60 YEARS WE ARE CREATING WORLD SPORT HISTORY.

CHAIRMEN INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION VISITED PRESIDENT REPUBLIC LITHUANIA.

On January 22, 2026 International Chairmen of the W.F.F. – W.B.B.F. (World Fitness Federation, World Bodybuilding Federation)  visited historic President of the Republic Lithuania Professor Dr. VYTAUTAS LANDSBERGIS.

At the several hours lasting discussion with Professor Dr. VYTAUTAS LANDSBERGIS took part President of the International W.F.F. – W.B.B.F. federation DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS, for social work awarded with Honour Diploma of the International U.N.E.S.C.O. organization President of the Lithuania Sport Fitness Federation DARIUS DAUBARAS, representing „Rotary“ Club of the Lithuanian Republic Docent of the Klaipeda University historic VIDIMANTAS RAUDYS.

BLOCKADE TELEGRAMMS

In 2015 communication with Professor Dr. VYTAUTAS LANDSBERGIS DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS spoke about 1990 possibilities to ruin the U.S.S.R. economic Lithuania blockade. At taht time knowing about the difficulties with goods and products bodybuilders of German Democratic Republic (D.D.R.) proposed their help to the Lithuanian Republic. DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS received their two telegrams. Germans suggested to address the Governmemt of Lithuania as nobody had so much money at that time. DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS called to the Government and spoke with the Prime Minister KAZIMIERA PRUNSKIENE. Then she refused the help of the D.D.R. businessmen and bodybuilders. Hearing this Professor Dr. VYTAUTAS LANDSBERGIS asked to give him those telegramms. The archieves of the W.F.F. – W.B.B.F. International are really rich and big. Only now the telegramms were found. During the 2026 visit to the President Republic Lithuania Professor Dr. VYTAUTAS LANDSBERGIS DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS presented him the telegramms.

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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.

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1990 U.S.S.R. ECONOMIC BLOCKADE TO LITHUANIA.

D.D.R. BODYBUILDERS WANT TO RUIN BLOCKADE.

ECONOMIC BLOCKADE

Socialist Republic of Lithuania was a part of the U.S.S.R. for several decades. On March 11, 1990 Lithuanian Republic restored it‘s Independence. In April, 1990 the U.S.S.R. started economic blockade to young Lithuanian Republic. The blockade lasted 75 days. Most goods could not reach the Country. Especially gasoline and oil products.

THE BEGINNING.

Representing Lithuanian bodybuilding DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS during the „Gorbaciov perestrojka“ was the only one among the U.S.S.R. bodybuilders who was skilled in several foreign languages. Meeting representatives of various countries DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS spoke with them about the political situation in the Lithuanian Republic. Among them were representatives of the German Democratic Republic (G.D.R., Г.Д.Р., Германская Демократическая Республика, D.D.R., Deutsche Demokratische Republik) too. That were the Germans: Jurgen Madaj, Otto Rudiger, Peter Bajerowicz, Joachim Hennig, Peter Butze.

EAST GERMAN BODYBUILDERS OFFERED THEIR HELP TO LITHUANIA.

A number of G.D.R. bodybuilders were great businessmen. DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS told them about the economic blockade. The Germans collected information and evaluated their possibilities. In May, 1990 they offered DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS to address the Government of the Lithuanian Republic. Aiming to stop the blockade bodybuilders of the D.D.R. sent DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS a number of telegrams and offered help for the Lithuanian Republic. DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS connected with the Government of the Republic Lithuania and spoke with the Prime Minister KAZIMIERA PRUNSKIENE. The Prime Minister said „Lithuania needs no help. We will manage to solve the problem ourselves“. That was the end of the G.D.R. support to Lithuania. On October 3, 1990 G.D.R. was ruined and joined the F.R.G. (Federal Republic of Germany)

VYTAUTAS LANDSBERGIS INTERESTED ABOUT HISTORY OF G.D.R. BODYBUILDERS.

Eleven years ago DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS spoke with the first Leader of the Lithuanian Republic the „Lithuania Patriarch“ VYTAUTAS LANDSBERGIS. DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS told him the story abot the G.D.R. bodybuilders during the economic blockade. VYTAUTAS LADSBERGIS was interested very much in the happening. He asked to give him the telegrammes which were sent to DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS. The archives of the W.F.F. – W.B.B.F. (World Fitness Federation, World Body Building Federation) are really huge. Working on the „World Bodybuilding Encyclopaedia“ («Энциклопедии всемирного культуризма», „Pasaulinė kultūrizmo enciklopedija“) only now we found the G.D.R. telegrams. This way we are close to the year of 1991. We will tell more stories about the participation of Lithuania bodybuilders in the Independence process.

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

The History of the "Amber Prix" Rolandas Bučinskas – An Athlete at the Crossroads of Two Eras

Rolandas Bučinskas is one of the most distinguished figures in Lithuanian bodybuilding, whose career reflects the development of the sport from the mid-1980s through the end of the twentieth century. His sporting life encompassed remarkable victories, political change, organizational struggles, and personal setbacks, making him one of the defining personalities of Lithuanian bodybuilding during this period.

Bučinskas demonstrated exceptional talent at an early age. In 1982, while still competing as a junior athlete, he participated in the “Georg Tenno Memorial” tournament in Tallinn, where he finished second in his category. At that time, the competition was among the most prestigious bodybuilding events in the Soviet Union, and his performance immediately established him as one of Lithuania's most promising young competitors.

His career, however, was soon complicated by internal conflicts within the Lithuanian bodybuilding community rather than by sporting considerations. During the period when bodybuilding remained officially prohibited in the Soviet Union, Romanas Kalinauskas, head of the unofficial Lithuanian SSR Bodybuilding Federation, prohibited Rolandas Bučinskas from participating in competitions. Such a decision could easily have ended the career of a talented young athlete.

Seeking an opportunity to return to competition, Bučinskas turned to Edmundas Daubaras, who maintained close relations with Estonian bodybuilding organizer Inar Mardo. Thanks to Mardo's guarantees, Bučinskas was allowed to compete in the 1983 “Georg Tenno Memorial”, where he won the junior division. The victory became not only a sporting comeback but also proof that genuine talent could not be suppressed by administrative restrictions.

Bučinskas achieved even greater recognition in 1986 when he won the Overall Champion title at the prestigious international Amber Prix tournament. By then, the Amber Prix had become one of the most significant bodybuilding competitions in Eastern Europe, and the Overall Champion title represented the highest level of athletic excellence. This victory firmly established him among Lithuania's elite bodybuilders.

Following the official restoration of bodybuilding competitions in the Soviet Union, Bučinskas competed in the 1988 USSR Bodybuilding Cup, where he placed second in his weight category. For this achievement, he was awarded the title of “Master of Sport of the USSR”, one of the highest sporting distinctions of the period.

A defining chapter of Bučinskas' career came in 1991. After Lithuania restored its independence, Lithuanian athletes found themselves in a unique and difficult position. Most refused to compete for Soviet teams or participate in Soviet competitions in accordance with the policy adopted by the Lithuanian National Olympic Committee. At the same time, Lithuania's newly established sports organizations had not yet been fully recognized internationally, leaving athletes with very limited opportunities to compete abroad.

To overcome this situation, Edmundas Daubaras, encouraged by Lithuania's Minister of Sport Algirdas Raslanas, registered the Lithuanian National Bodybuilding Association (LNKA) with the Ministry of Justice, creating the first official bodybuilding organization of independent Lithuania. Shortly afterward, he organized a delegation of Lithuania's leading bodybuilders to compete at the NABBA European Championships in France, with Rolandas Bučinskas joining the team.

The decision proved historic. Rolandas Bučinskas and Natalija Murnikovienė of Klaipėda both captured European Championship titles, bringing home the first international gold medals ever won by independent Lithuania in bodybuilding. Their victories carried significance far beyond sport, symbolizing Lithuania's successful return to the international sporting community. At the same time, another group of Lithuanian bodybuilders, led by Romanas Kalinauskas, chose a more cautious approach and continued waiting until after the failed August 1991 Moscow coup before fully distancing themselves from the Soviet sports system.

Bučinskas continued his successful career within the IFBB. In 1996, he became IFBB European Champion, once again confirming his place among Europe's leading bodybuilders.

In 1997, he won his weight category at the IFBB World Championships. However, after failing a doping test, his world title was revoked and his victory officially annulled. This became the most painful episode of his sporting career and profoundly affected both his reputation and future professional path.

Even before the final doping results were announced, Bučinskas had begun preparing to emigrate to the United States in 1998. Once again, he sought assistance from Edmundas Daubaras, who contacted his long-time American friend Louis Zwick.

Their friendship dated back to 1989 during the international USSR–USA bodybuilding match. At that time, Edmundas Daubaras, Louis Zwick, Viktoras Jucys, and Rolandas Bučinskas managed to evade surveillance by Soviet KGB officers and secretly filmed two documentary productions about Lithuanian bodybuilders training at a cultural center outside Leningrad. Later that year, the films were broadcast on the American television network ESPN. Copies remain preserved in the archives of the World WFF–WBBF Federation. These documentaries became some of the earliest Western television productions featuring Lithuanian bodybuilding before the restoration of the country's independence.

By 1998, Louis Zwick owned a private television production company that produced bodybuilding programs for ESPN and organized numerous international events, including Miss Fitness America, Miss America Pageant, Hit the Rock, and others. Through his professional connections, he helped Bučinskas secure employment in the sports publishing and media industry. However, after the official announcement of the positive doping result, Bučinskas decided to leave the professional sports industry.

Today, Rolandas Bučinskas lives and works in the United States with his family.

Conclusions

Rolandas Bučinskas' sporting career represents far more than a collection of athletic achievements. His life mirrors the transformation of Lithuanian bodybuilding itself—from years of prohibition under the Soviet regime, through the struggle for international recognition, to the establishment of independent Lithuania within the global bodybuilding community.

His victory at the 1991 NABBA European Championships remains one of the landmark moments in Lithuanian bodybuilding history. It was not merely a sporting triumph but also an important symbol of the country's re-emergence on the international stage after the restoration of independence.

Although the 1997 doping case fundamentally altered the public perception of his competitive career, it does not diminish his earlier accomplishments or his contribution to the history of Lithuanian bodybuilding. From a historical perspective, Rolandas Bučinskas remains one of the defining figures of Lithuanian bodybuilding during the final decades of the twentieth century, an athlete whose career reflects both the remarkable achievements and the complex challenges faced by the sport during a period of profound political and social change.

More information is on international site www.wff.lt

World Bodybuilding History

W.F.F. – International / W.B.B.F. – International World Amateur Championship Overall Winners (1990–2025)

For more than three decades, the World Fitness Federation (W.F.F. – International) and the World Bodybuilding Federation (W.B.B.F. – International) have organized World Amateur Bodybuilding Championships, bringing together athletes from dozens of countries around the globe. Throughout the years, these championships have become an important part of international bodybuilding history, while the title of Overall World Champion has remained one of the highest distinctions an amateur bodybuilder can achieve.

From 1990 through 2025, Overall World Championship titles have been won by outstanding athletes representing Europe, Asia, South America, and other continents. Their achievements reflect the continuous growth of the federation, its expanding international recognition, and the exceptionally high competitive standards maintained over the years.

Men's Overall World Champions

Year

Competitor

Country

2025

Dainius Dzikevičius

Lithuania

2024

Andrius Pauliukevičius

Lithuania

2023

Łukasz Kuliński

Poland

2022

Vilius Pranckevičius

Lithuania

2021

Artur Kamieniak

Poland

2020

Roman Polshin

Estonia

2019

Arkadiusz Demidowicz

Poland

2018

Tolga Murat Balıkçı

Türkiye

2017

Maroš Kanasz

Slovakia

2016

Glayson Souto Ferreira

Brazil

2015

Maroš Kanasz

Slovakia

2014

Nikolaj Vorobjov

Russia

2013

Mostafa Golmirza Eskandari

Iran

2012

Nikolaj Vorobjov

Russia

2011

Ali Imani

Iran

2010

Aleksandr Sevcov

Estonia

2009

Aleksandr Anaskin

Russia

2008

Wojciech Nadolski

Poland

2007

Roman Dubovickij

Russia

2006

Antonio Osta

Uruguay

2005

Aleksandr Baldin

Russia

2004

Konstantin Zacharov

Russia

2003

Aleksandr Tumasevic

Russia

2002

Franco Carlotto

Switzerland

2001

Mindaugas Kvasys

Lithuania

2000

Massimo Monaco

Italy

1999

Franco Carlotto

Switzerland

1998

Jurgen Koch

Germany

1997

Jurgen Koch

Germany

1996

Jan Bolken

Germany

1995

Holger Dannheim

Germany

1994

Dirk Karregarn

Germany

1993

Klaus Martin

Germany

1992

Murat Aibbyak

Türkiye

1991

Reiner Gorbracht

Germany

1990

Volker Fortsch

Germany

Women's Overall World Champions

Year

Competitor

Country

2025

Olga Bogacz

Poland

2024

Vaida Budrienė

Lithuania

2023

Anna Sobolewska Kucharska

Poland

2022

Anna Sobolewska Kucharska

Poland

2021

Laura Siugale

Latvia

2020

Hanna Kristina Skitta

Finland

2019

Hollie Jade Feeney

United Kingdom

2018

Hanna Kristina Skitta

Finland

2017

Aleksandra Antipova

Russia

2016

Yamila Toledo

Argentina

2015

Liudmila Senciugova

Russia

2014

Jelena Kursanova

Russia

2013

Maria Sol Farinelli

Argentina

2012

Dalvaniza Aquino

Brazil

2011

Crecky Chaves

Brazil

2010

Liudmila Kolesnikova

Russia

2009

Liudmila Kolesnikova

Russia

2008

Jolanta Mileriūtė

Lithuania

2007

Irina Riabova

Russia

2006

Rosalia Dutra de Campos

Argentina

2005

Rachel Kauppila

Finland

2004

Marina Burinskaja

Latvia

2003

Marie Pierre Dominique Ripert

France

2002

Irina Zincenko

Russia

2001

Svetlana Pugacheva

Russia

2000

Maria Konstantinidou

Greece

1999

Tina Push

Germany

1998

Claudia Machmor

Germany

1997

Edita Daubaraitė

Lithuania

1996

Daniela Haric

Croatia

1995

Alexandra Baumann

Germany

1994

Manuela Neugebauer

Germany

1993

Sandra Bauertle

Germany

1992

Manuela Franc

Germany

1991

Sabine Weeke

Germany

1990

Bettina Binder

Germany

Summary

During the 36-year history of the W.F.F. – International and W.B.B.F. – International World Amateur Championships, Overall World Champion titles have been won by athletes representing numerous countries worldwide. In the early years of the federation, German competitors dominated the championships. Later, champions emerged from Russia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, Finland, Argentina, Brazil, Iran, Estonia, Switzerland, Türkiye, Italy, Uruguay, Greece, Latvia, Croatia, France, and the United Kingdom.

Particularly noteworthy is the remarkable progress achieved by Lithuanian athletes. Over the last five years alone, Lithuania has produced three Men's Overall World Champions (2022, 2024, and 2025), while in 2024 Vaida Budrienė captured the Women's Overall World Champion title. These accomplishments demonstrate the outstanding level of Lithuanian bodybuilding and the country's significant contribution to the history of W.F.F. – International and W.B.B.F. – International.

Conclusions

The results of the World Amateur Championships from 1990 to 2025 clearly illustrate the steady development of W.F.F. – International and W.B.B.F. – International and their important role in the evolution of international amateur bodybuilding. For more than three decades, the federations have brought together thousands of athletes from every continent, providing them with an opportunity to compete at the highest international level.

Today, the list of Overall World Champions represents far more than a record of sporting achievements. It stands as a living chronicle of the international bodybuilding community, with every champion contributing to the rich traditions, prestige, and enduring legacy of W.F.F. – International and W.B.B.F. – International in the history of world bodybuilding.