WORLD BODYBUILDING HISTORY

GLIMPSES OF THE BODYBUILDING HISTORY.

HOW IT WAS IN REAL.

In 1959 the USA „Father of Weightlifting“ BOB HOFFMAN through the International Weightlifting Federation F.I.H.C. first time brought bodybuilding sport to the Socialist Countries. That was the World Weightlifting Championship in Warszawa - the Capital of the Polish Democratic Republic. Then F.I.H.C. organized the traditional bodybuilding „Mr. Universe“ in Warszawa too.

1963. FIRST SOCIALIST INTERNATIONAL BODYBUILDING ORGANIZATION.

They say, that in the sixties of the last Century the bodybuilding pioneers in the U.S.S.R. were Estonian GEORG TENNO (Георг Тенно) and Russian ROMAN MOROZ (Роман Мороз). In 1963 under the influence of BOB HOFFMAN the first International Bodybuilding Organization in the Socialist Countries (Всесоюзная комиссия по атлетической гимнастике) was established by the Ministry of Sport U.S.S.R. (Goskomsport U.S.S.R.). It was set at the U.S.S.R. Weightlifting Federation then. To control the bodybuilding sport the Ministry appointed the Chairman of this organization. That was a friend of BOB HOFFMAN a known  U.S.S.R. weightlifting authority ROMAN MOROZ. The mentioned organization did not work as there were no real bodybuilders in the U.S.S.R. at that time.

It was nothing special when a bodybuilding organization was established at the weightlifting federation of any country. International Weightlifting Federation F.I.H.C. since 1947 ruled the official World Bodybuilding sport. The F.I.H.C. and the A.A.U. were members of the International Olympic Committee. In fact using the positions in F.I.H.C. and A.A.U. the official World and U.S.A. bodybuilding sport was ruled by BOB HOFFMAN. Until 1969 no one could fight with BOB HOFFMAN when he had the I.O.C. members F.I.H.C. and A.A.U. behind.

Later in 1968 the mentioned International Bodybuilding Organization of the Socialist Countries was renewed. It happened during an International Contest in Lithuania. Five members of the Executive Council ruled the Organization: Russians ROMAN MOROZ, VLADIMIR PETROV, GENADIJ BALDIN and Lithuanians VALERIJ KORESHKOV and  VYTAUTAS ZUMERIS (Роман Мороз, Владимир Петров, Геннадий Балдин, Валерий Корешков, Витаутас Зумерис).

1966. FIRST SOCIALIST INTERNATIONAL CONTEST.

First pioneers of bodybuilding in Russia were weightlifters MARK SHAFRAN (Марк Шафран), ROMAN MOROZ (Роман Мороз), the first in the Socialist Countries World Weightlifting Champion GRIGORIJ NOVAK (Григорий Новак), Estonian GEORG TENNO  and GENNADIJ BALDIN (Геннадий Балдин). In 1966 a bodybuilding contest was organized in Moscow (Russia) where the winner was IGOR PETRUCHIN (Игорь Петрухин). Also in 1966 the first in the Socialist Countries International Bodybuilding competition was organized in Vilnius (Lithuania). The Winners were IGOR PETRUCHIN (Russia), RYTIS MACIJAUSKAS and KLEMENSAS ALSHAUSKAS (both Lithuania).

TRADITIONAL BODYBUILDING CONTESTS.

During the bodybuilding prohibition in the Socialist World (1973 – 1987) only few brave persons dared to organize competitions. There were only two regular International Bodybuilding Contests in all Socialist World: the „Amber Prix International“ (1968 – 2021, „Gintarinis prizas“, «Янтарный приз») organized in Lithuania by DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS and „Georg Tenno Memorial“ (1971 – 1989, «Мемориал Георга Тэнно») organized in Estonia by INNAR MARDO.

PROHIBITION OF BODYBUILDING.

In 1973 the prosecution and prohibition of bodybuilding started in the Socialist World. Every country went it‘s own original way. In some countries contests were still organized with huge difficulties. First of all in Czechoslovakia. The National Champion of Czechoslovakia in 1973 was LADISLAV KLERI, MILAN POLELKA was at the second place and JAN CERNY was at the third place.

INFORMATION.
More detailed information on the Global International Site www.wff.lt, see forum topics. Also information available on the Facebook pages: W.F.F. – W.B.B.F. International, W.F.F. –  W.B.B.F. North America, W.F.F. – W.B.B.F. South America, W.F.F. – W.B.B.F. Asia, W.F.F. – W.B.B.F. Europe, W.F.F. – W.B.B.F. Africa, W.F.F. – W.B.B.F. Asia Continental Federation, International Sport University (I.S.U., www.isuniversity.lt), W.F.F. – W.B.B.F. Pro Division, W.P.S.F. World Power Sports Federation.