WORLD BODYBUILDING HISTORY

60 YEARS OF LITHUANIAN BODYBUILDING:

WHO REALLY HAS THE RIGHT TO CLAIM THIS HISTORY?

Sixty years. Hundreds of competitions. Dozens of international events. Government attention. International recognition. Global television coverage.

And today there are people who want to rewrite the history of Lithuanian bodybuilding.

They can try.

But there is one problem.

History has archives.

Documents.

Dates.

Press publications.

Television recordings.

Government decisions.

International federation documents.

So let us ask a very simple question:

WHO ACTUALLY CREATED THE HISTORY OF LITHUANIAN BODYBUILDING?

Not the person who talks the loudest about themselves.

Not the organization with the most attractive website today.

Not the organization handing out the most medals and diplomas.

Not whoever currently calls themselves the “leader of Lithuanian bodybuilding.”

But those who actually worked when it was difficult.

FIRST CAME THE BAN

The history of Lithuanian bodybuilding was not convenient.

In 1973, bodybuilding was banned.

Period.

But a ban did not mean that people stopped training.

Training continued.

Competitions continued.

The activity continued.

Just not in the way the authorities wanted.

An underground period began.

And here it is extremely important to separate history from legends being created today.

Who took risks back then?

Who organized?

Who resisted?

Who tried to preserve bodybuilding?

Who looked for a way forward?

1978: THE PETITION TO MOSCOW

In 1978, Edmundas Daubaras prepared a petition defending bodybuilding.

It was presented to the highest political institutions of the USSR, including the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union.

Bodybuilding remained banned.

But something was nevertheless achieved.

Edmundas Daubaras was permitted to officially organize the Amber Prix tournament in Klaipėda.

The tournament became an unofficial USSR bodybuilding championship.

Think about it.

Bodybuilding was banned.

Competitions were unwanted.

The system was against you.

And yet an international bodybuilding tournament was held in Klaipėda.

Today it is very easy to call yourself a “historic leader.”

In 1978, it was much harder.

AND WHAT WAS KAUNAS DOING?

In 1979, the Komsomol Cup competitions began to be organized in Kaunas.

They were dedicated to Komsomol dates and occasions.

That too is history.

It should not be hidden.

But it should not be rewritten either.

On one side was an attempt to resist the ban and preserve bodybuilding activity.

On the other was an attempt to operate within the Soviet system.

These were two different paths.

Therefore, when assessing organizational significance before the restoration of Lithuania's independence, two major phenomena stand out:

the Amber Prix and the Komsomol Cup.

Everything else is sometimes inflated today to a scale that the historical record does not support.

1990: THE DOORS OF IFBB WERE CLOSED

After the restoration of independence, the real test began.

It was no longer enough to be a bodybuilder.

It was no longer enough to organize local competitions.

It was necessary to prove that Lithuania could operate internationally as an independent state.

In December 1990, in New York, Edmundas Daubaras negotiated with IFBB President Ben Weider regarding the recognition of Lithuanian bodybuilding.

The objective was clear:

Lithuania had to be independent.

But at that time IFBB did not recognize Lithuania's independence.

The doors were closed.

What should be done?

Sit and wait?

Or act?

The second path was chosen.

1991: LITHUANIA CREATES ITS OWN ORGANIZATION

In May 1991, with the support of the Ministry of Sports of the Republic of Lithuania and personally Minister Algirdas Raslanas, the Lithuanian National Bodybuilding Association — LNKA — was registered at the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Lithuania on the initiative of Edmundas Daubaras.

This was not simply a beautiful name on a piece of paper.

It was an attempt to create an independent Lithuanian bodybuilding system.

Cooperation with NABBA was chosen.

And the result?

At the NABBA European Championships in France, Lithuanian representatives Natalija Murnikovienė and Rolandas Bučinskas became champions.

Even more importantly, NABBA officially recognized the independence of Lithuania and the Lithuanian National Olympic Committee from the USSR.

This is where we are no longer talking about beautiful stories.

We are talking about international recognition of Lithuania in sport.

AND WHERE WERE THE OTHERS?

This is where the uncomfortable part of history begins.

When Lithuania was fighting for international recognition, there were not dozens of today's organizations.

There was not today's multitude of federations.

There were not all the “historic leaders” we see today.

History always produces many people who want to stand next to victory.

Very few want to remember the time before victory.

Who was there then?

Who acted?

Who took risks?

Who built?

Who travelled abroad and negotiated?

The answers do not need to be invented.

They are in the documents.

AFTER 1991, SUDDENLY EVERYONE BECAME A “PATRIOT”

The August 1991 coup attempt in Moscow changed the political situation.

And then something very interesting happened.

More “brave” people appeared.

More people began talking about independent Lithuanian sport.

But history is not social media.

It is not enough to write:

“We were the first.”

Show the document.

It is not enough to say:

“We did a lot.”

Show the events.

It is not enough to say:

“We represented Lithuania.”

Show the international recognition.

NOW — THE NUMBERS

Sometimes numbers say more than a hundred promotional texts.

In 1996, 1997 and 1998, European Championships were held in Lithuania.

Reports about them were broadcast by Eurosport.

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

In 2007, the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania voted in a separate budget line to fund the 40th Amber Prix.

In 2017, CNN broadcast a report marking the 50th anniversary of the Amber Prix.

Let us repeat that:

CNN.

Global television.

This is not the notice board of a local sports club.

WHEN THE STATE ENTERS THE SPORTS HALL

Over the years, more than ten international press conferences were held at the Lithuanian news agency ELTA.

Senior Lithuanian government officials participated.

High-ranking state officials served as heads of organizing committees for international events.

Among them were ministers, members and officials of the Seimas, county leaders and mayors.

These included Algirdas Butkevičius, Kęstutis Skrebys, Rišardas Krinickis, Kęstutis Virketis, Gediminas Kirkilas and other representatives of the Lithuanian state.

Since 2004, international delegations have been received at the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania more than ten times.

People involved in international sport have received awards for their contributions.

This is not a Facebook opinion.

This is part of the history of Lithuania's state institutions.

NOT JUST BODYBUILDING

There is another fact that is convenient to forget.

Beginning in 1995, new sports directions were introduced:

sport for people with disabilities, children's Fit-Kid, fitness multi-events, fitness models and other programs.

Beginning in 1996, international congresses were held in Lithuania to discuss the future of sport.

Some of these ideas later appeared in similar forms within other international sports organizations.

Therefore, this is not only about who won a medal.

It is about who created new directions in sport.

37 PUBLICATIONS. DIFFERENT LANGUAGES. THE WHOLE WORLD.

Over the years, 37 issues of magazines and DVD publications were produced in different languages.

They were distributed in different countries around the world during international sporting events.

Why?

So that the world would know about Lithuania's activities.

So that Lithuania's name would be visible.

So that the international community would receive information about Lithuanian bodybuilding.

And this work continues today.

Since 2012, the World Bodybuilding Encyclopedia has been under preparation.

Of the three planned volumes, texts for almost two have already been completed.

A historical book for the 60th anniversary of the Amber Prix is also being prepared.

Photographs.

Documents.

Archives.

Dates.

History.

Not mythology.

2026–2027: NOW LET US SEE WHO IS REALLY WORTH WHAT

From October 24–26, 2026, the 37th World Championships are planned to take place in Nida.

In May 2027, the 60th Amber Prix tournament will be held.

Preparation for these events began back in 2025.

Sixty years.

Think about that number.

How many of today's organizations can demonstrate a sixty-year history?

How many can demonstrate activity during the Soviet ban?

How many can demonstrate international recognition of Lithuania?

How many can demonstrate government support?

How many can demonstrate CNN?

How many can demonstrate Eurosport?

How many can demonstrate receptions at the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania?

How many can demonstrate World and European Championships held in Lithuania?

How many can demonstrate international congresses?

How many can demonstrate publications in different languages?

How many?

AND HERE IS THE PROBLEM

Today, many people want to become part of history.

Fine.

But being part of history and creating history are not the same thing.

Having an organization and building an international sports system are not the same thing.

Holding local competitions and organizing a World Championship are not the same thing.

Handing out medals and achieving international recognition from state institutions are not the same thing.

Writing an article about yourself and having an archive covering several decades are not the same thing.

These things cannot simply be placed on the same level.

YOU CANNOT STEAL HISTORY

You can rename an organization.

You can change a logo.

You can create a new federation.

You can declare yourself a leader.

You can publish a hundred promotional statements.

You can even try to retell the past.

But there are things you cannot change.

A date.

A document.

An archive.

A government decision.

International recognition.

A television recording.

An event that actually took place.

A publication that was actually produced.

These are the evidence of history.

SO LET US ASK THE QUESTION ONCE AGAIN

Who acted when bodybuilding was banned?

Who organized underground activities?

Who appealed to the highest institutions of the USSR?

Who preserved the Amber Prix?

Who created a national bodybuilding organization after independence was restored?

Who fought for Lithuania's international recognition?

Who organized European and World Championships?

Who received support from the Government of the Republic of Lithuania?

Who was received at the Seimas?

Who was shown on Eurosport?

Who was featured on CNN?

Who created new sports disciplines?

Who organized international congresses?

Who published 37 international publications?

Who is preparing the World Bodybuilding Encyclopedia today?

Who is preparing the historical book for the 60th anniversary?

The answers exist.

They do not need to be invented.

60 YEARS — AND THIS IS ONLY THE BEGINNING

In 2027, the Amber Prix will celebrate its 60th anniversary.

But this is not the end.

It is a new stage.

More international cooperation.

The Olympic direction.

New international projects.

An even broader promotion of Lithuania's name around the world.

And yes, the plans are ambitious.

Perhaps even too ambitious for those who are accustomed to setting small goals.

But great things have never been accomplished by people who were afraid of great ambitions.

WE ARE NOT ASKING YOU TO BELIEVE US

This is the most important point.

We are not asking you to believe our version of history.

We are asking you to check it.

Open the archives.

Find the documents.

Look at the dates.

Check the decisions of state institutions.

Search the television archives.

Study the documents of international organizations.

And then compare.

Not words.

Deeds.

Not advertising.

Results.

Not today's declarations.

Six decades of history.

AND THEN ANSWER

WHO ACTUALLY CREATED THE HISTORY OF LITHUANIAN BODYBUILDING?

The answer does not depend on who shouts the loudest.

The answer is already there — in history.

History cannot be claimed.

History cannot be erased.

History cannot be rewritten with a single statement.

Because when the documents speak, advertising falls silent.

60 YEARS OF THE AMBER PRIX.

60 YEARS OF LITHUANIAN BODYBUILDING HISTORY.

Let those who speak the loudest step aside.

Let the facts decide.

Let the documents decide.

LET HISTORY DECIDE.