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

“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.

THE HISTORY OF WOMEN AT THE “AMBER PRIX”: A 60-YEAR JOURNEY FROM LITHUANIA TO THE WORLD STAGE.

The “Amber Prix International” is not simply a bodybuilding competition. It is a living part of the history of international bodybuilding, a competition whose roots go back decades and whose name has become closely associated with Klaipėda and Lithuania.

In 2027, the “Amber Prix International” in Klaipėda will celebrate its 60th anniversary. According to the historical information of the World Fitness Federation (W.F.F. International / W.F.F.–W.B.B.F.), it is one of the three oldest traditional competitions of its kind in the world.

The history of the women’s competition emerged later than the men’s, but it developed its own remarkable tradition. The list of champions reveals much more than a collection of names and years. It reflects the changing geography of women’s bodybuilding, the rise and decline of different national sports schools, and the growing international importance of the competition.

THE LITHUANIAN ERA OF THE “AMBER PRIX”

Looking at the history of the women’s “Amber Prix International” champions, one fact immediately stands out: Lithuania occupies a unique place in the competition’s history.

The 1990s were particularly significant. Among the championship years listed for that decade, Lithuanian athletes won every one: Natalia Murnikovičienė in 1990 and 1991, Idalija Kaminskaitė in 1994 and 1996, and Simona Misevičienė in 1997, 1998 and 1999.

This was not an isolated success. It was an entire era.

The Lithuanian victories of that period demonstrate that the country was not merely participating in the international bodybuilding movement. Lithuanian athletes were setting the standard and establishing a tradition that would remain visible for decades.

The names of those champions have therefore become part of the historical identity of the “Amber Prix”.

LITHUANIA’S FOOTPRINT — THE LARGEST

In the championship list covering the period from 1990 to 2026, Lithuanian athletes account for 11 championship victories, the highest total of any country represented.

The Lithuanian champions include Natalia Murnikovičienė, Idalija Kaminskaitė, Simona Misevičienė, Lilija Degutienė, Jolanta Mileriūtė, Aleksandra Sorokina-Kukres and Vilma Povilionienė.

This continuity is particularly important.

A competition can become historically significant not only because of its age, but because generations of athletes repeatedly return to its history. The Lithuanian connection to the “Amber Prix” is precisely such a phenomenon.

The competition was held in Klaipėda, but its champions gradually turned its name into an international reference point.

FROM LITHUANIAN DOMINANCE TO INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION

The history of the women’s “Amber Prix” also reflects a broader transformation in the sport.

During the early period represented in the available list, Lithuania played a dominant role. Later, the competitive geography expanded.

Russia, Latvia, Belarus and Argentina became important forces. Athletes from Israel, Cyprus, India, Finland, Poland and Denmark subsequently joined the list of champions.

This evolution is significant because it demonstrates that the “Amber Prix” did not remain a regional competition.

Its champions increasingly represented different continents, different training traditions and different generations of athletes.

The competition’s geography was changing — and with it, the meaning of the title itself.

THE ARGENTINIAN PHENOMENON

One of the most impressive individual stories belongs to Yamila Vanessa Toledo of Argentina.

She won the “Amber Prix” four times — in 2008, 2011, 2013 and 2016.

No other athlete in the supplied championship list has more victories.

Toledo’s achievements represent something larger than individual success. They demonstrate the extent to which the “Amber Prix” had become attractive to athletes from outside Europe.

Argentina’s presence in the history of the competition is particularly striking. Argentine athletes won five listed championships, making the country one of the most successful nations in the women’s history of the event.

Toledo’s four victories form a separate chapter within that story.

RUSSIA AND LATVIA — MAJOR BODYBUILDING SCHOOLS

Russia and Latvia also occupy an important position in the history of the women’s “Amber Prix”.

Russian champions include Viktoria Glagoleva, Svetlana Pugacheva, Olga Jakovleva, Vera Vlasova and Marina Vlasova.

Latvia produced champions such as Marina Burinskaja, Svetlana Borisova, Alina Isidorova and Jelena Ivanova.

Together, these results demonstrate the strength of the Eastern European bodybuilding tradition.

The “Amber Prix” became one of the places where different national schools could meet and compete directly. Its champions therefore provide an interesting map of the development of women’s bodybuilding across the region.

THE “AMBER PRIX” OPENS TO THE WORLD

The later history becomes increasingly international.

India appears in the championship list through Moumita Mazumder, who won in 2019.

Finland entered the list through Hanna Skytta, who won two consecutive titles in 2020 and 2021.

Poland followed with Anna Sobolewska-Kucharska in 2022 and Olga Bogacz in 2025.

Cyprus was represented by Halina Halavei in 2017, while Israel entered the list through Jelena Frenkel in 2007.

Argentina had already established a strong presence, while Lithuania, Latvia, Russia and Belarus continued to contribute champions.

The result is a remarkable geographical expansion.

The women’s “Amber Prix” champion list now represents 11 countries: Lithuania, Latvia, Russia, Belarus, Argentina, Israel, Cyprus, India, Finland, Poland and Denmark.

That is a substantial international footprint for a competition whose roots are firmly connected to Klaipėda.

THE LAST DECADE — A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT PICTURE

The period from 2020 to 2026 reveals perhaps the clearest sign of the competition’s international evolution.

In seven listed championship years, the title was shared among athletes from five different countries.

Finland won in 2020 and 2021. Poland followed in 2022. Lithuania returned to the top in 2023 with Vilma Povilionienė. Latvia took the title in 2024 through Jelena Ivanova. Poland returned to the top in 2025 with Olga Bogacz.

Then came Denmark.

This succession demonstrates that the modern “Amber Prix” is no longer dominated by one national school.

The competition has entered a period in which the title can move rapidly from one country to another.

That makes every new victory more difficult — and potentially more valuable.

DENMARK’S VICTORY — A NEW PAGE IN HISTORY

The 2026 victory of Jasmin Norgard of Denmark is historically significant.

Denmark had not previously appeared among the women’s champions in the supplied “Amber Prix” history.

Norgard therefore became the first Danish woman to claim the title.

This is precisely how sporting history expands: one victory adds not merely another name, but an entire country to the competition’s historical map.

And it happened immediately before the 60th anniversary.

That gives the 2026 result additional symbolic significance.

CHAMPIONSHIP DYNASTIES

The “Amber Prix” history is also a history of individual dynasties.

Yamila Vanessa Toledo’s four victories stand at the top of the supplied list.

Simona Misevicienė created another remarkable chapter by winning three consecutive titles in 1997, 1998 and 1999.

Natalia Murnikovičienė won two consecutive championships in 1990 and 1991.

Idalija Kaminskaitė also returned to the top twice, in 1994 and 1996.

Hanna Skytta repeated the achievement in 2020 and 2021.

These repeated victories are important because they reveal something that statistics alone cannot fully explain: the ability of an athlete to remain competitive across different editions of an international event.

Winning once is an achievement.

Returning and winning again is evidence of sustained excellence.

THE NUMBERS THAT TELL THE STORY

The championship list contains 39 listed title entries from 1990 through 2026, with 35 different champion athletes representing 11 countries.

Lithuania leads with 11 victories.

Argentina and Russia follow with five each, while Latvia has four.

Finland, Poland and Belarus have two victories each.

Denmark, Israel, Cyprus and India have one victory apiece.

These numbers show a clear historical transformation.

At first, the “Amber Prix” was strongly associated with Lithuania and the wider Eastern European bodybuilding tradition.

Over time, the competition became increasingly international.

Today, its history connects Klaipėda with athletes from Europe, Asia and South America.

There is, however, one important archival detail: the supplied historical list does not contain entries for 1992 and 1993. Therefore, statistical conclusions should be understood as applying to the championship entries provided in the historical list, rather than as a claim that no competition or champion existed in those years.

WOMEN’S SPORTING HISTORY IS NOT AN APPENDIX — IT HAS ITS OWN VALUE

The women’s history of the “Amber Prix” deserves to be viewed independently.

It is not simply a supplement to the men’s competition.

Women’s bodybuilding has undergone its own development, its own international expansion and its own generational changes.

The champions listed in the history represent different periods of the sport — from the Lithuanian dominance of the 1990s to the increasingly global competition of the 21st century.

Their victories demonstrate how women’s bodybuilding developed from a more concentrated regional tradition into a genuinely international discipline.

The “Amber Prix” became part of that process.

2027 — MORE THAN AN ANNIVERSARY

The 60th anniversary in 2027 should therefore be viewed as more than a ceremonial date.

It is an opportunity to look back at the entire historical journey of the competition.

From the first decades of the event to the emergence of women’s bodybuilding, from Lithuanian champions to athletes from Argentina, Finland, India, Poland and Denmark — the “Amber Prix” tells a story of international sport through individual champions.

The anniversary also provides an opportunity to preserve historical records, recognize former champions and remind a new generation of athletes that they are entering a competition with a remarkable legacy.

Few competitions can claim six decades of continuity.

Even fewer can demonstrate such a broad international evolution through their list of champions.

KLAIPĖDA HAS EVERY REASON TO BE PROUD

The most important element of the “Amber Prix” story may be the place where it has been rooted for decades.

Klaipėda.

A competition can travel through time, its champions can come from different continents, and the sport itself can change dramatically.

But the historical address remains.

Klaipėda is not simply the location where the “Amber Prix” was held.

It is part of its identity.

The women’s championship history proves that the competition has grown far beyond its original geographical boundaries. What began as a Lithuanian sporting tradition has become an international platform whose champions now represent 11 countries.

And that is perhaps the strongest argument for the significance of the 60th anniversary.

In 2027, Klaipėda will not simply celebrate another edition of a bodybuilding competition.

It will celebrate 60 years of sporting history.

Sixty years of champions.

Sixty years of changing generations.

Sixty years of Lithuania’s connection with international bodybuilding.

And, above all, six decades of a competition whose name — “Amber Prix International” — has become part of the history of the sport itself.

“Amber Prix” Today – 60 Years of History, a Legacy Far Greater Than Bodybuilding.

There are sporting competitions. There are tournaments. And then there are phenomena that, over time, become history. The “Amber Prix” belongs to the latter category.

In May 2027, Klaipėda will host the 60th historic “Amber Prix” tournament. This will be neither an ordinary bodybuilding competition nor simply an anniversary event.

It will be a moment in a six-decade-long history.

In terms of longevity, few bodybuilding events in the world can rival the “Amber Prix.” Only the NABBA “Universe,” first held in 1950, and Joe Weider’s “Olympia,” launched in 1965, have somewhat older traditions.

Yet longevity alone does not explain why the “Amber Prix” matters.

What matters most is what has happened around it during those six decades.

What is often misunderstood today

Some athletes of earlier generations, coaches, and people who were in one way or another connected with the historic “Amber Prix” tournament still remember it as it was in their youth.

To them, the “Amber Prix” was, is, and remains simply a bodybuilding competition.

But this is precisely where the fundamental misunderstanding lies.

Over six decades, almost everything has changed: countries, political systems, sports organizations, international relations, the concept of bodybuilding, the geographical reach of competitions, and the scale of the event itself.

Thousands of athletes from different countries and continents have participated in the history of the “Amber Prix.” They left Klaipėda, but they also took with them knowledge of Lithuania, of the tournament, of its organizational culture and its traditions.

The “Amber Prix” traveled with the people who took part in it.

Its history spread far beyond Klaipėda and Lithuania.

Therefore, today it is no longer possible to speak of the “Amber Prix” as just another bodybuilding competition.

It is an international sporting phenomenon that has endured for more than half a century.

1978 – Breaking Through the Wall

There are dates in this history that deserve to be recorded in the history of Lithuanian sport.

One of them is 1978.

Thanks to a petition by Dr. Edmundas Daubaras, presented in Moscow to the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, the exclusive right to organize bodybuilding competitions in Klaipėda was secured.

Today, this might look like a formal administrative decision.

At the time, it was something entirely different.

The position of bodybuilding within the Soviet sports system was complicated. Therefore, the opportunity to organize competitions of this kind in Klaipėda meant more than sporting freedom.

It created an opportunity to build.

To build a tradition.
To build international relationships.
To build Lithuania’s sporting authority.

And this is where the true historical significance of the “Amber Prix” begins.

1986 – Thinking Not About One Competition, but About an Entire Sport

In 1986, at the initiative of Dr. Edmundas Daubaras, a decision was made during the “Amber Prix” tournament in Klaipėda to establish the USSR Bodybuilding Federation in 1987 and seek official recognition of bodybuilding as a sport.

This was a crucial moment.

Why?

Because the “Amber Prix” was no longer limited to a stage, judges and medals.

The future of the entire sport was being discussed and shaped there.

The tournament became a place where not only athletes, but also people capable of influencing the development of the sport, could meet.

It was no longer simply a competition.

It had become a platform.

1988–1991 – An Attempt to Bring Lithuania into the World

Another historic stage came between 1988 and 1991.

Building on the international experience and connections accumulated through the “Amber Prix” tournaments, Dr. Edmundas Daubaras conducted negotiations with IFBB President Ben Weider regarding Lithuania’s independent admission and participation in IFBB activities, bypassing the USSR Bodybuilding Federation.

Ben Weider did not support this possibility and maintained the Moscow position.

But history is not measured only by what was ultimately achieved.

Sometimes, what people attempted before their time is equally important.

Lithuanian sports leaders were already thinking about an independent place for Lithuania in the international bodybuilding community.

This was a period when political reality still restricted possibilities, while the ambitions of sportspeople had already gone beyond the borders of the USSR.

Independence – and the First Signs of International Recognition

After the restoration of Lithuania’s independence, this work gained entirely new momentum.

With the support of the Ministry of Sports of the Republic of Lithuania and personally Minister Algirdas Raslanas, the first national bodybuilding organization in independent Lithuania – LNKA – was registered.

Under the leadership of Dr. Edmundas Daubaras, the first gold medals were brought to Lithuania from France. They were awarded by the international NABBA organization to “Amber Prix” champions Natalija Murnikovienė and Rolandas Bučinskas.

Recognition documents from the international NABBA organization were also obtained from the Republic of Lithuania and the Lithuanian National Olympic Committee.

This was a symbolic yet very important turning point: Lithuanian bodybuilding was leaving the Soviet sphere and beginning to establish its own international identity.

When Lithuania Became Not a Spectator, but a Host

In 1996, 1997 and 1998, under the leadership of Dr. Edmundas Daubaras, European Championships were organized in Klaipėda, Vilnius and Palanga with state support and financing. Events were televised by “Eurosport”.

In 1998, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007, World Championships were held in Palanga and Vilnius.

The organizing committees were chaired by the highest-ranking representatives of the Republic of Lithuania.

This fact is highly significant.

Lithuania was no longer merely sending athletes into the world. The world was beginning to come to Lithuania.

And this is one of the most important achievements in the history of the “Amber Prize.”

Klaipėda, Palanga and Vilnius became venues for major international bodybuilding events.

Foreign delegations were received at the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania. International press conferences were held at the ELTA news agency.

This was no longer just sport.

It was Lithuania representing itself to the international community through sport.

2007 – Recognition by the State

In 2007, the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania decided that the 40th anniversary “Amber Prix” tournament in Klaipėda would receive a separate line of funding from the national state budget.

Today, viewed from a historical distance, this should be understood as one of the clearest signs of state recognition.

The international stature of the event was further emphasized by an extraordinary gesture.

Professor Alfred Gerstl, President of the Austrian Parliament, sent to Klaipėda an authentic collection of photographs of Arnold Schwarzenegger, Governor of California, as well as a film about his life.

The collection was displayed to participants and spectators, while the film was shown before the competition.

Arnold Schwarzenegger’s name became a symbolic bridge between the history of world bodybuilding and Klaipėda.

When CNN Reported on Klaipėda

Another symbolic moment came with the 50th anniversary of the “Amber Prix.”

Global CNN television broadcast a report about the tournament from Klaipėda to billions of viewers around the world.

The significance of this fact should not be underestimated.

A bodybuilding event taking place in Klaipėda had become an object of attention for global television media.

This meant that the “Amber Prix” had already moved beyond Lithuania’s information space.

Its name had reached a worldwide audience.

Therefore, 2027 Is Not Just Another Anniversary

We are now approaching a new historic milestone.

In May 2027, Klaipėda will host the 60th “Amber Prix” tournament.

Preparations have already been underway since 2025.

This is not simply another event on the calendar.

It is an opportunity to reassess what has been built over six decades.

A particularly solemn international event is being planned, with prominent guests from Lithuania and abroad to be invited.

To mark the 60th anniversary, a unique historical book will also be published, telling the story of the “Amber Prix” against the broader background of events in Lithuania, Europe and the world.

And this is extremely important.

History must not only be remembered. History must be recorded.

Because what is not recorded can be lost after a few generations.

Sixty Years Is Not Just a Number

Sixty years means six decades during which the world has changed beyond recognition.

Countries have changed.
One political system collapsed.
Independent Lithuania was restored.
International sports organizations evolved.
Bodybuilding itself changed.
Generations changed.

And the “Amber Prix” remained.

Therefore, today its significance cannot be measured merely by medals, champions’ names or competition results.

Its true scale must be measured by the people it brought together.

By the countries with which it established connections.

By the international events it helped create.

By the Lithuanian name it carried into the world.

And, above all, by the fact that a bodybuilding tradition born in Klaipėda survived changing eras and became part of international sporting history.

The Main Conclusion

Therefore, the 60th “Amber Prix” tournament in 2027 should not be understood as a beautiful remembrance of the past.

This is not an event of nostalgia.

It is an event of historical continuity.

It must demonstrate that what was created decades ago can not only be remembered today, but also carried forward.

And this is where the greatest value of the “Amber Prix” lies.

It has survived eras.

It has outlived political systems.

It has crossed national borders.

It has grown from a sporting event in one city into an international phenomenon.

Therefore, in May 2027, Klaipėda will not merely celebrate 60 years of bodybuilding competitions.

It will celebrate a part of Lithuania’s sporting history.

It will celebrate the history of Klaipėda.

It will celebrate the history of the people who built this tradition over decades.

And it will look toward the future.

Because a true tradition is not simply what remains in the past.

A true tradition is what passes from the past into the future.

And the history of the “Amber Prix” is certainly not over.

2027 should mark not the closing of a chapter in history, but the beginning of a new one.

“Amber Prix” 2026

In 2026, the international political and economic situation remained tense. Armed conflicts continued in various parts of the world, prices fluctuated, and public concern and uncertainty persisted. For various reasons, not all athletes who wished to participate in the traditional international “Amber Prix” contest in Klaipeda had the opportunity to attend.

Despite these challenges, active preparations for the upcoming 60th Jubilee “Amber Prix” began at the very start of the year. Dedicated organizers and supporters of the tournament’s history met twice in Gargzdai to discuss future plans and organizational matters.

At the beginning of 2026, two international congresses were organized in Klaipeda. During these events, questions regarding the introduction of new categories and improvements in judging procedures were discussed. Later, an international seminar for coaches and judges was held in Klaipeda, where the topics raised during the congresses were further developed and refined.

Several important meetings took place at Klaipeda City Municipality during the year. Two meetings were held with municipal administration leaders, and an earlier meeting took place with the Mayor of Klaipeda, Arvydas Vaitkus. During these meetings, the activities of the World WFF-WBBF Federation in Klaipeda were reviewed, and strategic plans were outlined for organizing the 60th Jubilee “Amber Prix” in 2027.

Following prior arrangements with Professor Dr. Vytautas Landsbergis, a meeting was held in Vilnius between him and the leaders of the World WFF-WBBF Federation. During the meeting, the situation of sport in Lithuania was discussed, and participants recalled the 1991 visit of IFBB President Ben Weider to newly independent Lithuania. Ben Weider did not recognize independent Lithuania. Dr. Edmundas Daubaras also presented Professor Landsbergis with original telegrams sent by German bodybuilders who had supported Lithuania during the Soviet economic blockade.

International “Amber Prix” 2026

The 2026 International “Amber Prix” attracted 289 athletes from 10 countries: Egypt, Ireland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Ukraine, Denmark, Slovakia, Poland, and Israel.

This year the competition was held over two days at the Klaipeda Zveju Palace of Culture. Due to the large number of participants, the event lasted 13–14 hours on each day. Considering the continued growth of the tournament, the organizers decided that beginning in 2027 the event will be held over three days.

Results (First Places Only) Fit-Kids Division

Category up to 8 years – Kornelija Sraiber (Poland)

Category up to 10 years – Aleksandra Riszawy (Poland)

Category up to 12 years – Pola Adanczykowska (Poland)

Category up to 14 years – Lena Pankau (Poland)

Category up to 16 years – Julija Szevs (Poland)

Category up to 18 years – Julija Nowak (Poland)

Boys up to 12 years – Szymon Papierowski (Poland)

Aerobic Fitness Division

Up to 18 years – Akvile Stankunaite (Lithuania)

Adults – Weronika Szraiber (Poland)

Pairs – Joanna Snieg, Lena Snieg (Poland)

Trios – Marija Marozaite, Smilte Malinauskaite, Ieva Dovdauskaite (Lithuania)

Aerial Acrobatics Fitness (Hoop) Beginners

Up to 8 years – Lukne Medingyte (Lithuania)

Up to 10 years – Mirell Lilleleht (Estonia)

Up to 12 years – Ursula Melnits (Estonia)

Up to 14 years – Egita Petrosiute (Lithuania)

Up to 16 years – Ieva Jonusaite (Lithuania)

Debutants

Up to 6 years – Marija Sadauskaite (Lithuania)

Up to 8 years – Sofija Sestokaite (Lithuania)

Up to 10 years – Rusnė Jocyte (Lithuania)

Up to 12 years – Edilija Razmaite (Lithuania)

Advanced

Up to 10 years – Keira Tomson (Estonia)

Up to 12 years – Sofi Anette Elisaar (Estonia)

Up to 14 years – Nora Tomson (Estonia)

Up to 18 years – Sirie Lilleleht (Estonia)

Youth up to 21 years – Lisette Saaremets (Estonia)

Women – Gabriele Korciaginiene (Lithuania)

Men – Edvardas Korciaginas (Lithuania)

Professional Category – Lisandra Kaarma (Estonia)

Pairs

Beginners – Catharina de Vera Meihoff, Emily Lund Krajer (Denmark)

Advanced – Nora Tomson, Sarah Loreen Kivikas (Estonia)

Professionals – Alina Jurkovianec, Anna Karnakova (Latvia)

Aerial Acrobatics Fitness (Hammock) Beginners

Up to 10 years – Ariana Novikovaite (Lithuania)

Up to 12 years – Gaja Jokubaityte (Lithuania)

Up to 14 years – Kitrel-Mei Kuus (Estonia)

Up to 16 years – Upe Dubinskaite (Lithuania)

Debutants

Up to 6 years – Tasi Tomson (Estonia)

Up to 8 years – Ema Vasiljeva (Lithuania)

Up to 10 years – Urte Drasutyte (Lithuania)

Up to 12 years – Skaiste Zasityte (Lithuania)

Advanced

Up to 8 years – Olivija Zalagaityte (Lithuania)

Up to 10 years – Mirell Lilleleht (Estonia)

Up to 12 years – Sifi Anette Elissaar (Estonia)

Up to 14 years – Nora Tomson (Estonia)

Up to 18 years – Sirle Lilleleht (Estonia)

Up to 21 years – Meda Zemgulyte (Lithuania)

Professional Category – Lisandra Kaarma (Estonia)

Pairs – Erleen Parn, Merel Platais (Estonia)

Aerial Acrobatics Fitness (Silks) Debutants

Up to 6 years – Maja Rokicki (Denmark)

Up to 8 years – Polina Sevelkova (Lithuania)

Up to 12 years – Sofija Kaluharianu (Ukraine)

Up to 14 years – Dite Plepyte (Lithuania)

Beginners

Up to 8 years – Emilija Gaidelyte (Lithuania)

Up to 10 years – Elena Stimburyte (Lithuania)

Up to 12 years – Veronika Skindewr (Lithuania)

Advanced

Up to 12 years – Kotryna Dudonyte (Lithuania)

Up to 16 years – Teja Jonaityte (Lithuania)

Up to 18 years – Jasmin Norgard (Denmark)

Professional Category – Kamile Mastauskaite (Lithuania)

Pairs – Kotryna Dudonyte, Nerija Rimkute (Lithuania)

Pole Dance Fitness Division

Up to 10 years – Mirtel Uslov (Estonia)

Up to 12 years – Sofi Anette Elisaar (Estonia)

Up to 14 years – Jana Matvejeva (Latvia)

Up to 18 years – Sirle Lilleleht (Estonia)

Adults – Laura Bartuseviciute (Lithuania)

Pairs up to 14 years – Erleen Parn, Kirtel-Mei Kuus (Estonia)

Adult Pairs – Giedrė Padervinskaite, Jelena von Kingmann (Lithuania)

Mini Trampoline Division

Up to 8 years – Marija Selechvost (Latvia)

Up to 8 years – Mirabella Karabovska (Latvia)

Up to 16 years – Anna Vacilija (Latvia)

Adults – Anna Sidlovska (Latvia)

Veterans up to 60 years – Danguole Jociuviene (Lithuania)

Veterans up to 70 years – Antonina Jakimovica (Latvia)

Mini Trampoline Groups

Fit-Kids – Mirabela Marija Karabovska, Sabine Ungailo, Julija Frolova, Jeva Freidenfelde, Leticija Jakovleva, Nikola Barbale (Latvia)

Quintets – Ieva Pazereckiene, Sarune Stone, Ligita Maciulskyte, Inga Naujoke, Sigita Stankuviene (Lithuania)

Septets – Anna Vacija, Irena Stolere, Marija Okuneva, Alla Radkevica, Anna Sidlovska, Anna Murnikova, Julija Lavrecka (Latvia)

Fitness Model Division

Youth up to 16 years – Alise Laure (Latvia)

Debutants – Irina Klukina (Latvia)

Veterans up to 50 years – Karina Kulakova (Latvia)

Veterans up to 60 years – Svajone Niauriene (Lithuania)

First Height Category – Rimantė Klovaite (Lithuania)

Second Height Category – Raisa Pavkstel (Lithuania)

Third Height Category – Rima Vaškienė (Lithuania)

Fourth Height Category – Evelina Pranauske (Lithuania)

Professionals – Valerija Nilova (Estonia)

Bikini Division

Veterans up to 40 years – Olga Spyce (Latvia)

Veterans up to 50 years – Inga Verbilaite (Lithuania)

First Height Category, Debutants – Toma Ziurkute (Lithuania)

Second Height Category, Debutants – Aneta Bubeleviciene (Lithuania)

First Height Category, Advanced – Olga Bogacz (Poland)

Second Height Category, Advanced – Arina Kacinskiene (Lithuania)

Professionals – Olga Bogacz (Poland)

Wellness Division

Debutants – Diana Ignatjeva (Latvia)

First Height Category – Ruta Karpaite (Lithuania)

Professionals – Evelina Pranauske (Lithuania)

Figure Division

Overall Category – Weronika Sraiber (Poland)

Veterans up to 50 years – Ilva Luzere (Latvia)

Bodybuilding Men

Disabled Athletes Category – Grzegorz Dabrowski (Poland)

Veterans up to 50 years – Mantas Lunskys (Lithuania)

Veterans up to 60 years – Vidmantas Markunas (Lithuania)

Veterans up to 80 years – Algimantas Dambrauskas (Lithuania)

Men's Physique – Edvardas Klimas (Lithuania)

Up to 70 kg – Domicjanas Jakovicius (Lithuania)

Up to 80 kg – Nojus Judickas (Lithuania)

Up to 90 kg – Tadas Jefisovas (Lithuania)

Up to 100 kg – Gražvydas Narusevicius (Lithuania)

Over 100 kg – Piotras Sevcenko (Lithuania)

Mixed Pairs – Ruta Karpaite, Piotras Sevcenko (Lithuania)

Professional Overall Category – Maros Kanasz (Slovakia)

Professional Veterans Category – Vidmantas Malakauskas (Lithuania)

Overall Champions

Women – Jasmin Norgard (Denmark)

Men – Grazvydas Narusevicius (Lithuania)

„Amber Prix” 2026 once again confirmed its importance within the international fitness and bodybuilding movement. The competition brought together hundreds of athletes from numerous countries, while Klaipeda maintained its position as one of the leading centers of fitness and bodybuilding in Europe. The record participation and growing international interest suggest that the 60th Jubilee “Amber Prix” in 2027 will be even larger and more significant.

„Amber Prix” 2025: A New Direction Brings Results

In recent years, the sport of bodybuilding has faced serious challenges. In many countries, public and governmental interest in bodybuilding has declined, while international competitions organized by various federations often attract only a small number of athletes and spectators. Some world championships are now held under modest conditions and gather only a handful of competitors from a few countries.

In response to this situation, the leadership of the World WFF-WBBF Federation made a strategic decision during two international congresses held in 2024 to fundamentally renew the direction of its sporting activities. The results achieved in 2025 demonstrated that these decisions were both timely and effective.

The international tournament “Amber Prix” 2025, held in Klaipeda, Lithuania, brought together 180 athletes from nine countries: Ukraine, Latvia, Estonia, Slovakia, Lithuania, Poland, Denmark, Israel, and Belarus. The “Universe” competition, organized in Nida, also attracted nearly 200 athletes, confirming the growing popularity of the Federation’s renewed approach.

Category Winners

Fit-Kids

Up to 8 years – Alicja Grabowska (Poland) Up to 10 years – Laura Wachal (Poland) Up to 12 years – Joanna Pannus (Poland) Up to 14 years – Kristina Ksendzova (Lithuania) Up to 16 years – Elsżbieta Matoga (Poland) Adults – Julija Novak (Poland)

Pole Dance Fitness

Up to 12 years – Sofi Anette Elissaar (Estonia) Up to 16 years – Sirija Lilleleht (Estonia) Up to 18 years – Keltin Sainas (Estonia) Adults – Jana Solovjova (Lithuania)

Aerial Acrobatics Fitness (Hoop)

Up to 8 years – Akvile Korčiaginaite (Lithuania) Up to 10 years – Smilte Liauceviciute (Lithuania) Up to 12 years – Nora Tomson (Estonia) Up to 14 years – Ugne-Kotryna Kaminskaite (Lithuania) Women – Gabriele Korciaginiene (Lithuania) Men – Edvardas Korciaginas (Lithuania)

Aerial Acrobatics Fitness (Hammock)

Duets – Brit Noom and Marien Reimann (Estonia)

Aerial Acrobatics Fitness (Silks)

Up to 12 years – Meja Ziupsnyte (Lithuania) Up to 14 years – Ema Sackute (Lithuania) Up to 16 years – Emile Prunskute (Lithuania) Duets – Lise Lund Kjaer and Emily Lund Kjaer (Denmark)

Mini-Trampoline Fitness

Individual Category – Marija Karabovska (Latvia) Trio – Diana Baranova, Mairita Matusevica, and Sanita Pudnika (Latvia) Quintet – Danguole Jociuviene’s Team (Lithuania) Sextet – Alena Jasinskaja’s Team (Ukraine)

Athletes with Disabilities

Category I – Kamil Kovalczyk (Poland) Category II – Grzegorz Piotr Dąbrowski (Poland)

Fitness Model

First Height Category – Olga Bogacz (Poland) Second Height Category – Svetlana Lavrenova (Latvia)

Bikini

Overall Category – Valerija Nilova (Estonia)

Baywatch

First Height Category – Maie Kiik (Estonia) Second Height Category – Rita Letukiene (Lithuania)

Figure

First Height Category – Baiba Libiete (Latvia) Second Height Category – Martina Fric (Slovakia)

Martial Arts Fitness

Overall Category – Vasyl Bespalenko (Ukraine)

Men’s Physique

First Height Category – Elvis Siksna (Latvia) Second Height Category – Vladimir Fyodorov (Estonia)

Muscle Model

First Height Category – Damian Jakovic (Lithuania) Second Height Category – Oleg Kametskov (Estonia)

Body Athletic

Overall Category – David Melikov (Lithuania)

Bodybuilding

Category I – Simon Lubecki (Poland) Category II – Dainius Dzikevicius (Lithuania) Category III – Laurynas Siaulys (Lithuania) Category IV – Maros Kanasz (Slovakia)

Overall Champions

The Overall Female Champion of Amber Prix 2025 was Olga Bogacz (Poland), while the Overall Male Champion was Simon Lubecki (Poland).

“Amber Prix” 2025 became one of the largest WFF-WBBF events of recent years and demonstrated that modernization of the competition format and the inclusion of new fitness disciplines can successfully attract a large number of athletes from across Europe.

Due to the large number of athletes participating in the competition, the event lasted as long as sixteen hours. As a result of the extended schedule, competitors in the final categories were unable to attend the gala banquet organized by the hosts at a restaurant on the seashore.

Taking these circumstances into account, the organizers decided that the “Amber Prix” Tournament will be held over two days in 2026. It is expected that this format will ensure a smoother competition schedule and allow all participants to take part in the closing events.

The 2024 “Amber Prix”

In 2024, the political and economic situation in the world remained largely unchanged. Russia’s war against Ukraine continued, affecting many areas of public life, including sport.

The crisis in bodybuilding also continued to deepen. Lithuania became one of the most evident examples of this process. The national IFBB federation, which had coordinated bodybuilding in Lithuania for many years, gradually distanced itself from traditional bodybuilding. Against the backdrop of recurring doping-control problems and related scandals, the federation faced the risk of losing state funding. Some athletes moved to other organizations, while those who remained increasingly failed to reflect the principles of natural sport. Similar tendencies were observed in other European countries.

The World WFF-WBBF Federation has been searching for solutions to these problems for decades. As early as 2005, Rune Andersson, then Director of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), officially confirmed in writing that the World Fitness Federation had joined the Anti-Doping Code. However, due to substantial financial obligations, the process was never fully completed. This issue remains unresolved today, pending the availability of the necessary funding.

Since the establishment of the World Fitness Federation in 1995, efforts have been made to develop sports disciplines focused on healthy lifestyles, aesthetics, and physical activity. Although the Federation consistently sought to distance itself from the extreme forms of bodybuilding, this proved difficult in practice, as athletes’ muscle mass continued to increase. Since 1999, special attention has been paid to the development of the Fit-Kids program and sports for athletes with disabilities. In 2004, Fitness Model categories were introduced into international competitions.

In 2024, the leadership of the WFF-WBBF Federation made a strategic decision to fundamentally change the direction of its activities. New sporting disciplines were presented and tested at the “World Grand Prix” tournaments in Kandava (Latvia) and Vilkaviškis (Lithuania), at the 16th “Georg Tenno Memorial” in Estonia, at the “Amber Prix” competition in Klaipeda, and at the Universe competition in Nida.

The Federation decided that, while maintaining bodybuilding disciplines until all formal issues concerning cooperation with WADA are resolved, its future focus would be placed on non-doping sports disciplines. To achieve this goal, several new physical activity disciplines were created and introduced, with plans for further expansion in the future. These developments laid the foundation for a sports reform that became fully visible at the 2025 “Amber Prix” competition in Klaipeda.

To discuss the future development of sport, two international congresses were organized in Klaipeda in 2024. During these congresses, eight entirely new sports disciplines were presented, and their judging and evaluation principles, as well as future development prospects, were discussed. In the same year, WFF-WBBF leaders visited Tallinn, Estonia, where joint projects and future cooperation plans were negotiated with representatives of Estonian sports organizations.

Following the 2024 “Amber Prix” tournament, leaders of foreign delegations were officially received at the Parliament of the Republic of Lithuania. During the ceremony, organizers and athletes from various countries were awarded the World WFF-WBBF Federation “Honorary Silver Medal” for their contribution to the development of international sports cooperation.

International Tournament “Amber Prix”

Athletes from ten countries participated in the competition: Bulgaria, Estonia, Germany, India, Latvia, Lithuania, Serbia, Slovakia, Finland, and Ukraine.

Results Fit-Kids Category up to 4 years

1st Place – Gilis Fateh Singh (India)

Category up to 8 years

1st Place – Paulina Bajoriunaite (Lithuania)
2nd Place – Nadezda Kniazeva (Estonia)
3rd Place – Marina Polyakova (Latvia)

Category up to 10 years

1st Place – Julija Milajeva (Bulgaria)
2nd Place – Agata Knoce (Latvia)
3rd Place – Sofija Sumilina (Bulgaria)

Category up to 14 years

1st Place – Oksana Kuppets (Bulgaria)
2nd Place – Tetiana Malakhova (Bulgaria)
3rd Place – Marina Lizina (Estonia)

Aerobic Fitness Juniors (up to 18 years)

1st Place – Karina Gubinovic (Latvia)
2nd Place – Diana Petrickaja (Bulgaria)
3rd Place – Svetlana Lavrenova (Latvia)

Women

1st Place – Gintare Staliulionyte (Lithuania)
2nd Place – Monika Lasciute (Lithuania)
3rd Place – Marina Rijka (Bulgaria)

Fitness Models

1st Place – Jelena Bitineva (Latvia)
2nd Place – Alina Kazak (Lithuania)
3rd Place – Irina Petersone (Latvia)

Bikini Fitness Category I

1st Place – Jelena Ivanova (Latvia)
2nd Place – Valerija Nilova (Estonia)
3rd Place – Nadežda Ungure (Latvia)

Category II

1st Place – Vilma Poviloniene (Lithuania)
2nd Place – Helena Tokinen (Finland)
3rd Place – Liana Bazarina (Latvia)

Women’s Bodybuilding

1st Place – Svetlana Pugaciova (Lithuania)
2nd Place – Ineta Rijnece (Latvia)
3rd Place – Martina Fric (Slovakia)

Men’s Bodybuilding

1st Place – Vasiliy Bespalenko (Ukraine)
2nd Place – Ramandeep Singh (India)
3rd Place – Viktor Petrenko (Ukraine)

Sports Fitness Men’s Physique

1st Place – Rahul Joshi (India)
2nd Place – Maris Sveiduks (Latvia)
3rd Place – Gatis Sakne (Latvia)

Overall Champions

Women: Jelena Ivanova (Latvia)

Men: Rahul Joshi (India)

“Amber Prix” 2023

In 2023, the international bodybuilding and fitness tournament “Amber Prix” was held in Klaipeda, Lithuania. The event took place during a challenging period when international sports activities continued to be affected by the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine. These circumstances created difficulties in travel, logistics, and international sporting exchanges, influencing both the organization of competitions and the participation of athletes from various countries.

Immediately after the “Amber Prix” in Klaipeda, the WFF–WBBF European Championship was organized in the neighboring Latvian city of Liepaja. In the same year, upon the initiative of Ukrainian representatives, Dr. Edmundas Daubaras, President of the WFF–WBBF International Federation, was awarded the UNESCO title of “Ambassador of Peace.”

Despite the complex international situation, the WFF–WBBF Federation continued its activities in different regions of the world. International championships and events were organized in Pakistan, Brazil, Paraguay, and other countries. In 2023, Dr. Edmundas Daubaras also participated in a seminar held in Vilnius, where he presented current developments and issues in international bodybuilding.

First Place Winners

Virgil Kattring Rasmussen (Denmark) Patricija Klimaite (Lithuania) Łukasz Kuliński (Poland) Vilma Poviloniene (Lithuania) Aleksej Lapsin (Estonia) Marija Steponaviciute (Lithuania) Jelena Ivanova (Latvia) Palle Viktor Kattring Rasmussen (Denmark) Anna Sobolewska Kucharska (Poland) Vasyl Bespalenko (Ukraine) Valerija Nilova (Estonia) Alina Pelepko (Lithuania) Grzegorz Piotr Dąbrowski (Poland) David Melikov (Lithuania) Aleksandr Orlov (Estonia) Martina Fric (Slovakia) Iveta Trakacenoka (Latvia) Dmytro Romanov (Ukraine) Anna Sobolewska Kucharska and Łukasz Kuliński (Poland) Maros Kanasz (Slovakia) Vidmantas Malakauskas (Lithuania) Raimundas Urbanavicius (Lithuania) Titas Kazakevicius (Lithuania) Dariusz Antkowiak (Poland) Vidmantas Markunas (Lithuania) Karina Kutakova (Latvia) Karina Bagazkova (Latvia) Smiltė Bubliauskaite, Gretė Pavinskyte, Juste Zaiceva and Kotryna Tamoseviciute (Lithuania)

Overall Winners

Women’s Overall Champion – Vilma Poviloniene (Lithuania)

Men’s Overall Champion – Aleksej Lapsin (Estonia)

2022 “Amber Prix”

The sudden end of the COVID-19 pandemic was followed by another unexpected global challenge – the war between Russia and Ukraine. The world moved from one crisis to another, while international sporting life gradually began to recover.

In 2022, the organizers of the World WFF-WBBF Federation opened the year with the international “Universe” tournament held in Ludhiana, India. An international press conference for journalists was also organized. In matters of sports organization, federation leaders visited Poland, where they met with a member of the Polish Parliament Jan Szopinski to discuss future plans.

In the same year, the “Amber Prix” competition was held in Klaipeda. The event brought together athletes from eight countries: India, Finland, Slovakia, Poland, Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, and Ukraine.

Results

Due to the large number of participants, only first-place winners in each category are listed:

Hanna Skytta (Finland) Melita Zaiceva (Lithuania) Iveta Trakacenoka (Latvia) Dorateja Kiziauskaite (Lithuania) Martina Fric (Slovakia) Viltė Adomaityte (Lithuania) Natalija Miszkowska, Przemyslaw Elsner (Poland) Urte Rimtaviciute, Jokubas Uzubalis (Lithuania) Violeta Tarasova, Veronika Tarasova, Patricija Kamitaite (Ukraine–Lithuania) Akvilė Sarkaite (Lithuania) Vasilij Bespalenko (Ukraine) Anna Sobolewska Kucharska (Poland) Rasa Greciene (Lithuania) Vilma Poviloniene (Lithuania) Sabina Petrova (Latvia) Roman Polsin (Estonia) Maris Sveiduks (Latvia) Vidmantas Malakauskas (Lithuania) Daniel Czaja (Poland) Vilius Pranckevicius (Lithuania) Aleksejs Petkevics (Latvia) Maros Kanasz (Slovakia) Vidmantas Markunas (Lithuania) Vipnes Chowdry (India) Rahul Joshi (India) Raimondas Urbanavicius (Lithuania) Tomasz Koltan (Poland) Przemyslaw Elsner (Poland) Hasti Singh (India) Grzegorz Dąbrowski (Poland)

Overall Winners

Women: Anna Sobolewska Kucharska (Poland) Men: Vasilij Bespalenko (Ukraine)

The 2017 “Amber Prix” International Tournament

In 2017, the international fitness and bodybuilding tournament “Amber Prix” celebrated its 50th anniversary in Klaipeda, Lithuania. Over five decades, the tournament has become one of the oldest and most prestigious fitness and bodybuilding events in Europe, earning international recognition and respect within the sports community.

In the same year, the World Amateur and Professional Championships were held in Kaunas, Lithuania, while the European Championships took place in Germany. In 2017, India hosted the international WFF–WBBF “World Grand Prix” tournament and the 6th Asian Championship.

The jubilee edition of the “Amber Prix” attracted special international attention. Through the mediation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania, the global television network CNN prepared and broadcast a report on the event, reaching billions of viewers worldwide. Following the competition, the heads of foreign delegations were officially received at the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania.

198 аthletes from 17 countries participated in the tournament: Belgium, Belarus, Cyprus, Estonia, Germany, India, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, South Africa, Turkey, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, and Uzbekistan.

Competition Results

(Top Three Places in Each Category)

Fit-Kids Division Up to 10 Years Aleksandra Stukanova (Russia) Varvara Ponomarenko (Russia) Egle Mickute (Lithuania) Up to 12 Years Yekaterina Kozelkina (Russia) Yelena Truselko (Ukraine) Nadezhda Marchenko (Ukraine) Aerobic Fitness Open Category Yuliya Gerasimova (Russia) Asta Butkute (Lithuania) Yekaterina Sudarenko (Ukraine) Fitness Model Division Juniors up to 18 Years Karolina Beinaroviča (Latvia) Kristina Tutkute (Lithuania) Yelizaveta Troshina (Lithuania) Youth up to 21 Years Rugilė Blaskeviciute (Lithuania) Yelizaveta Redkina (Lithuania) Anna Morozova (Russia) First Category Ugnė Kukyte (Lithuania) Jana Zenovic-Leskevic (Latvia) Yelizaveta Mironenko (Russia) Second Category Sandra Mockute (Lithuania) Židrūnė Mikelenaite (Lithuania) Yelena Bitineva (Latvia) Third Category Ugnė Gotautaite (Lithuania) Yelena Lisitskaya (Uzbekistan) Kerstin Kristine Kremer (Germany) Bikini Division Youth up to 21 Years Angelina Gvozdeva (Russia) Sonia Lorzić (Serbia) Evelina Stumbryte (Lithuania) First Category Vaida Narkiene (Lithuania) Giedrė Cernecke (Lithuania) Karolina Engelin (Germany) Second Category Marlies Vileke Hoornaert (Belgium) Olga Listopadova (Belarus) Laila Trapp (Germany) Veterans over 40 Years Marina Legenzova (Lithuania) Ineta Rijniece (Latvia) Irina Wagner (Germany) Figure Division First Category Halina Halavei (Cyprus) Rasa Senkute (Lithuania) Larisa Rusakevich (Uzbekistan) Second Category Asta Butkute (Lithuania) Yekaterina Grebenkova (Russia) Giedre Savickaite (Lithuania) Third Category Natalia Abramova (Russia) Filiz Ivenic (Turkey) Monika Schreiber (Germany) Men's Categories Athletes with Disabilities Arturas Bolycevas (Lithuania) Sports Fitness Division Youth up to 21 Years Markas Dolgunovas (Lithuania) Laurynas Griskevisius (Lithuania) Vladimir Kondratyev (Russia) Veterans over 60 Years Vladimir Muran (Russia) First Category Mindaugas Stonkus (Lithuania) Oguntade Ajadi Lookman (Belgium) Haluk Kucuk (Belgium) Second Category Artiom Sokolov (Russia) Gytis Neverauskas (Lithuania) Brahim Benhaddou (Belgium) Muscle Model Division First Category Rahul Joshi (India) Viktar Shpakouski (Belarus) Sandro Piccirillo (Italy) Second Category Anton Spilniuk (Cyprus) Ajay Kumar Godara (India) Denis Antonov (Russia) Body Athletic Division First Category Sergey Strelnikov (Cyprus) Alexey Kuzmichyov (Russia) James Anthony Hellewell (United Kingdom) Second Category Sergey Taratynov (Russia) Sien Cuvelier (Belgium) Anton Trekhnov (Russia) Bodybuilding Up to 100 kg Yevgeny Baishev (Russia) Alexey Kochedykov (Russia) Mantas Leksius (Lithuania) Over 100 kg Maros Kanasz (Slovakia) Andrius Blazys (Lithuania) Viktor Morozov (Russia) Veteran Bodybuilding Up to 50 Years Normunds Jurans (Latvia) Aleksandr Budaragin (Russia) Ravil Roman Denikayev (Russia) Over 60 Years Freddy Gaston Van Puyenbroeck (Belgium) Vidmantas Malakauskas (Lithuania) Vasyl Adnenko (Ukraine) Overall Champions

Women: Halina Halavei (Cyprus)

Men: Maros Kanasz (Slovakia)

2008 INTERNATIONAL TOURNAMENT "AMBER PRIX"

Klaipėda, Lithuania, 2008

In 2008, alongside the international “Amber Prix” tournament held in Klaipėda, the organizers of the global WFF–WBBF federation were actively working on staging the traditional “Universe” competition in Vilnius, as well as the WBBF World Professional Championship. At the same time, the WFF World Professional Championship, featuring substantial prize money, was again organized in Prague at the Žofín Palace by Czech businessman Martin Kuta.

Following a meeting between the leaders of the WFF-WBBF Federation and the Minister of Sport of the Republic of Poland, Zbigniew Pacelt, Bydgoszcz businessman Jerzy Gotowski took the initiative to organize the WFF-WBBF World Amateur Championship in his city.

This important decision became a significant step in strengthening the Federation’s international recognition and promoting the development of bodybuilding and fitness sports throughout Europe. The organization of the event brought together the efforts of the city authorities, the business community, and sports organizations, while the championship itself became one of the most important WFF-WBBF sporting events of the year.

The World Amateur Championship held in Bydgoszcz gathered athletes from numerous countries and further reinforced the Federation’s position in the international sports arena.

“Amber Prix”

The 2008  "Amber Prix" competition took place in the sports hall of LCC International University.

On the occasion of the event, former President of the Austrian Parliament Professor Alfred Gerstl presented the people of Klaipeda with a unique collection of original photographs of his protégé, then Governor of California Arnold Schwarzenegger, as well as a documentary film depicting Schwarzenegger’s life journey and athletic career.

The photographs were displayed in an exhibition held on the premises of LCC International University, while the documentary film was screened for the large audience gathered to watch the competition.

The official opening ceremony was attended by members of the Parliament of the Republic of Lithuania, representatives of national and municipal institutions, and other distinguished guests. The event was filmed by a production crew from the Lithuanian National Radio and Television (LRT), which had arrived from Vilnius.

During the 2008 “Amber Prix” tournament, both living and deceased veterans were honored. After the competition, heads of foreign delegations visited the Parliament of the Republic of Lithuania and the Ministry of Sport of the Republic of Lithuania, and also attended a press conference held at the ELTA news agency.

On the occasion of the event, a historical trilingual magazine (10,000 copies) and 3,000 copies of the competition DVD were published. These materials were distributed free of charge at various international events around the world.

A total of 293 athletes from 21 countries participated in the event: Argentina, Austria, Belarus, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Israel, Latvia, Lithuania, Mexico, Montenegro, Poland, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Finland, and Ukraine.

Results

(only first three places)

FIT-KIDS DIVISION

Girls up to 8 years

Marcelina Porożyńska (Poland) Maja Dembowska (Poland) Karolina Młot (Poland)

Girls up to 10 years

Nikola Szydłowska (Poland) Natalia Janta (Poland) Ugnė Klumbyte (Klaipeda, Lithuania)

Girls up to 12 years

Klaudia Korpan (Poland) Paulina Rocławska (Poland) Aleksandra Dudáková (Slovakia)

Girls up to 14 years

Miriama Zigálová (Slovakia) Stanislava Dolinská (Slovakia) Kateryna Bezrodna (Ukraine)

Girls up to 16 years

Joanna Kwiatkowska (Poland) Oksana Didukh (Ukraine) Sylwia Kaczmarek (Poland)

Boys up to 10 years

Anton Florija (Vilnius, Lithuania)

Boys up to 14 years

Dmytro Girya (Ukraine)

AEROBIC FITNESS

Up to 18 years

Anita Bekus (Poland) Radvile Jokubauskyte (Klaipeda, Lithuania) Marta Noska (Poland)

Up to 21 years

Alina Olefirenko (Ukraine) Agata Czerkawska (Poland) Daria Shumarova (Ukraine)

Women – Category I

Natalia Bocian (Poland) Ivana Sokolova (Slovakia) Elena Tarasova (Russian Federation)

Women – Category II

Marija Deksne (Latvia) Irina Nikitina (Klaipeda, Lithuania) Vilma Asijaviciene (Marijampole, Lithuania)

Men

Andrius Smaguris (Vilnius, Lithuania) Mikhail Glazunov (Russian Federation) Piotr Grinevich (Belarus)

Women's Masters

Erzsébet Herczog (Hungary) Elena Odentsova (Ukraine) Svetlana Galkina (Russian Federation)

ATHLETES WITH DISABILITIES DIVISION

Wheelchair Category

Petar Milenković (Serbia) Arturas Krutulis (Marijampole, Lithuania) Genadij Zametaskin (Kaunas, Lithuania)

General Disability Category

Nikolaj Mironov (Vilnius, Lithuania)

FITNESS MODEL

Category I

Lenka Maková (Slovakia) Aušra Tasiukeviciute (Kaunas, Lithuania) Weronika Krajewska (Poland)

Category II

Roberta Burokaite (Kaunas, Lithuania) Ksenija Dunderski (Serbia) Juste Matulyte (Kaunas, Lithuania)

Category III

Eva Martinková (Slovakia) Jadwiga Krizanovska (Latvia) Sylwia Kaczmarek (Poland)

Category IV

Rita Elksniņa (Latvia) Aleksandra Sizonova (Klaipeda, Lithuania) Veronika Juhaseva (Slovakia)

WOMEN'S SPORT FITNESS

Juniors up to 16 years

Brigita Vecerskaite (Palanga, Lithuania) Vaida Grebliauskaite (Kaunas, Lithuania) Aleksandra Ivanova (Bulgaria)

Juniors up to 18 years

Radvile Jokubauskyte (Klaipeda, Lithuania) Juste Matulyte (Kaunas, Lithuania) Anita Bekus (Poland)

Youth up to 21 years

Zita Satkauskaite (Telsiai, Lithuania) Alina Olefirenko (Ukraine) Lenka Maková (Slovakia)

Women – Category I

Oksana Rumyantseva (Russian Federation) Nataša Maksimović (Serbia) Nora Loranen (Finland)

Women – Category II

Oksana Usachova (Russian Federation) Kristina Serksnaite (Kaunas, Lithuania) Tatiana Dudneva (Russian Federation)

Women – Category III

Jamila Vanessa Toledo (Argentina) Irina Pateshkina (Russian Federation) Kirsi Marika Tuominen (Finland)

Women – Category IV

Monika De Jesus Bolaños (Mexico) Odeta Vaisnoriene (Vilnius, Lithuania) Natalia Lysenko (Ukraine)

Women – Category V

Ilona Kokos (Vilnius, Lithuania) Irina Fedoruk (Belarus) Andrea Koflach (Austria)

MEN'S SPORT FITNESS

Juniors up to 16 years

Rokas Kasperavicius (Kaunas, Lithuania) Deividas Savickas (Vilnius, Lithuania) Valdas Miseikis (Klaipeda, Lithuania)

Juniors up to 18 years

Edgaras Linortas (Kaunas, Lithuania) Tadas Tumbortas (Kaunas, Lithuania) Lukás Palaga (Slovakia)

Youth up to 21 years

Erik Tóth (Slovakia) Deividas Ignatavicius (Vilnius, Lithuania) Mantas Stankevicius (Kaunas, Lithuania)

Men – Category I

Anton Yezhov (Russian Federation) Alexey Chigarov (Russian Federation) Artur Sinickij (Vilnius, Lithuania)

Men – Category II

Vadim Gushchin (Russian Federation) Jukka-Pekka Nousiainen (Finland) Deniss Gladkijs (Latvia)

Men – Category III

Leonid Filatov (Russian Federation) Roman Polsin (Estonia) Dmytro Strelnikov (Ukraine)

Men – Category IV

Darius Buksnaitis (Sakiai, Lithuania) Davyd Tukhtayev (Russian Federation) Nikolaos Giannakis (Greece)

Men – Category V

Arvydas Miseikis (Klaipeda, Lithuania) Sergej Kiriuchin (Vilnius, Lithuania) Predrag Milosević (Serbia)

Men – Category VI

Vladimir Polyakov (Russian Federation) Normunds Jurans (Latvia) Eduard Larin (Russian Federation)

Men – Category VII

Vitalijus Kuzmycius (Vilnius, Lithuania) Aleksandr Shevtsov (Estonia) Alexey Tarasov (Russian Federation)

OVERALL CHAMPIONS

Women's Overall Champion: Jamila Vanessa Toledo (Argentina)

Men's Overall Champion: Darius Buksnaitis (Lithuania)