
In 2015, during the opening ceremony of an international tournament, Lithuanian Government representative Antanas Vinkus referred to Dr. Edmundas Daubaras as “Lithuania’s Ambassador to the World.”
In 2023, following nominations by organizations cooperating within UNESCO structures, Dr. Edmundas Daubaras was awarded the title of “Ambassador of Peace” and received a commemorative distinction.
In 2024, representatives of Estonian public organizations presented him with the U.R.K. Silver Cross Order at the Parliament of the Republic of Lithuania in recognition of his active public service.
Conclusions
An analysis of the history of bodybuilding in the U.S.S.R. suggests that only a small number of individuals were capable of thinking and acting on an international level. Most remained focused on the concerns of local clubs, cities, or republics, whereas international activity required broader vision, foreign-language skills, the establishment of international contacts, and a willingness to accept personal risk.
During the years when bodybuilding was prohibited, the role of the individual became decisive. When institutions either failed to support the sport or actively opposed its development, responsibility fell upon a handful of determined leaders. Among them, Innar Mardo in Estonia and Dr. Edmundas Daubaras in Lithuania occupied particularly prominent positions.
Dr. Edmundas Daubaras distinguished himself not only through organizational ability but also through a long-term strategic vision. His work extended far beyond the organization of sporting events; it encompassed the defense of bodybuilding at political, social, and international levels.
History demonstrates that the development of sport is most often driven not by institutions but by determined individuals. Their initiative, responsibility, and ability to act under difficult circumstances become the principal forces of progress. Therefore, when discussing the history of bodybuilding in the U.S.S.R., the role of personality remains one of the most important factors that enabled the sport to survive, develop, and ultimately become an international phenomenon.
More information is on international site www.wff.lt
The Role of Personality in Bodybuilding and Life
Human personality is shaped by many factors. One of the most important is the perspective from which a person evaluates events and the scale at which he or she perceives them. When discussing bodybuilding, an athlete, a coach, a sports club manager, and an organizer all view and evaluate the same phenomena differently. Even sports historians, working with the same documents and sources, often arrive at different conclusions.
When assessing the development of bodybuilding, it is important to distinguish between local-level and international-level figures. An international-level specialist must be able to rise above the realities of his era, view processes from a broader perspective, and see the larger picture. Otherwise, it becomes impossible to understand the true causes of events and their consequences.
During the formative years of bodybuilding and throughout the period when the sport was prohibited in the U.S.S.R., there were very few individuals capable of broad strategic thinking. There were also very few organizers. The bodybuilders who participated in international events in the Baltic States generally remained focused on the interests of their own cities, clubs, or regions.
Among them were Yevgeny Koltun of Tyumen in the Russian S.F.S.R., Kaliningrad coach Yuri Smolyakov, U.S.S.R. champion Alexander Lemechov from Severodvinsk, and Leningrad bodybuilder Vladimir Dubinin. In the Latvian S.S.R., a similar role was played by Feliks Sajkovskis, while in the Lithuanian S.S.R. there were essentially no internationally minded bodybuilding leaders at that time. Apart from those mentioned above, almost no active bodybuilding organizers emerged during the years when the sport was prohibited in the Soviet Union.
One exception may be considered Romanas Kalinauskas, General Secretary of the U.S.S.R. Bodybuilding Federation. However, his activities were primarily oriented toward administrative control and state institutions. In seeking to manage processes, he frequently relied on intrigue, conflict, and the pursuit of personal ambitions. Since he spoke no foreign languages, he remained isolated from international bodybuilding developments and was unable to fully comprehend global trends within the sport.
Another exception was Innar Mardo (1946–2002) of the Estonian S.S.R. Nevertheless, his activities were largely confined to Estonia, and he did not seek to influence bodybuilding throughout the entire Soviet Union. The regularly organized international “Georg Tenno Memorial” competitions in Tallinn elevated Innar Mardo above many other Soviet organizers, as there were very few comparable events elsewhere in the U.S.S.R.
A third organizer who can be regarded as operating on an international level was Dr. Edmundas Daubaras. During the years when bodybuilding was banned—1974, 1975, 1976, and 1977—he organized the internationally recognized “Amber Prix” competitions in Klaipėda despite the disapproval of the communist authorities. After years of correspondence with the U.S.S.R. Ministry of Sport, defending the right of bodybuilding to exist, he received only negative responses. Consequently, risking both his own future and that of his family, he prepared a petition in defense of bodybuilding and personally delivered it to Moscow.
The petition was submitted to the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the U.S.S.R., the Supreme Soviet of the U.S.S.R., the Council of Ministers of the U.S.S.R., and the editorial offices of the central newspapers Pravda and Izvestia. The documents were officially registered by these institutions. Some time later, the political authorities permitted the continuation of the Amber Prix competitions in Klaipėda.
Leaders are rarely satisfied with stability. They are distinguished by courage, responsibility, and a willingness to assume risks. They focus on achieving results and seldom consider the possibility of failure. Most people, by contrast, choose the safer role of observers.
This raises an important question: who were the true leaders of Soviet bodybuilding?
Dr. Edmundas Daubaras followed a path similar to that of his long-time international associates—IFBB President Ben Weider, NABBA President Oscar Heidenstam, WABBA President Serge Nubret, and FIHC General Secretary Oscar State. All of them based their activities not on administrative control but on the development of sport, the search for new opportunities, and international cooperation.
The inability to speak foreign languages also limited Innar Mardo’s opportunities. However, Dr. Edmundas Daubaras consistently assisted him in overcoming this barrier. Romanas Kalinauskas, meanwhile, directed all of his efforts toward the Soviet Ministry of Sport and the U.S.S.R. Weightlifting Federation. Yet during the years when bodybuilding was prohibited, little meaningful support could be expected from these institutions.
While studying English and German Philology at Vilnius State University, Edmundas Daubaras attempted to unite sports clubs throughout Vilnius for common purposes. At the time, no one else undertook such an initiative.
It is easy to speak after obstacles have been overcome and development proceeds naturally. However, during the years when bodybuilding faced prohibition and when personal futures were at stake, almost nobody dared openly defend the sport. Only one person assumed that responsibility—Dr. Edmundas Daubaras.
Throughout more than five decades of organizational activity, many individuals sought to become his deputies, successors, or imitators. Yet none achieved comparable results.
Dr. Daubaras’ active and often turbulent work was not welcomed by everyone. Seeking to avoid constant conflicts, he enrolled at Vilnius University for a second time in 1979, having already earned a degree in Germanic Philology, and began studying law.
At approximately the same time, Innar Mardo also faced serious difficulties. Following conflicts and leadership changes within the Estonian bodybuilding federation in 1979, he lost his previous position. Later attempts to return were unsuccessful. According to his letters to Edmundas Daubaras, these events had lasting consequences for his future activities.
Klaipėda has always been distinguished by its independent spirit and unique outlook. During the Lithuanian S.S.R., throughout the Soviet Union, and now internationally, the city has often functioned as an independent cultural and social center. The bodybuilding movement in Klaipėda reflected this same spirit.
Dr. Edmundas Daubaras’ leadership eventually led him to the presidency of the international WFF–WBBF organization. Today, the federation unites national organizations from more than 140 countries around the world. In addition, he participates in the activities of various international organizations, including those cooperating with the United Nations and UNESCO.
As a result of his active international work, Dr. Edmundas Daubaras has met numerous world-renowned politicians, public figures, and representatives of religious organizations.
In 2010, in Portugal, during a convention of the International Order of Knights Templar, he was awarded the St. Nicholas the Wonderworker Medal for promoting ideas aimed at dialogue and cooperation among the world’s religions.
In 2011, an official reception for the President of the WFF–WBBF Federation took place in the Vatican. During the meeting, the federation’s activities and the history of bodybuilding in the Soviet Union were presented to Vatican officials. Cardinal Jozef Tomko, Prefect of the Vatican Congregation, characterized the efforts to defend bodybuilding during the Soviet era as dissident activity directed against the communist regime. In recognition of his contributions to health promotion and the development of professional sport, Dr. Edmundas Daubaras was awarded the Vatican Pontifical Medal.
In subsequent years, he met with parliamentary leaders, prime ministers, ministers, and other senior state officials from various countries across Europe and Asia.
In 2015, during the opening ceremony of an international tournament, Lithuanian Government representative Antanas Vinkus referred to Dr. Edmundas Daubaras as “Lithuania’s Ambassador to the World.”
In 2023, following nominations by organizations cooperating within UNESCO structures, Dr. Edmundas Daubaras was awarded the title of “Ambassador of Peace” and received a commemorative distinction.
In 2024, representatives of Estonian public organizations presented him with the U.R.K. Silver Cross Order at the Parliament of the Republic of Lithuania in recognition of his active public service.
Conclusions
An analysis of the history of bodybuilding in the U.S.S.R. suggests that only a small number of individuals were capable of thinking and acting on an international level. Most remained focused on the concerns of local clubs, cities, or republics, whereas international activity required broader vision, foreign-language skills, the establishment of international contacts, and a willingness to accept personal risk.
During the years when bodybuilding was prohibited, the role of the individual became decisive. When institutions either failed to support the sport or actively opposed its development, responsibility fell upon a handful of determined leaders. Among them, Innar Mardo in Estonia and Dr. Edmundas Daubaras in Lithuania occupied particularly prominent positions.
Dr. Edmundas Daubaras distinguished himself not only through organizational ability but also through a long-term strategic vision. His work extended far beyond the organization of sporting events; it encompassed the defense of bodybuilding at political, social, and international levels.
History demonstrates that the development of sport is most often driven not by institutions but by determined individuals. Their initiative, responsibility, and ability to act under difficult circumstances become the principal forces of progress. Therefore, when discussing the history of bodybuilding in the U.S.S.R., the role of personality remains one of the most important factors that enabled the sport to survive, develop, and ultimately become an international phenomenon.
More information is on international site www.wff.lt