WHO BROKE BODYBUILDING IN ESTONIA?

BEHAVIOUR AROUND INNAR MARDO.

In 1980 bodybuilding still was prohibited in the U.S.S.R. and Socialist Countries. When in 1978 DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS wrote the petition to defend prohibited bodybuilding, he personally brought it to Moscow and presented to the highest U.S.S.R. political powers. The achieved victory let to start public competitions in Klaipeda (Lithusnian SSR). Until this time contests were illegal and were done illegally without public. The first official public bodybuilding contest was the 1978 „Amber Prix International“ („Gintarinis prizas“,  «Янтарный приз», 1968 – 2025) which was organized by DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS. Since 1978 the „Amber Prix International“ got the status of the „Unofficial U.S.S.R. Bodybuilding Championship“ («Неофициальный чемпионат С.С.С.Р. по культуризму»).

OVERTHROW INNAR MARDO.

In 1980 the traditional „Georg Tenno Memorial“ («Мемориал Георга Тенно», 1971 - 2024) was not organized in the Estonian SSR. When in 1979 INNAR MARDO (Иннар Мардо, 1946 – 2002) and the best U.S.S.R. bodybuilder of that time Estonian OLEV ANNUS returned from competition in Czechoslovakian SSR they guarreled in between. Influenced by Lithuanian ROMANAS KALINAUSKAS OLEV ANNUS started acting. ROMANAS KALINAUSKAS always envied INNAR MARDO his sport success. Letters of INNAR MARDO to DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS say that OLEV ANNUS wrote bad letters about INNAR MARDO to political powers of the Estonian SSR. Due to this INNAR MARDO lost his gym and his position of the President of the National Bodybuilding Federation of the Estonian SSR. Also the Communist powers of the Estonian SSR prohibited 1980 „Georg Tenno Momorial“.

The leadership of bodybuilding in the Estonian SSR took OLEV ANNUS and brothers ARRO. INNAR AMARDO as well as DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS did not stop bodybuilding activities due to the conflicts. Both went on working on their own.

In 1980 separatly from the National Bodybuilding Federation of the Estonian SSR INNAR MARDO and INDREK OTSUS went to „Trener“ contest in the Czechoslovakian SSR. INDREK OTSUS won against the 1975 Over All I.F.B.B. (International Federation of Body Builders) Europe Champion PETER STACH again and received the title of the Over All Winner.

INFORMATION.
More detailed information on the Global International Site www.wff.lt, see forum topics.

OFFICIAL AND NOT OFFICIAL CZECHOSLOVAKIA.

MEETINGS AT SPORT MINISTRY.

BEGINNING. SITUATION IN SOCIALIST WORLD.

Bodybuilding sport has never been created and developed by athletes. Bodybuilding was developed by top officials and organizers. On the bodybuilding way to future organizers were building the road to sport. Bodybuilders were like kilometre signs at this road. Often organizers led bodybuilding wrong way. Today problems of bodybuilding are evident and guilty persons are known very well.

Contemporary bodybuilding does not appear as it is. Only few persons dared to act when bodybuilding was prohibited in Socialist Countries. Being afraid of prosecution nearly all bodybuilders left the sport.

We will speak about bodybuilding in Czechoslovakian SSR – they influenced all Socialist Countries. Now after fifty years we look upon our relations with Czechoslovaks from another angle.

Due to political reasons bodybuilding was prohibited in Socialist World in 1973. Socialist States started to prosecute bodybuilders. After 1968 revolution in Czechoslovakia their Government was lojal to bodybuilders. Comparing with other Socialist Countries after the revolution U.S.S.R. political powers let Czechoslovaks much more. At the same time bodybuilders in other Socialist Countries suffered much. Everybody envied the Czechoslovaks. There is no another person who was and still is close to Czechoslovak bodybuilding so much as President W.F.F. – W.B.B.F. (World Fitness Federation, World Bodybuilding Federation)  International DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS.

Activities of DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS were supported only by the leader of bodybuilding in Estonian SSR INNAR MARDO (Иннар Мардо, 1945 – 2002) and creators of famous „Vilnius Bodybuilding School“ («Вильнюсская школа культуризма») CESLAV TAMULEVIC (Чеслав Тамулевич) and VITALIJ ASOVSKIJ (Виталий Асовский). Today we are proud that we respected both of them in time – at the Parliament Republic Lithuania both received „International Honour Silver Medals“ («Международной Серебрянной Медалью Почёта», „Tarptautinis Garbės Sidabro Medalis“).

During the prohibition of bodybuilding only few officially permitted not regular contests were held in Tallinn (Estonian SSR). That was the International „Georg Tenno Memorial“ („Georgo Tenno memorialas“, «Мемориал Георга Тенно», 1971 – 2024). Also at the same time several underground and not officially permitted contests were organized in Lithuanian SSR. It lasted until in 1978 DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS dared to write bodybuilding defending petition and brought it to Headquarters of the Central Committee of the U.S.S.R. Communist Party in Moscow.

This way we got political permittion to organize the International „Amber Prix“ („Gintarinis prizas“, «Янтарный приз»  1968 - 2025) in Klaipeda (Lithuania SSR) in 1978.

Being afraid of prosecution all other U.S.S.R. bodybuilding organizers did nothing. After defeat at 1974 „Georg Tenno Memorial“ best R.S.F.S.R. bodybuilder VLADIMIR DUBININ (Владимир Дубинин) isolated himself and left bodybuilding for thirteen years. Until 1987 VLADIMIR DUBININ was not among bodybuilding organizers, he was only athlete. Only in 1980 representing their gyms Russians led by VLADIMIR SUBOV (Владимир Шубов, Moscow) and EUGENE KOLTUN (Евгений Колтун, Tiumen) started participating at bodybuilding contests in Baltic Countries. Both were representing their bodybuilding gyms that were acting illegally.

IMPORTANT 1975. MEETINGS AT SPORT MINISTRY.

Bodybuilders went on their own way when bodybuilding was prohibited in Socialist Countries in 1973. There was no communication in between. Nearly no...

In 1975 bodybuilders of the Chechoslovakian SSR got permittion to participate in the „West“ due to efforts of the President of Czechoslovakia Bodybuilding Federation VOJTECH FIALA. After 1968 revolution in Czechoslovakian SSR Czechoslovaks had many advantages comparing with other Socialist Countries. This way led by VOJTECH FIALA Czechoslovakia bodybuilders participated at the 1975 I.F.B.B. (International Federation of Body Builders) Europe Championship. Then PETR STACH won his category and became the Over All Europe Champion. Since that time for long time on Czechoslovakia bodybuilders were the only ones permitted to participate at the „Western“ competitions.

In 1975 basing on the exchange of the University students DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS went to Czechoslovakia for two months. In Prague DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS met VOJTECH FIALA. During the following two months their meetings were often. Both had enough time to speak over the International bodybuilding situation. VOJTECH FIALA organized a visit to PETR STACH who was living close to Prague. PETR STACH told about the Europe Championship and explained DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS about his training systems and posed in front of him.

At the same time VOJTECH FIALA organized the meeting of DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS with the Chairmen of the Ministry of sport of the Czechoslovakian SSR (Č.S.T.V., Československy Svaz Telesne Vychovy). Questions of the situation around bodybuilding was spoken over. VOJTECH FIALA wanted to demonstrate his good relations with the U.S.S.R. bodybuilding leaders and  since 1973 DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS was the only one to visit his country. Seeking to learn about the situation of bodybuilding in the U.S.S.R. Czechoslovaks addressed one of the U.S.S.R. bodybuilding pioneers GENADIJ BALDIN (Геннадий Балдин). GENADIJ BALDIN wrote them that bodybuilding in the U.S.S.R. is dead and only some bodybuilding organizers in the Baltic Countries still unofficially develop this sport on underground level.

1977 MEETINGS AT SPORT MINISTRY.

In 1977 still as a student of Vilnius State University DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS for two months went to Czechoslovakia again. Again working on the future cooperation between the U.S.S.R. and Czechoslovakian SSR bodybuilders DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS and VOJTECH FIALA visited the Ministry of Sport of  Czechoslovakian SSR. For the discussion meetings with the Chairmen of the Ministry were organized. In 1977 Czechoslovakian bodybuilding Federation had a room at the Ministry. Secretary of the federation was a famous bodybuilder PETER TLAPAK. He presented the headquarters of the federation, discussed the situation and posed in front of DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS.

VOJTECH FIALA for DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS organized a trip to a mountain resort where Czechoslovakia bodybuilders under support of the Government were preparing for the coming World Championship. DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS discussed various questions with athletes and trainers.

Also VOJTECH FIALA invited DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS to two meetings of the Czechoslovakia Bodybuilding Federation Council. The meetings were held by Professor FRANTISEK BULVA in the city of Brno. Under the requests of the participants DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS spoke on bodybuilding situation ion the U.S.S.R. and in Lithuania SSR.

The Article will be continued. Follow International Page www.wff.lt

FACEBOOK does not allow long texts. Get full Information on the same site www.wff.lt

W.F.F. - WORLD FITNESS FEDERATION.

10 YEARS OF WFF-WBBF POLE DANCE FITNESS.

WE CREATE FIRST NON DOPING FEDERATION.

In 1998 International Olympic Committee (I.O.C.) threw away I.F.B.B. (International Federation of Body Builders) federation. Since that time bodybuilding is no more recognized sport. The exception is only former Communist Countries and some Asia organizations. They still finance I.F.B.B. federation. All other multiple bodybuilding federations have nothing to do with sport. This way they fool athletes.

But bodybuilders do not disappear. International bodybuilding will be led by the W.B.B.F. (World Body Building Federation).

Declaring fitness as being totally without doping we go another way. The World Fitness Federation (W.F.F., W.F.F. - International) it’s activities started with the historic “Amber Prix International” (“Gintarinis prizas”) contest in 1968. For many decades fitness was understood as a part of bodybuilding. Now it is time to separate them and we will do it. Basing on the sixty years of our work we start totally new fitness concept. We seek to make fitness an officially recognized sport. We aim to be Olympic too. You can learn International fitness sport history on Global Site  www.wff.lt .

10 YEARS OF WFF-WBBF POLE DANCE FITNESS.

Today nobody is surprised when already more than thirty years W.F.F. – W.B.B.F. International presents new nominations and new categories at it’s competitions. Other federations are following and copying us. One of them is „Pole Dance Fitness“. First time this category was presented at the 2016 W.F.F. – W.B.B.F. International events in Kretinga (Lithuania). The first in sport history Over All World „Pole Dance Fitness“ Champion is International Level Judge GINTARE STALIULIONYTE (Klaipeda, Lithuania).

More information is on International Site www.wff.lt

“Amber Prix” Stories. PRANAS MURAUSKAS – A LEADING PIONEER OF LITHUANIAN BODYBUILDING AND A SYMBOL OF INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION.

Pranas Murauskas is one of the pioneers of Lithuanian bodybuilding and one of the most distinguished representatives of the Vilnius School of Bodybuilding. His athletic achievements became an important part not only of Lithuania's sporting heritage but also of the international history of bodybuilding. Although his competitive career lasted only from 1969 to 1974, during those years he achieved results that remain among the most significant accomplishments in the history of Lithuanian bodybuilding.

Murauskas rose to prominence during a particularly difficult period for bodybuilding in the Soviet Union. As the sport rapidly gained popularity, it was increasingly viewed with ideological suspicion by the Soviet authorities and was officially banned in 1970. Despite these restrictions, Lithuanian athletes and coaches succeeded in preserving a remarkably high standard of competitive bodybuilding. Vilnius emerged as one of the leading bodybuilding centers in the Soviet Union, and Pranas Murauskas became one of the brightest representatives of this renowned school.

Before the ban on bodybuilding was imposed, Murauskas won the title of Lithuanian National Champion, establishing himself among the country's elite athletes. This victory confirmed not only his exceptional talent but also the high level of bodybuilding that had already developed in Lithuania.

In 1971, he won his height category at the International Tournament in Kaunas, further demonstrating his growing international competitiveness. However, this success proved to be only a prelude to the greatest achievement of his sporting career.

In 1974, at the prestigious Georg Tenno Memorial International Tournament, Pranas Murauskas presented a physique that fully met the highest international bodybuilding standards of the era. His outstanding muscular development, exceptional symmetry, aesthetic proportions, and impeccable stage presentation earned him victory in his height category and, ultimately, the title of Overall Champion of the entire competition.

The significance of this victory becomes even greater when considering the caliber of his opponents. To win the Overall Championship, Murauskas defeated two of the Soviet Union's most celebrated heavyweight bodybuilders—Vladimir Dubinin (Russian SFSR) and Olev Anus (Estonian SSR). This was not merely another competition victory but a decisive triumph over athletes regarded among the strongest in the USSR.

The 1974 victory at the Georg Tenno Memorial became one of the defining bodybuilding events of the decade. It represented far more than personal success; it demonstrated the maturity and international competitiveness of the Lithuanian School of Bodybuilding. Bodybuilding magazines around the world reported extensively on Murauskas's achievement, published his photographs, and introduced him as one of Europe's outstanding bodybuilders. His name became known far beyond the borders of the Soviet Union.

Although Pranas Murauskas never had the opportunity to compete in the legendary “Amber Prix” ("Gintarinis prizas") International Tournament, his authority within the bodybuilding community was unquestionable. From 1978 to 1985, he served as a permanent judge of the tournament, one of the most prestigious bodybuilding events in Eastern Europe. Such appointments were reserved only for highly respected experts whose professionalism, experience, and integrity were universally recognized.

Pranas Murauskas's contribution extended far beyond his competitive achievements. He belonged to the first generation of Lithuanian bodybuilders who established the nation's bodybuilding traditions, promoted the principles of aesthetic physique development, and proved that Lithuanian athletes were capable of competing successfully against the world's best competitors. His achievements inspired future generations and played a major role in strengthening Lithuania's international reputation in bodybuilding.

His lifelong contribution to the sport was officially recognized in independent Lithuania. In 2021, during a ceremonial event held at the Parliament of the Republic of Lithuania, Pranas Murauskas was awarded the WFF–WBBF Federation Silver Medal of Honour in recognition of his outstanding contribution to world, Lithuanian, and Vilnius sports.

The sporting career of Pranas Murauskas is the story of an athlete who, despite difficult historical circumstances, reached the highest level of excellence and secured a permanent place in the history of Lithuanian and international bodybuilding. His victory at the 1974 Georg Tenno Memorial was far more than a personal triumph—it symbolized the international recognition of the Lithuanian School of Bodybuilding and demonstrated that dedication, discipline, and the pursuit of aesthetic perfection could elevate Lithuanian bodybuilding to the highest international level. Today, Pranas Murauskas is rightfully regarded as one of the most outstanding figures in the history of Lithuanian bodybuilding, and his legacy remains an enduring source of inspiration for future generations of athletes.

More information is on international site www.wff.lt

“Amber Prix” Stories. Rimantas Mažionis – A Soviet Bodybuilding Phenomenon Whose Potential the System Never Fully Utilized.

Standing 181 cm tall, weighing 100 kg in competition shape, with a 140 cm chest circumference and an astonishing 55 cm biceps. These measurements impress bodybuilding experts even today, while in the Soviet Union during the 1970s and 1980s they seemed simply unbelievable. Rimantas Mažionis from Klaipėda was one of the most physically impressive athletes of his generation, yet his sporting career unfolded at a time when bodybuilding in the USSR was not supported but persecuted.

Born in 1956, Rimantas Mažionis began training in 1973. Within just a few years, it became evident that Lithuania had produced an athlete with exceptional genetic potential. In Lithuanian school championships, he consistently won his weight category, impressing not only with his muscular proportions but also with extraordinary strength.

Bodybuilding competitions of that era were very different from those of today. Athletes were required not only to display their physiques but also to perform strength exercises. It was in this part of the competition that Rimantas Mažionis stood out as one of the very best. His enormous biceps became his trademark.

The athlete later recalled on numerous occasions that he never pursued sophisticated training systems. Working with extremely heavy weights, he preferred maximum intensity. During a single arm workout, he completed as many as 70 sets. This training approach produced remarkable results—his arms eventually reached an incredible 55 centimeters in circumference. Even today, this is a measurement achieved by only a handful of elite professional bodybuilders.

From 1976 to 1978, his athletic progress was interrupted by compulsory service in the Soviet Army. However, after returning, Rimantas quickly regained his excellent competitive form.

An important milestone in his career came in 1979 at the international "Amber Prize" tournament held in Klaipėda. There he won second place. At that time, the tournament itself had already become a symbol of resistance to official Soviet sports policy.

The competition took place shortly after Dr. Edmundas Daubaras submitted his bodybuilding defense petition to the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the USSR in Moscow in 1978. Although the official ban on bodybuilding was not lifted, the authorities allowed the international "Amber Prix" tournament to be held publicly in Klaipėda. This was an unprecedented decision that attracted enormous attention not only in Lithuania but throughout the Soviet Union.

Following these competitions, Rimantas Mažionis devoted several years to powerlifting. However, when Lithuanian bodybuilding experienced a new revival, he returned to the stage stronger than ever.

Preparing for competitions, he trained with almost fanatical dedication. In order to eliminate as much excess water from his body as possible, he performed his workouts wearing a rubber diving suit. Today such methods appear extremely harsh, but at the time they were regarded as one of the ways to achieve peak competitive condition.

In 1987, at the international Georg Tenno Memorial tournament in Tallinn, Rimantas Mažionis won his weight category. Three years later, in 1990, he claimed second place at the international "Amber Prize" Championship.

Nevertheless, his sporting biography is best defined not by the number of medals he won. In 1989, Rimantas had reached arguably the best condition of his entire career and, with the assistance of Dr. Edmundas Daubaras, was preparing to compete in the USSR Bodybuilding Championship. However, he never made it to the competition. The reason was not athletic performance—it was the behind-the-scenes intrigues of the then leaders of Lithuanian bodybuilding that prevented his participation.

This fact speaks volumes about the Soviet sports system of the time. Even exceptional talent and outstanding results did not guarantee the opportunity to represent one's country. Administrative decisions often carried more weight than sporting achievements.

A Soviet Bodybuilding Phenomenon

Viewed from today's perspective, Rimantas Mažionis was one of the most unique bodybuilders Lithuania has ever produced. His physical characteristics, exceptional strength, and remarkably developed musculature distinguished him not only within Lithuania but throughout the entire Soviet Union.

However, he belonged to a generation that was never given the opportunity to realize its full potential. Bodybuilding was banned, international competitions remained inaccessible to most athletes, and sporting careers were often determined not on the posing stage but behind the closed doors of government offices.

For this reason, the story of Rimantas Mažionis is far more than the biography of a single athlete. It is the story of an entire era of Soviet bodybuilding—a time when world-class athletes developed almost underground, and when their greatest opponents were often not the competitors standing beside them on stage, but the system itself. His career remains a powerful reminder of how many extraordinary talents of that era were never allowed to reach their full potential.

More information is on international site www.wff.lt