PROFESSIONALS

11/06/2026

W.F.F. - W.B.B.F. International
(Since 1968)
PROFESSIONAL CARD HOLDERS
(2004-2026)
No. Cert. Athlete's Name Country
26-001 Valerija Nilova, Estonia

26-002 Olga Bogacz. Poland

26-003 Evelina Pranauske, Lithuania

26-004 Piotr Sevcenko, Lithuania

26-005 Ruta Karpaite, Lithuania

25-001 Mickael Louvel France
25-002 Toru Fukutomi Japan
25-003 Kamil Kowalczyk Poland
25-004 Diana Stavchansky Israel
24-001 Oleg Kametskov Estonia
23-001 Majid Tashakkorinia Iran
23-002 Vilma Poviloniene Lithuania
23-002 Martina Fric Slovakia
23-004 Palle Katring Rasmussen Denmark
23-005 Raimundas Urbanavicius Lithuania
23-006 Lukasz Kulinski Poland
23-007 Jelena Ivanova Latvia
22-001 Maris Sveiduks Latvia
22-002 Anna Sobolewska-Kucharska Poland
22-003 Natalia Miszkowska Poland
22-004 Vasilij Bespalenko Ukraine
21-001 Vidmantas Malakauskas Lithuania
21-002 Sergej Rybakov Latvia
21-003 Aleksejs Petkevics Latvia
21-004 Roman Polshin Estonia
20-001 Julija Magilinskaja Lithuania
19-001 Ulku Ece Erturk Turkey
19-002 Celal Orhan Bozkurt Turkey
19-003 Tareq Ahmet Mohammed Turkey
19-004 Olga Kolesova Lithuania
19-005 Moumita Mazumder India
19-006 Zina Usikova Belarus
19-007 Arkadiusz Demidowicz Poland
19-008 Aleksandr Pulbere Russia
19-009 Alex Dunnett UK
19-010 Ema Miliauskiene Lithuania
18-001 Golab Rabha India
18-002 Nerina Broggia Argentina
18-003 Oksana Filimonova Estonia
18-004 Amirhossein Pourezzat Malaysia
18-005 Maik Thies Germany
18-006 Tolga Murat Balikci Turkey
18-007 Vipnesh Kumar India
18-008 Igor Artemjev Russia
18-009 Valentina Zabiiaka Russia
18-010 Evelina Stulginskaite Lithuania
18-011 Hollie Jade Feeney UK
18-012 Hanna Kristina Skytta Finland
18-013 Ricardo Cordeiro Fernandes Brazil
18-014 Lilija Shcheklanova Russia
18-015 Burcin Bayraktar Turkey
18-016 Anas Nahhas Turkey
18-017 Nadir Kassab Turkey
18-018 Mohammad Maragheh Iran
18-019 Kalimorad Morteza Siah Iran
18-020 Hossin Reza Poor Iran
18-021 Tajik Gholam Reza Iran
18-022 Vahid Ashori Iran
18-023 Ali Moieni Iran
18-024 Hamid Solati Thailand
18-025 Mohammad Ali Norozkhan Iran
18-026 Shagmai Kushan India
17-013 Jason Flechner Germany
17-012 Sandro Piccirillo Germany
17-011 Hugo Rafael Brazil
17-010 Sergeii Iatsiuk Ukraine
17-009 Marcos Oloveira Dumont Brazil
17-008 Eduard Sevcenko Latvia
17-007 Marina Legenzova Lithuania
17-006 Jana Zykiene Lithuania
17-005 Evgenij Baishev Russia
17-004 Rahul Joshi India
17-003 Anita Lakatos Serbia
17-002 Ugne Kukyte Lithuania
17-001 Sandra Mockute Lithuania
16-011 Hassan Benmestoura Belgium
16-010 Jorg Fuchs Germany
16-009 Vilma Naruse Lithuania
16-008 Asta Butkute Lithuania
16-007 Jannie Coetzee South Africa
16-006 Liudmila Kakaulina Russia
16-005 Christopher Mewes Germany
16-004 Katja Bongart Germany
16-003 Marina Putzinger Germany
16-002 Arslanel Ödül Turkey
16-001 Souto Glayson Brazil
15-004 Marina Vlasova Russia
15-003 Liudmila Senciugova Russia
15-002 Sintia Katkevica Latvia
15-001 Sylvester James Scotland-Nigeria
14-007 Andrej Choroneko Belarus
14-006 Andrej Rumiancev Estonia
14-005 Leonor Greffel Denmark-Mozambique
14-004 Jelena Kursanova Russia
14-003 Sean Fergusson UK
14-002 Jagjeet Singh India
14-002 Roberto Reinaldo Portugal-UK
14-001 Evelyn Dirocie Belgium
13-005 Olga Samak Belarus
13-004 Reza Bagherzadeh Iran
13-003 Jelena Volkova Russia
13-002 John Leslie South Africa
13-001 Nikolaj Vorobjov Russia
12-009 Svetlana Pugacheva Russia
12-008 Kristina Narbutaityte Lithuania
12-007 Sergej Kostel Belarus
12-006 Reza Rezaei Iran
12-005 Andrzej Rak Poland
12-004 Andrzej Brzezinski Poland
12-003 Marieta Zigalova Slovakia
12-002 Marosz Kanas Slovakia
12-001 Dalvaniza Aquino Brazil
11-016 Elizabeth Van Den Merve South Africa
11-015 Suzanna Lemmer South Africa
11-014 Marina Bekojeva Russia
11-013 Svetlana Agalarova Russia
11-012 Arora Rajesh India
11-011 Ali Mahdi Iran
11-010 Andrius Pauliukevicius Lithuania
11-009 Aleksandr Borsan Belarus
11-008 Fernando Sardinha Brazil
11-007 Mohsen Choranevis Iran
11-006 Navtej Singh India
11-005 Shameen Adams South Africa
11-004 Crecky Chaves Brazil
11-003 Ali Imani Iran
11-002 Jevgenij Klockov Russia
11-001 King Izogie Belgium
10-008 Aleksandr Vohmjanin UK
10-007 Sukvinder Singh India
10-006 Dharminder Singh India
10-005 Maria Lutsina Russia
10-004 Tracey Gottchalk South Africa
10-003 Dainius Dzikevicius Lithuania
10-003 Heinrich Voss South Africa
10-002 Valentina Kozlovskaja Belarus
10-001 Eva Martinkova Slovakia
09-003 Irina Valette France
09-002 Liudmila Kolesnikova Russia
09-001 Vitalij Aleksandrov Latvia
08-011 Sanchez Flores Mexico
08-010 Anton Zajanckovskij Lithuania
08-009 Wojciech Nadolski Poland
08-008 Jelena Panova Russia
08-007 Irina Stavickaja Russia
08-006 Aleksandr Sciogolev Russia
08-005 Leonid Filkatov Russia
08-004 Oksana Lapsova Russia
08-003 Timo Pekka Vilponen Finland
08-002 Aelksandr Sevcov Estonia
08-001 Yamila Toledo Argentina
07-011 Vladimir Poliakov Russia
07-010 Vladimir Belousov Russia
07-009 Denis Burmistrov Russia
07-008 Maria Kuzmina Russia
07-007 Liudmila Kungurova Russia
07-006 Tatjana Bojciuk Russia
07-005 Jelena Frenkel Israel
07-004 Jurij Solionov Lithuania
07-003 Arvydas Miseikis Lithuania
07-002 Irina Riabova Russia
07-001 Maria Stukova Russia
06-012 Vitalijus Kuzmycius Lithuania
06-011 Aleksandr Liubomirov Latvia
06-010 Dmitrij Skripnik Russia
06-009 Marios Artemiou Cyprus
06-008 Mona Costi Cyprus
06-007 Elena Stasiukyniene Lithuania
06-006 Silvia Malachovska Slovakia
06-005 Diana Decesare Brazil
06-005 Michail Malek Russia
06-004 Jurij Gucan Latvia
06-003 Aleksej Sebastjanov Russia
06-002 Aleksandr Anaskin Russia
06-001 Jurans Normunds Latvia
06-001 Antonio Osta Uruguay
05-014 Bruno Lembo Italy
05-013 Jelena Stadnik Ukraine
05-012 Brigita Brezovac Slovenia
05-011 Dmitrij Zolin Russia
05-010 Samuel Cullingworth UK
05-009 Marek Kalmus Estonia
05-008 Mike Mitchel Turkey
05-007 Luigi Sabiela Italy
05-006 Vera Jegorova Russia
05-005 Maris Kliavins Latvia
05-004 Andrej Jakubov Russia
05-003 Ida Guscia Russia
05-002 Rachel Kauppila Finland
05-001 Andre Kai Kaknes Norway
04-011 Martina Lepcin Croatia
04-010 Aleksandra Kukres Lithuania
04-009 Massimo Monaco Italy
04-008 Marie Rippert France
04-007 Irina Zincenko Russia
04-006 Vladimir Marachovskij Latvia
04-005 Aleksandr Baldin Russia
04-004 Dmitrij Cizov Russia
04-003 Ramunas Sendrius Lithuania
04-002 Mindaugas Kvasys Lithuania
04-001 Jolanta Mileriute Lithuania

International Secretary UGNE RAUDYTE DAUBARINE

FACEBOOK does not allow long texts. Get full information on International Site www.wff.lt

2008

10/06/2026

2008 INTERNATIONAL TOURNAMENT "AMBER PRIX".

Is there anyone in the world today who can compare to him?

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.

OVERALL CHAMPIONS

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

Men's Overall Champion: Darius Buksnaitis (Lithuania)

AMBER PRIX

09/06/2026

1976–1977 “AMBER PRIX” TOURNAMENTS.

THE FIRST PUBLIC BODYBUILDING COMPETITIONS IN THE USSR AFTER THE BAN.

In 1976, Edmundas Daubaras organized the “Amber Prix” tournament together with the “Zemaitija Cup” in the city of Telsiai, Lithuania. The strength events were held in one of the city’s schools, while the physique presentation program took place at the Telsiai Culture Palace. These competitions became the first publicly held bodybuilding contest in the Soviet Union after bodybuilding had been officially banned.

At that time, bodybuilding in the USSR was prohibited and actively persecuted by Soviet authorities. Nevertheless, Edmundas Daubaras succeeded in convincing the administration of the Culture Palace that the event violated no regulations. The competition was openly advertised to local residents, and the hall was filled with spectators. Organizing such an event involved considerable personal risk, but the tournament proceeded successfully and without consequences from the authorities.

Athletes from Vilnius, Klaipeda, and Siauliai participated in the event.

Winners of the 1976 Tournament

Junior Group Winners

Rimas Apulskis Stasys Stanius Rimas Cesaitis

Youth Group Winners

Antanas Basermanas Aimontas Dolgichas Evaldas Sorius

Adult Group Winners

Valentinas Vandys Risardas Krinickis

Overall Champions

Rimas Apulskis Evaldas Sorius Rišardas Krinickis

For comparison, an international bodybuilding event held in Kaunas the same year took place secretly in a factory cultural hall outside the city and without spectators. Another international bodybuilding competition organized in Kalinin (now Tver, RSFSR) was officially prohibited by authorities, yet athletes still staged the contest in a tiny local sports club as an act of protest. Only a small circle of supporters attended.

In 1976, while training at the Vilnius “Viktorija” club, Edmundas Daubaras met lawyer Grigorij Leonov, who had just graduated from the Faculty of Law at Vilnius University and had been appointed as a people’s judge in Klaipėda.

After Grigorij Leonov moved to Klaipeda, Edmundas Daubaras persuaded him to assume leadership of the city’s bodybuilding movement. The reasoning was practical: a judge’s position opened doors among city officials and made it easier to establish legal opportunities for athletes. While Edmundas Daubaras continued to manage organizational matters, Grigorij Leonov worked on creating legitimate legal foundations for bodybuilding activities in Klaipeda.

In 1977, the “Klaipeda Bodybuilding Federation” was officially registered under the Klaipeda City Sports Committee. This was an unprecedented development in the entire Soviet Union. Although bodybuilding remained banned throughout the USSR, Klaipeda now had an officially functioning bodybuilding federation. It remained the only legally operating bodybuilding federation in the Soviet Union until 1987, when the USSR Bodybuilding Federation was established under the USSR Ministry of Sports.

By legal means, all unofficial bodybuilding clubs in Klaipeda were closed, leaving only three clubs operating under the federation:

“Gintaras” — headed by Edmundas Daubaras “Satrija” — headed by Sigitas Vilutis “Alksnyne” — headed by Oleg Serov

The public competitions in Telsiai caused a sensation throughout the Soviet bodybuilding community. Many were astonished that such an event could take place openly. The leader of bodybuilding in the Estonian SSR, Innar Mardo (1945–2002), sent a letter of support to Edmundas Daubaras and promoted the “Amber Prix” tournament in Czechoslovak sports publications.

Encouraged by the success in Telsiai, Edmundas Daubaras, assisted by his father Vytautas Daubaras, organized the 1977 “Amber Prix” tournament at the Klaipeda Seaport Culture Palace. This event featured only physique presentation categories without strength exercises. Once again, the tournament was public, and local athletes personally spread information about the competition among supporters. The hall was filled with enthusiastic spectators.

Athletes from Vilnius, Kaunas, and Klaipeda participated in the 1977 tournament, which further strengthened Lithuania’s role as the center of unofficial Soviet bodybuilding during the years of prohibition.

1977 “Amber Prix” Tournament

In 1977, Edmundas Daubaras organized the public “Amber Prix” bodybuilding tournament at the Klaipeda Seaport Culture Palace. Athletes from Vilnius, Kaunas, and Klaipeda participated in the competition. The hall was full of spectators invited by the athletes and their supporters. These contests became one of the first public bodybuilding events in the Soviet Union after the sport had been officially banned.

Junior Division First Height Category

1st place – Viaceslav Chleborodov (Vilnius)
2nd place – Edvardas Burba (Klaipėda)
3rd place – Rimas Apulskis (Klaipėda)

Second Height Category

1st place – Boris Dolgov (Vilnius)
2nd place – Benas Uckus (Kaunas)
3rd place – Nikolajus Kuznecovas (Vilnius)

Third Height Category

1st place – Stepan Nevera (Vilnius)
2nd place – Evaldas Sorius (Klaipėda)
3rd place – Edvardas Miseniovas (Kaunas)

Adult Division First Height Category

1st place – Algimantas Kersulis (Vilnius)
2nd place – Vytautas Daubaras (Vilnius)
3rd place – Jonas Zurauskas (Kaunas)

Second Height Category

1st place – Kestutis Petrosius (Vilnius)
2nd place – Risardas Krinickis (Vilnius)
3rd place – Stasys Maksimovas (Kaunas)

Third Height Category

1st place – Stasys Cukanovas (Vilnius)
2nd place – Albertas Besakirskas (Kaunas)
3rd place – Vytautas Zenkevicius (Klaipėda)

Overall Winners

Junior Division – Borisas Dolgovas
Adult Division – Stasys Cukanovas

THE 1977 STRUGGLE AGAINST THE POLITICAL DECISIONS OF THE USSR AUTHORITIES. 1977: THE INTENSIFICATION OF BODYBUILDING PERSECUTION IN THE USSR

In 1977, Edmundas Daubaras once again travelled to the Czechoslovak SSR for two months under a university exchange program. The sports activity program was similar to that of previous years and included meetings with the President of the Czechoslovak Bodybuilding Federation, Vojtech Fiala, as well as with the federation’s vice-president, Professor Frantisek Bulva.

Seeking to demonstrate loyalty to their government, the Czechoslovak officials organized a meeting for Edmundas Daubaras, as a representative of Soviet bodybuilding, with the leadership of the Czechoslovak Ministry of Sports. At that time, the Czechoslovak Bodybuilding Federation already had its own office within the ministry, where the federation’s secretary, the well-known bodybuilder Peter Tlapak, was working.

Vojtech Fiala also arranged Edmundas Daubaras’ visit to the national Olympic training center located in a mountain resort area. At that time, members of the national bodybuilding team were preparing there for the World Championships. Meetings and discussions took place with athletes and coaches.

Later, Edmundas Daubaras visited the city of Brno, where Professor Frantisek Bulva organized two meetings of the Council of the Czechoslovak Bodybuilding Federation. Edmundas Daubaras attended these meetings as a guest and delivered a presentation on the situation of bodybuilding in the USSR.

1977: THE INTENSIFICATION OF BODYBUILDING PERSECUTION IN THE USSR

In 1977, the persecution of bodybuilding in the USSR intensified even further. The USSR Ministry of Sports issued directives calling for stricter measures against bodybuilding, and the sports ministries of the Soviet republics repeated and actively enforced these orders. At the same time, a coordinated campaign against bodybuilding began in the Soviet press. Particularly aggressive criticism came from journalist Dmitry Ivanov of the newspaper Sovietsky Sport. As pressure mounted, nearly all prominent bodybuilding organizers throughout the USSR fell silent.

Refusing to accept the situation and drawing inspiration from the examples he had witnessed in Czechoslovakia, Edmundas Daubaras began corresponding with the editorial office of Sovietsky Sport, the USSR Weightlifting Federation, and officials of the USSR Ministry of Sports. However, these efforts produced no positive results.

At the end of 1977, Edmundas Daubaras, together with the best bodybuilders of the city, took part in the “Georg Tenno Memorial” held in Tallinn, the capital of Estonia. It was one of the most prestigious bodybuilding competitions in the USSR at the time. The most successful performance came from Patras Stanius, who won third place in the junior category.

You can find more information on international site www.wff.lt

1986

08/06/2026

WORLD BODYBUILDING HISTORY.

USSR BODYBUILDING FEDERATION WAS CREATED IN KLAIPEDA.

In 1986, while preparing the “Amber Prix” tournament, Edmundas Daubaras returned to active organizational work in bodybuilding in Klaipeda. The circumstances were favorable for such a return: he had completed his law studies at Vilnius State University, and his personal life had become more stable. Anatolij Goncarov, President of the Klaipeda City Bodybuilding Federation and a People's Judge, had repeatedly encouraged Daubaras to rejoin the city's bodybuilding movement. Apparently, 1986 was the right time to do so.

At that time, three bodybuilding clubs were operating in Klaipeda. There was no shortage of athletes, and many competitors regularly participated in contests. However, the city lacked outstanding personalities who could emerge as true leaders of the sport. Over time, the “Amber Prix” tournament itself had become somewhat routine. This was likely one of the main reasons why Edmundas Daubaras was invited back into active organizational work.

While organizing the 1986 “Amber Prix” tournament, Daubaras invited Vladimir Dubinin, a former prominent Soviet bodybuilder from Leningrad, to Klaipeda. Following his defeat at the 1974 Georg Tenno Memorial, Dubinin had virtually withdrawn from competitive bodybuilding and public life for nearly thirteen years. Nevertheless, he accepted the invitation and arrived in Klaipeda.

Although the competition itself proceeded according to the usual format, after the event Daubaras hosted an informal gathering at his home. Among those invited were several influential leaders of Soviet bodybuilding: Vladimir Dubinin, Moscow representative Vladimir Shubov, and Arkadiy Kashansky, who represented the Ukrainian SSR. Innar Mardo was not present, and Roman Kalinauskas was not considered for invitation due to previous disagreements.

During the meeting, Edmundas Daubaras presented two strategic issues for discussion. The first proposal was to organize a major international bodybuilding tournament within the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic. Such an event would help attract the attention of the central Soviet sports authorities and strengthen bodybuilding’s position within the official sports structure. Vladimir Dubinin agreed to take responsibility for the initiative and began organizing the international “White Nights” tournament in Leningrad.

The second issue concerned the establishment of an official USSR Bodybuilding Federation under the USSR State Sports Committee. Until then, the informal leadership tandem of Roman Moroz and Roman Kalinauskas had failed to provide consistent direction for Soviet bodybuilding and lacked meaningful support from the central sports administration.

Drawing on his experiences in Czechoslovakia, where he had observed the successful cooperation between the Czechoslovak Bodybuilding Federation and the country's Ministry of Sports (ČSTV), Daubaras proposed a clear plan of action. Vladimir Shubov and Vladimir Dubinin, who already possessed valuable contacts within Soviet sports institutions, were tasked with pursuing the federation's official recognition through the USSR Weightlifting Federation. The participants supported the proposal and quickly began taking practical steps toward its implementation.

Later that same year, Vladimir Dubinin successfully organized the international “White Nights” tournament at the prestigious Oktyabrsky Concert Hall in Leningrad. The event soon became one of the most respected bodybuilding competitions in the Soviet Union.

Following this meeting, Edmundas Daubaras turned his attention to another important issue—the search for a new bodybuilding leader in Klaipeda. The city lacked athletes capable of competing successfully at the highest level. Although there were promising competitors, the shortage of qualified coaching had prevented Klaipeda bodybuilders from achieving top results for several years in the Soviet Union’s most prestigious competitions: the “Amber Prix,” the “Georg Tenno Memorial”, and the Kaunas “Komsomol Cup”.

In his search for the most promising candidate, Daubaras focused on Viktoras Jucys. In his view, Jucys possessed all the qualities necessary to become the new leader of Klaipėda bodybuilding. Thus began Viktoras Jucys’s journey toward sporting prominence.

The athlete’s preparation incorporated foreign training methodologies, Daubaras’s accumulated knowledge, and years of practical experience. Equally important was the influence of the Vilnius School of Bodybuilding, one of whose principal architects was Ceslav Tamulevic. Special emphasis was placed not only on perfecting the compulsory poses but also on developing high-quality posing routines.

As Vitalij Asovskij, a disciple of Ceslav Tamulevic, once remarked: “If you woke any athlete from the Vilnius School of Bodybuilding in the middle of the night and pulled him out of bed, he could perform any compulsory pose flawlessly, almost while still asleep.”

These principles became the foundation of Viktoras Jucys’s preparation for future competitions and his rise within the sport.

More information you can get on international site www.wff.lt

GRIMEK AND NABBA

07/06/2026

What Does John Grimek Have to Do with NABBA?

NABBA often presents John Grimek as one of the historical symbols of its organization. His image is used in the association’s emblem, and various publications and websites frequently list him among NABBA champions. However, a closer look at the historical facts raises a legitimate question: in which NABBA organization did John Grimek compete if NABBA did not yet exist at the time?

John Grimek was a protégé of the legendary American sports promoter Bob Hoffman, often referred to as the “Father of American Weightlifting.” Like many of Hoffman’s athletes, Grimek participated in the “Mr. Universe” contests organized under the auspices of the FIHC (Fédération Internationale Haltérophile et Culturiste).

The first such contest was held in Philadelphia, USA, in 1947. The winner was another Hoffman-trained weightlifter, Steve Stanko.

Because the FIHC was recognized within the international sporting community, permission was obtained to hold the second FIHC “Mr. Universe” contest during the 1948 Olympic Games in London. The event was organized by the British Amateur Weight Lifters' Association (BAWLA) with the support of the magazine “Health & Strength”. John Grimek emerged as the winner of that competition.

It is important to emphasize that NABBA did not exist in 1948. The National Amateur Body-Builders’ Association (NABBA) was not founded until 1950 in the United Kingdom. That same year, the first official NABBA “Mr. Universe” contest was held, and its winner was the American bodybuilder Steve Reeves.

Therefore, from a historical standpoint, it is accurate to state that John Grimek won the 1948 FIHC “Mr. Universe” title, but he could not have been a NABBA champion because NABBA had not yet been established. NABBA later inherited and continued the Mr. Universe tradition, incorporating the winners of earlier contests into its historical records, including John Grimek. This is the primary reason why his name is often associated with NABBA today.

The historical facts, however, remain unchanged: John Grimek was a representative of the FIHC and Bob Hoffman’s athletic system, not an athlete of the NABBA organization. Consequently, describing him as a NABBA champion in the literal sense does not accurately reflect the historical circumstances.

The question therefore remains: if John Grimek never competed in a NABBA contest and was never a member of the NABBA organization, is it historically justified to call him a NABBA champion, or is this merely a later interpretation of bodybuilding history?

More information You can get on international site www.wff.lt

PROHIBITED SPORT

06/06/2026