79 YEARS OF WORLD BODYBUILDING SPORT.

67 YEARS OF SOCIALIST BODYBUILDING.

BEGINNING.

Until now official World and Socialist bodybuilding history is presented as a mistake. The basis of the history is incorrect. It is a mistake when we use to say that bodybuilders built and developed sport of bodybuilding. No, not bodybuilders. Bodybuilders were training and participating at the competitions only. Do winning bodybuilders developed sport anyhow? No, not at all. For bodybuilders somebody else had to organize competitions, to get permeations, support, venue places, awards and to collect participants. To say more – somebody had to publicize information about contests and bodybuilders. Otherwise until now nobody would even hear anything about a single bodybuilder.

All bodybuilding organizations, federations were created not by bodybuilders. Organizations were created by functioneers and organizers. During the history of bodybuilding sport there were only few Internationally important persons - organizers. Organizers are the main persons of bodybuilding sport. We will speak shortly in this article. Anyway it will be a long story to put it down.

BEGINNING OF BODYBUILDING SPORT.

As we have spoken before we will present only short information. Each our story can be developed into a long article. For detailed information look on International Site www.wff.lt

Contemporary N.A.B.B.A. (National Amateur Body Building Association) history writer SI SWEENEY in his articles even does not mention the real first “Mr. Universe” contest. Also he writes incorrect information about the second “Mr. Universe” competition.

The same do writers who write about the I.F.B.B. (International Federation of Body Builders) history. These they underline that there was nothing before the WEIDER brothers JOE and BEN I.F.B.B. Commercial Company. They neglect the previous BOB HOFFMAN’s (Robert Collins Hoffman, 1898 - 1985 m.) “Bodybuilding Empire” which WEIDER brothers copied from beginning to the very end.

Many people want to rise themselves and they create unreal stories. Next followers use their creations and go on developing them.

1947. FIRST “MR. UNIVERSE” CONTEST.

The first real “Bodybuilding Empire” was created through the A.A.U. (Amateur Athletic Union)  in the USA by American BOBO HOFFMAN. In real A.A.U. united USA National Federations and it was the Ministry of Sport in the USA. They use to call BOBO HOFFMAN “the father of America Weightlifting”. A.A.U. since 1939 was organizing USA bodybuilding “Mr. America” contests. BOB HOFFMAN wanted to make bodybuilding an official recognized sport through A.A.U. and F.I.H. (Federation Internationale Halterophile). USA weightlifting though A.A.U. was a member of the International Weightlifting Federation F.I.H. Later F.I.H. name was changed to F.I.H.C. (F.I.H.C., Federation Internationale Halterophile et Culturisme) when F.I.H. started ruling World’s bodybuilding sport. BOB HOFFMAN decided to do the same with bodybuilding.

In 1947 F.I.H. organized the World Weightlifting Championship and International Congress in Philadelphia (USA). Under the efforts of BOB HOFFMAN the International Congress decided to lead and control World’s bodybuilding on official level. This way for twenty years bodybuilding became officially recognized sport. It was immediately decided to organize the first in Sport’s History International Bodybuilding “Mr. Universe” contest alongside with the F.I.H. World Weightlifting Championship in Philadelphia. Then the Over All “Mr. Universe” Champion was a pupil of BOB HOFFMAN a famous America weightlifter STEVE STANKO. That was a Historical Happening and STEVE STANKO became a Historical Person.

1948. SECOND “MR. UNIVERSE’ IN LONDON.

It was a tradition of F.I.H. not to organize World Weightlifting Championship in “Olympic” years. What to do with the second F.I.H. bodybuilding „Mr. Universe“ competition? Then the idea to organize the F.I.H. bodybuilding “Mr. Universe” during the 1948 “Olympic Games” struck BOB HOFFMAN. There were real ways because F.I.H. was a member of the International Olympic Committee (I.O.C.). BOB HOFFMAN addressed British OSCAR STATE who was the President of B.A.W.L.A. (British Amateur Weight Lifting Association) to assist him. At the same time B.A.W.L.A. asked the Chairmen of the British Bodybuilding “Health and Strength” Magazine to assist them too. Through F.I.H. departments in various countries B.A.W.L.A. invited athletes to the contest in London. At the same time BOB HOFFMAN brought USA bodybuilders to compete. There were 1800 spectators at the second F.I.H. “Mr. Universe” in London. All money profit of the competition went to B.A.W.L.A.. After several preliminary rounds the finalists were ANDRE DRAPP (France) and Americans JOHN GRIMEK and STEVE REEVES. JOHN GRIMEK was proclaimed the Over All Winner of the second F.I.H. “Mr. Universe”. STEVE REEVES spoke on microphone saying that “John Grimek is the greatest bodybuilder who ever lived“.

1950. FIRST N.A.B.B.A. “MR. UNIVERSE”.

In 1950 under the efforts of the Chairmen of “Health and Strength” Magazine N.A.B.B.A. association was created in the Great Britain. As the former N.A.B.B.A. President  IVAN DUNBAR told us – N.A.B.B.A. Association was juridically registered as a „Public Club“. In 1950 N.A.B.B.A. organized the first “Mr. Universe” in London. The Over All Champion was STEVE REEVES (USA). At the same time a member of the International Olympic Committee F.I.H.C. went on organizing it’s own “Mr. Universe” contest. Comparing with N.A.B.B.A. “Mr. Universe” F.I.H.C. competitions were the official ones. For the two decades no one could confront F.I.H.C. as the official Bodybuilding Sport was under F.I.H.C. control. Even the Commercial I.F.B.B. Company of the WEIDER  brothers JOE and BEN could not imagine to think being equal to F.I.H.C..

1959. BOB HOFFMAN BRINGS BODYBUILDING TO SOCIALIST COUNTRIES.

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. Over All Winner was GUY MEIRCZUK (born in 1936, France). Right after this Bodybuilding Committe of Poland was created.  First President was the „Father of Polish Bodybuilding“ STANISLAW ZAKRZEWSKI.

IN 1963 FIRST INTERNATIONAL BODYBUILDING ORGANIZATION WAS ESTABLISHED IN SOCIALIST WORLD.

In 1963 under direct influence American BOB HOFFMAN  and British OSCAR STATE and the initiative of the F.I.H.C. (F.I.H., Federation Internationale Halterophile, later F.I.H.C., Federation Internationale Halterophile et Culturiste, later I.W.F., International Weightlifting Federation) in the U.S.S.R. was established first International Bodybuilding Organization (Общественный комитет атлетической гимнастики С.С.С.Р.). of the Socialist World. The U.S.S.R. Sport Ministry (Goskomsport, Госкомспорт С.С.С.Р.) appointed a known Russia weightlifter ROMAN MOROZ (Роман Мороз) as the President of this Organization. Then the U.S.S.R. was not ready to face this innovation and the new organization worked only formally. We would like to underline that the I.F.B.B. federation (International Federation of Body Builders) was created only in 1970 in Belgrade (Yugoslavia) by the General Secretary F.I.H.C. OSCAR STATE.

Real bodybuilding started in 1968 when another new Organization was created in Lithuania. Again the formal Chairman of the new Organization was the above mentioned ROMAN MOROZ. He was the man to connect bodybuilders with the Ministry of Sport of the U.S.S.R.. In real bodybuilding sport in the U.S.S.R. was governed by other people. They were Russian GENADIJ BALDIN (Геннадий Балдин) and two Lithuanians VALERIJ KORESHKOV  (Валерий Корешков) and VYTAUTAS ZUMERIS. That were the requirements of the „communist times and the communist regime“.

1966. FIRST SOCIALIST INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION.

In 1966 a bodybuilding contest was organized in Moscow (Russia) where the winner was IGOR PETRUCHIN (Игорь Петрухин, Russia). Also in 1966 the first in the Socialist Countries International Bodybuilding competition was organized in Vilnius (Lithuania). The Winners were IGOR PETRUCHIN, RYTIS MACIJAUSKAS and KLEMENSAS ALSHAUSKAS (both Lithuania); second places won Russian GENADIJ BALDIN, Lithuanians CESLAV TAMULEVICH (Чеслав Тамулевич) and ANATOLIJ PRIC (Анатолий Приц); third places went to Russian MARK SHAFRAN and Lithuanians RIMANTAS ZUJUS and ALGIMANTAS RAMANAUSKAS.

THE STORY WILL BE CONTINUED.

Those who are interested in detailed sport history – welcome to our Internet Site. We will publish the article in parts as it will take time. FACEBOOK does not allow long texts. For detailed information read International Site www.wff.lt

World Fitness Federation (W.F.F. - International)

World Bodybuilding Federation (W.B.B.F. - International)

International Amateur "UNIVERSE" Contest

Men Bodybuilding Over All Winners

(2000 - 2025)

Year, Name, Country.

2025 TORU FUKUTOMI, Japan

2024 MARIS SVEIDUKS, Latvia

2023 ALEKSEJ LAPSIN, Estonia

2022 DMITRIJ ANTONOV, Russia

2021 ROMAN POLSHIN, Estonia

2020 MICHAIL MALEK, Russia

2019 NIKOLAJ VOROBJOV, Russia

2018 RABHA GOLAP, India

2017 FREDDY GASTON VAN PUYENBROECK, Belgium

2016 MAROSZ KANAS, Slovakia

2015 ANDREJ RUMIANCEV, Estonia

2014 ANDRZEJ RAK, Poland

2013 ANDRZEJ BRZEZINSKI Poland

2012 ALEXANDER NEVSKY, Russia - USA

2011 ALEXANDER NEVSKY, Russia - USA

2010 ALEXANDER NEVSKY, Russia - USA

2009 ALEKSANDR VLADIMIROV, Lithuania

2008 DAYO AUDI, UK

2007 ROMAN DUBOVICKIJ, Russia

2006 ANTONIO OSTA, Uruguay

2005 ALEKSANDR BALDIN, Russia

2004 KONSTANTIN ZACHAROV, Russia

2003 JURIJ KARSETJAN, Latvia

2002 FRANCO CARLOTTO, Switzerland

2001 MINDAUGAS KVASYS, Lithuania

2000 MASSIMO MONACO, Italy.

Women Bodybuilding Over All Winners

Year, Name, Country.

2025 OLGA BOGACZ, Poland

2024 JELENA BITINEVA, Latvia

2023 ANNA SOBOLEWSKA KUCHARSKA, Poland

2022 MARIJA SIVKOVA, Russia

2021 HANNA SKYTTA, Finland

2020 OLESIA KONDRATOVA, Vietnam

2019 ALISA KLIMOVA, Russia

2018 NERINA BROGGIA, Argentina

2017 WILLEKE MARLES HOORNAERT, Belgium

2016 YAMILA VANESSA TOLEDO, Argentina

2015 JULIA GLAZYCEVA, Russia

2014 VALENTINA KOZLOVSKAJA, Belarus

2013 DALVANIZA AQUINO, Brazil

2012 YAMILA VANESSA TOLEDO, Argentina

2011 FERNANDA YOUGLAR, Argentina

2010 TRACEY LEE GOTTSCHALK, South Africa

2009 IRINA VALETTE FEDORUK, France

2008 FERNANDEZ ALEXANDRA XIMENA AGUIAR, Uruguay

2007 IRINA RIABOVA, Russia

2006 ROSALIA DUTRA DE CAMPOS, Argentina

2005 RACHEL KAUPPILA, Finland

2004 MARINA BURINSKAJA, Latvia

2003 RIPERT MARIE-PIERRE DOMINIQUE, France

2002 IRINA ZINCENKO, Russia

2001 SVETLANA PUGACHEVA, Russia

2000 MARINA BURINSKAJA, Latvia

W.F.F. - W.B.B.F. Secretary International Edita Sendriene

INFORMATION.
More detailed information on the Global International Site www.wff.lt

WORLD BODYBUILDING ENCYCLOPEDIA.

SOCIALIST BODYBUILDING HISTORY IN ONE PAGE.

Much time passed away since bodybuilding appeared at the Socialist Countries in 1959. Looking through this period of time is evident who was who in Socialist bodybuilding. It is evident through the real works done of the persons who played important role and who did not. Many „Old School Bodybuilders“ today create their stories which are fare away from the truth. Many athletes name themselves as the „U.S.S.R. Bodybuilding Champions“ but they are not in real. Though there were only five „U.S.S.R. Bodybuilding Championships“ (1971, 1972, 1989, 1990, 1991). Many name themselves as being important personalities in bodybuilding but they were not. Though as many will not like it but we will speak shortly about these problematc historic questions soon. Follow International Page www.wff.lt.

World Bodybuilding History.

VYTAUTAS ZUMERIS – PIONEER AND ARCHITECT OF ORGANIZED BODYBUILDING IN LITHUANIA.

Vytautas Zumeris (born 1944) was a physician, one of the pioneers of bodybuilding in Lithuania, and one of the leading organizers of the sport during its formative years. His importance extends beyond the history of Lithuanian bodybuilding: he also played a significant role in the emergence and organization of bodybuilding throughout the Soviet Union.

While studying at the Kaunas Medical Institute, Zumeris became interested in bodybuilding in 1965. His involvement, however, quickly went beyond personal interest. He became actively engaged in the organizational development of bodybuilding, at a time when the sport had virtually no established institutional structure in Lithuania.

The first leader of organized bodybuilding in Lithuania

In 1967–1969, Vytautas Zumeris headed the Lithuanian Athletic Gymnastics Committee. In 1969–1971, he became chairman of the Lithuanian Athletic Gymnastics Federation. The establishment of an organized bodybuilding structure in Lithuania was a remarkable development: the sport was being institutionalized at a time when it was still viewed with considerable suspicion within the Soviet sports system.

The official establishment of the Lithuanian Athletic Gymnastics Federation was confirmed on March 5, 1969, and Vytautas Zumeris was elected its first president.

This was more than the creation of a sports organization. It was an attempt to establish and legitimize a new form of physical culture, strongly influenced by Western bodybuilding, within a system in which the sport had no secure institutional position.

Lithuania's role extended beyond its borders

Zumeris's activities were not limited to Lithuania. Together with Vilnius-based Valerij Koreshkov, he became one of the key figures involved in the development of organized bodybuilding structures in the Soviet Union.

In 1968, Zumeris was elected to a five-member public Soviet bodybuilding committee. This group played a leading role in coordinating bodybuilding activities in the USSR until the sport was officially suppressed in the 1970s.

Particularly important were the international contacts established with Poland. In 1968–1969, bodybuilding competitions between the USSR and Poland were organized in Kaunas, Sopot, and Warsaw.

These events were highly significant because they represented some of the earliest international contacts between Soviet bodybuilding enthusiasts and athletes from abroad.

Zumeris can therefore be viewed as a bridge-builder – a person who helped Lithuania become one of the channels through which bodybuilding entered the broader sports environment of the Soviet Union.

Bodybuilding between sport and prohibition

The importance of this period must be understood within its political context. Bodybuilding was a young and distinctive form of physical culture, strongly influenced by developments in the West. In the Soviet Union, it did not fit easily into the officially approved model of physical education and sport.

In 1973, bodybuilding was effectively prohibited in the Soviet Union. This brought the first period of organized bodybuilding to an end.

Vytautas Zumeris subsequently withdrew from active bodybuilding activities. Nevertheless, the work carried out during the preceding years did not disappear. Lithuania already had an organizational tradition, international contacts had been established, and a generation of enthusiasts had emerged who would later contribute to the revival of bodybuilding.

Historical significance

Vytautas Zumeris's contribution is important primarily because he was not merely a bodybuilding enthusiast, but an organizer and leader. His organizational work helped transform an individual sporting interest into a structured movement.

His activities also demonstrate that Lithuania was not simply a passive participant in the Soviet sports system during the 1960s. In certain areas, Lithuanian sports enthusiasts themselves created new structures and established international contacts. In the history of bodybuilding, Vytautas Zumeris was one of these pioneering figures.

His greatest historical achievement was not a collection of sporting titles, but the creation of a beginning. He belonged to the small group of people who, in the late 1960s, transformed bodybuilding in Lithuania from an individual interest into an organized sporting activity.

Recognition and legacy

On September 28, 2020, at the Parliament of the Republic of Lithuania, Vytautas Zumeris was presented with the WFF–WBBF International Silver Medal of Honor for his contribution to the history of bodybuilding and his public activities.

Conclusion

Vytautas Zumeris can rightly be regarded as one of the architects of organized bodybuilding in Lithuania. His importance lies not simply in the formal positions he held, but in the fact that, as a young physician and medical student, he helped institutionalize a sport that had no established place within the Soviet sports system.

His and Valerij Koreshkov's activities demonstrated that the Lithuanian bodybuilding movement was capable of establishing international contacts as early as the late 1960s. The subsequent prohibition of bodybuilding only further highlighted the importance of the pioneers of this first period: they laid the foundations upon which the Lithuanian bodybuilding system could later be rebuilt.

Vytautas Zumeris's place in Lithuanian sports history should therefore be understood primarily as that of a pioneer, organizer, and one of the principal initiators of the institutionalization of bodybuilding in Lithuania.

His legacy extends beyond bodybuilding itself. It represents an important chapter in the history of Lithuanian sport – a story of initiative, organizational courage, international cooperation, and the determination to develop a new sporting culture under exceptionally difficult political circumstances.

More information is on international site www.wff.lt

WORLD BODYBUILDING ENCYCLOPEDIA.

WHAT IS N.A.B.B.A.? DRAWING CONCLUSIONS.

THE HISTORY OF THE N.A.B.B.A. ASSOCIATION.

While preparing material for the third volume of the World Bodybuilding Encyclopedia, we continue our review of the history of international bodybuilding organizations.

Until the collapse of the socialist system, the situation was relatively clear. From 1971 to 1998, the officially recognized bodybuilding sport was represented by the International Federation of BodyBuilders (I.F.B.B.), while the National Amateur Body-Builders’ Association (N.A.B.B.A.), established in 1950, represented an independent bodybuilding movement that did not possess official international sports recognition.

In this article, we examine the history of the N.A.B.B.A. association and its place in the development of world bodybuilding.

THE BEGINNING OF N.A.B.B.A.

BOB HOFFMAN BROUGHT BODYBUILDING TO LONDON

From 1947 to 1969, official world bodybuilding was governed by the Fédération Internationale Haltérophile et Culturiste (F.I.H.C.), a member of the International Olympic Committee (I.O.C.).

Largely through the efforts of American sports promoter Robert Collins Hoffman (Bob Hoffman, 1898–1985), the first F.I.H.C. “Universe” contest was held in the United States in 1947. In 1948, during the London Olympic Games and with the approval of the International Olympic Committee, the second F.I.H.C. “Universe” contest took place in London.

The event was organized not only by Bob Hoffman but also by the British Amateur Weight Lifting Association (B.A.W.L.A.) and the magazine Health and Strength.

Inspired by the activities of the F.I.H.C., British bodybuilding enthusiasts founded the National Amateur Body-Builders’ Association (N.A.B.B.A.) in 1950 and organized their own “Mr. Universe” contest. However, until the F.I.H.C. ceased its involvement in bodybuilding in 1969, neither N.A.B.B.A. nor the privately operated I.F.B.B. organization could claim official international recognition.

THE DEVELOPMENT OF N.A.B.B.A.

When discussing the history of sports federations, both athletes and administrators are important. Nevertheless, the identity of an organization is often shaped more strongly by its leaders and organizers, as athletes frequently compete in events organized by different federations.

For many years, American athletes dominated the N.A.B.B.A. Mr. Universe competitions. Supported by the structures of F.I.H.C. and the Amateur Athletic Union (A.A.U.), they regularly traveled to Europe and won the most prestigious titles. One reason for this dominance was their advanced training methods and the earlier adoption of anabolic substances in athletic practice.

During the 1980s, the British sports administrator Oscar Heidenstam emerged as one of the most influential figures within N.A.B.B.A. It was during this period that Dr. Edmundas Daubaras began corresponding with him and exchanging information and historical materials.

At the end of 1990, while meeting I.F.B.B. President Ben Weider in New York, Dr. Edmundas Daubaras did not receive support for Lithuania’s efforts to establish independent participation in international bodybuilding following the restoration of national independence. According to the author, the I.F.B.B. leadership declined to accept Lithuanian bodybuilders directly, bypassing the sports authorities of the Soviet Union. As a result, cooperation with N.A.B.B.A. became a practical alternative.

In 1991, Lithuanian athletes participated in the N.A.B.B.A. European Championships in Épinal, France. Natalija Murnikovienė of Klaipėda and Rolandas Bučinskas of Šiauliai became the first European bodybuilding champions in the history of independent Lithuania.

At the same time, another organization, the Lithuanian SSR Bodybuilding Federation headed by Romanas Kalinauskas, continued to operate within the Soviet sports structure.

ONE N.A.B.B.A. – THREE PRESIDENTS

Following the death of Oscar Heidenstam in 1991, the N.A.B.B.A. organization was led for nearly two decades by Irish administrator Ivan Dunbar. Although dedicated to the association, his tenure was marked by increasing internal disagreements.

By 1999, an unusual situation had developed in which three individuals competed for leadership within the organization: Ivan Dunbar, German official Klaus P. J. Hoffmann, and Australian representative Joe Lopez.

Various national federations competed for influence, while administrative and legal issues became increasingly apparent. Questions regarding the organization’s legal status and governance were raised by a number of national representatives.

THE N.A.B.B.A. SPLIT

At the end of the twentieth century, Joe Lopez became one of the most active and ambitious figures within N.A.B.B.A. His disagreements with Klaus Hoffmann and Ivan Dunbar gradually intensified.

During the 1999 N.A.B.B.A. World Championships in Austria, tensions reached a climax at the international congress held alongside the event. Financial disputes within the organization further complicated the situation.

At the congress, Joe Lopez announced that he and several supporting national federations were leaving the British-based N.A.B.B.A. structure and creating a new organization called “N.A.B.B.A. International.”

For several years, this organization promoted alternative “Mr. Universe” contests in Spain. Eventually, however, its activities declined, and the organization disappeared from the international bodybuilding scene.

WHAT IS N.A.B.B.A.? DRAWING CONCLUSIONS

Following the death of Oscar Heidenstam, N.A.B.B.A. no longer possessed a leader capable of providing a strong strategic direction for the organization. It preserved its traditions and historical legacy but did not pursue major ambitions for international expansion.

Nevertheless, N.A.B.B.A. remains one of the oldest and historically most significant bodybuilding organizations in the world. Since its foundation, it has served as an important alternative within the international bodybuilding movement and has left a lasting mark on the history of the sport.

After the International Olympic Committee abandoned support for bodybuilding’s Olympic aspirations in 1998, and following the closure of the Global Association of International Sports Federations (G.A.I.S.F.) in 2023, the international status of bodybuilding organizations became increasingly complex and less clearly defined.

Today, N.A.B.B.A. and I.F.B.B. occupy different positions within the global bodybuilding landscape, yet both organizations remain important in understanding the development, traditions, and historical heritage of bodybuilding.

More information is on international site www.wff.lt