KLAIPĖDA’S TRADITION CONTINUED. The “Amber Prix” Tournament, 1969–1970.

In 1969, a strong wave of sporting enthusiasm swept across Lithuania, including the rapidly growing sport of bodybuilding. Public interest in this new athletic discipline was remarkable. Bodybuilding competitions were staged at prestigious venues such as the Vingis Park stage in Vilnius and the Kaunas Sports Hall, attracting significant public attention. The events were covered extensively by the press and even broadcast on national television.

The results of the earliest bodybuilding tournaments, however, should be viewed with some reservation. Judged by modern bodybuilding standards, the outcomes would likely have been very different. At the time, bodybuilding competitions always included a strength component, which encouraged competitors to invite weightlifters to participate. As a result, many early champions owed their victories primarily to outstanding performances in strength exercises rather than to muscular development or physique aesthetics.

This became particularly evident during the 1970 competition held in Kaliningrad (RSFSR), where Klaipėda weightlifters Algis Eidukas and Alfonsas Mėcius outperformed nearly all the bodybuilders and emerged victorious. Among the champions, only Antanas Mineikis could be considered a true bodybuilder in the modern sense, distinguished both by his impressive muscular physique and strong results in the strength events.

The 1969 “Amber Prix” tournament was held at the Palace of Culture of the Klaipėda Construction Trust. In keeping with tradition, the competition consisted of two parts: athletes first competed in strength exercises and later demonstrated their physiques.

The event featured musical accompaniment by the popular jazz ensemble “Žėrutis.” On this occasion, former rower and member of Klaipėda’s amateur circus group Antanas Mineikis not only won his height category but also captured the overall champion title. In his category, he defeated the favorite and reigning 1968 champion Leonas Pivoriūnas.

In the second height category, victory went to Klaipėda heavyweight athlete Alfonsas Mėčius, while the first category was won by Kaunas representative Giršas Langevičius. Prize-winning places were also secured by Klaipėda athletes Kestutis Rumsas, Petras Lenkauskas, Jonas Vaiciulis, and Bronius Kilinskas.

By 1970, the “Amber Prix” tournament attracted somewhat less attention, as Lithuania was hosting several other international bodybuilding events, while the national team celebrated a successful appearance at competitions in the Polish People’s Republic. The winners of the fourth “Amber Prix” tournament categories were Antanas Mineikis, Pranas Cesnulevicius, and Juras Janciauskas. The latter two, together with the 1968 overall “Amber Prix” champions Valdas Aliubavicius and Leonas Pivoriunas, represented the Vilnius sports club “Viktorija,” which had already gained recognition as the center of the emerging “Vilnius School of Bodybuilding.”

The school was led by the talented coach Ceslav Tamulevic (1945–2023), whose influence played an important role in the development of Lithuanian bodybuilding.

In 1970, Antanas Mineikis was declared the overall winner of the “Amber Prix” tournament. Among the prize winners were also Klaipeda athletes Nikolaj Caika, Kestutis Rumsas, and Genadij Sevelkov.

Following the 1970 tournament, Klaipeda organizer Antanas Jonuskutis withdrew from organizational activities. Until bodybuilding was officially banned in the Soviet Union and other socialist countries in 1973, the “Amber Prix” tournament was no longer continued.

Nevertheless, the popularity of bodybuilding continued to grow. In 1971 and 1972, two “USSR Bodybuilding Championships” were organized within the territory of the RSFSR. Lithuanian athletes participated in both events, although no representatives from Klaipėda took part. In 1971, Estonian athletes established the international tournament Georg Tenno Memorial, which became one of the most prominent traditions in Baltic bodybuilding.

More information is on International Site www.wff.lt

HISTORY THEFT OR NAIVETY?

WHAT IS REALLY HAPPENING IN SPORT WORLD.

International bodybuilding today is facing more than just athletic competition. A far more serious battle is unfolding — one over history, names, and influence.

And at the center of that battle, one name keeps appearing: Graeme Lancefield.

“1968”: fact or convenient myth?

It is publicly claimed that basing on the “Amber Prix International” contest the World Fitness Federation (W.F.F.) dates back to 1968. It sounds impressive — deep roots, long tradition, authority.

But critics are asking a very specific question:
does that date belong to the W.F.F. of Graeme Lancefield — or has it simply been “borrowed” from other historical events?

If history is being rewritten, this is no longer interpretation. It becomes narrative engineering.

Old scenario, new players

Those familiar with the bodybuilding world have seen this before. The National Amateur Body-Builders' Association (N.A.B.B.A.) has already gone through a similar split, when Joe Lopez attempted to establish an alternative international structure.

The outcome was short-lived. But the pattern is recognizable:

separation, creation of a “new international” body, and flexible interpretation of history.

N.A.B.B.A.: “we have nothing to do with this”

Current N.A.B.B.A. president Eddy Ellwood has made it clear — the organization distances itself from any connection with the structure led by G. Lancefield.

This is not diplomatic language. It is a direct disassociation.

And a clear signal that the issue goes far beyond a simple misunderstanding.

Who pays the price?

While officials argue over history, the real cost is paid by the athletes.

They are invited into competitions that:

use well-known and prestigious names, rely on unclear or disputed origins, and sometimes create impressions that may not reflect reality.

Athletes come for sport — but find themselves in the middle of organizational conflict.

How long can the obvious be ignored?

If an organization relies on history — it must be verifiable.
If it uses names — they must be legitimate.
If it claims international status — it must be recognized, not self-declared.

Otherwise, one word remains: imitation.

Courts as the next step?

More and more frequently, legal action is being mentioned in relation to:

use of organizational names, appropriation of historical events, and potentially misleading information.

If that happens, the debate will end. Only facts — and rulings — will remain.

No diplomacy left

International sport cannot be built on vague histories and questionable narratives.

Today, the question is no longer “who is right.”
The question is — who can prove it.

And perhaps more importantly:
how long will the sporting community tolerate a reality where history becomes a tool, rather than a fact?

Official documents and more information is on International Site www.wff.lt

LEGENDARY “AMBER PRIX”.

1968 “Amber Prix International”.

Following the successful inaugural competition held in 1967, the bodybuilders of Klaipėda continued to foster the traditions of athletic gymnastics. In 1968, the second “Amber Prix” tournament became an international event, bringing together athletes from the Lithuanian SSR, Latvian SSR, and the Russian SFSR.

That same year, during an international tournament held in Kaunas, the “USSR Bodybuilding Federation” (Athletic Gymnastics Commission) was established to coordinate the development of bodybuilding throughout the Soviet Union. Five members were elected to the federation’s executive board, including two Lithuanians: Vytautas Zumeris and Valerijus Koreškovas.

During the “Amber Prizx” tournament in Klaipėda, the federation also held a meeting to discuss current organizational matters and the further development of the sport.

Competition Results

(top three places only)

Youth Group

Height Category 1

Pavel Tarakanov (Vilnius, Lithuanian SSR) Vytautas Venclauskas (Kėdainiai, Lithuanian SSR) Osvaldas Griskevicius (Kaunas, Lithuanian SSR)

Height Category 2

Valdas Aliubavicius (Vilnius, Lithuanian SSR) Algis Jonkus (Palanga, Lithuanian SSR) Valdas Kapcevicius (Kėdainiai, Lithuanian SSR)

Height Category 3

Arvydas Lekstutis (Kaunas, Lithuanian SSR) Vidmantas Povilionis (Klaipėda, Lithuanian SSR) Jurij Tiurikov (Kėdainiai, Lithuanian SSR)

Adult Group

Height Category 1

Klemensas Alsauskas (Kaunas, Lithuanian SSR) Jevgenij Koltun (Tyumen, Russian SFSR) Girsas Langevicius (Kaunas, Lithuanian SSR)

Height Category 2

Lionginas Danilevicius (Kaunas, Lithuanian SSR) Alfonsas Mecius (Klaipėda, Lithuanian SSR) Mecislovas Seibokas (Ukmergė, Lithuanian SSR)

Height Category 3

Leonas Pivoriunas (Vilnius, Lithuanian SSR) Antanas Mineikis (Klaipėda, Lithuanian SSR) Danil Pasternak (Riga, Latvian SSR)

Overall Winners

Valdas Aliubavicius – overall winner of the youth group Leonas Pivoriunas – overall winner of the adult group.

More detailed information is on International Site www.wff.lt

  LITHUANIA'S BODYBUILDING PRIDE OF 2026 – PIOTR SEVCENKO! Vilnius Bodybuilder Piotr Sevcenko – Absolute World Professional Champion!

Vilnius-based bodybuilder Piotr Sevcenko is an experienced athlete with a long and successful competitive career. Over the years, he has participated in numerous bodybuilding competitions at various levels. His sporting journey began more than 25 years ago, when he first competed in events organized by the worldwide WFF-WBBF federation.

The year 2026 proved to be an exceptional one for Piotr Sevcenko, bringing him outstanding victories and international recognition.

In May, at the 27th International „Universe“ Tournament held in Klaipėda, Lithuania, Piotr Sevcenko won the overall title and earned his WFF-WBBF Professional Card. This achievement opened the doors to the world of professional bodybuilding.

However, his success story did not end there.

In autumn, at the WFF-WBBF World Professional Championship held in the resort town of Nida, Piotr Sevcenko once again demonstrated his outstanding abilities. Displaying exceptional physical conditioning, impressive preparation and outstanding stage presentation, he claimed the overall title of World Professional Champion!

This is a prestigious bodybuilding achievement that athletes from many countries around the world aspire to accomplish. Only one competitor can claim the overall champion's title – the athlete who delivers the best performance.

Piotr Sevcenko’s victory is the result of years of hard work, determination, discipline and dedication to bodybuilding. His sporting journey is an inspiring example of how great ambitions can be achieved through consistent effort and belief in oneself.

Congratulations to Piotr Sevcenko on his outstanding achievements in 2026! We wish him many more victories on the international bodybuilding stage!

For more information about the competitions, results and WFF-WBBF activities, visit the federation's international website:

www.wff.lt

WFF-WBBF AND THE GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT OF FIT-KIDS.

From the Historic Initiative of 1999 to an International Sports Movement in 2026

HISTORICAL BEGINNINGS: 1990–1999

The World WFF-WBBF Federation occupies a special place in the history of children's fitness sports. Its activities became one of the important organisational foundations for the development of an international system of children's fitness.

The origins of this process date back to 1990, when the Federation began organising World Aerobic Fitness Championships. These competitions provided the foundation for expanding fitness activities and involving increasingly younger athletes.

In 1999, the WFF-WBBF Federation began systematically developing a separate children's sports division known as "Fit-Kids".

This was a significant milestone in the history of sports organisation. Children's physical fitness, coordination, flexibility, artistic expression and stage performance began to be recognised as an independent sporting discipline requiring specialised preparation and its own competition system.

THE EXPANSION OF AGE CATEGORIES – AN INDICATOR OF SYSTEMATIC SPORTS DEVELOPMENT

One of the most important stages in the development of WFF-WBBF children's fitness was the continuous improvement of its age-category system.

Initially, athletes were divided into several main age groups: up to 6, 8, 10, 12, 14 and 16 years of age.

As the number of participants increased and sporting competition intensified, these categories no longer met all practical requirements. Consequently, the Federation introduced a more detailed system in which athletes were classified by individual years of age, from 6 to 16.

This development had considerable sporting significance.

First, it created opportunities for a fairer assessment of children with different levels of biological and physical development.

Second, it provided more opportunities for children to participate in international competitions and achieve results within their respective age categories.

Third, it established the foundations for a more consistent athlete-development system in which each age group has specific physical preparation and stage-performance requirements.

Thus, the expansion of age categories was not merely an administrative change. It reflected the growing professionalism of children's fitness sports.

A NEW STAGE: THE DEVELOPMENT OF SPECIALISED SPORTS DISCIPLINES

As children's fitness continued to develop, different athletic abilities and interests became increasingly evident among young competitors.

Some children demonstrated outstanding general physical fitness, while others excelled in acrobatic skills, artistic expression, dance technique or the ability to create stage performances.

The WFF-WBBF Federation responded to these developments.

At the initiative of Alexandra Kobielak, Head of the Federation's Children's Division, the classification of sporting disciplines was further developed and expanded.

Five main disciplines emerged:

1. "Fit-Kids" – the principal children's fitness discipline, incorporating physical conditioning, body control, flexibility, coordination and stage performance.

2. "Performance" – a discipline focusing on individual athletic execution, movement quality and performance technique.

3. "Acrobatic" – a discipline demonstrating acrobatic skills, complex movements, flexibility and coordination.

4. "Show" – a combination of sport and artistic performance, emphasising creativity, stage culture and individual expression.

5. "Dance" – an integration of dance technique, musicality, choreography and physical fitness.

This classification demonstrates that children's fitness gradually moved beyond the traditional boundaries of aerobic sports. It developed into a diverse sporting activity combining physical conditioning, coordination, artistic expression and stage performance.

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS – A MEASURE OF INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION

One of the most important indicators of the stability of an international sports movement is the regular organisation of competitions and the historical record of their results.

The list of WFF-WBBF "Fit-Kids" World Championship Overall Champions covers the period from 1999 to 2026.

During this period, championship titles were won by representatives of Lithuania, Poland, Belarus, Russia, Ukraine, Serbia, Slovakia and Hungary.

These results reveal several significant trends.

The first trend – international geographical expansion.

The list of champions demonstrates that success has not been limited to a single country. This indicates that children's fitness competitions have developed into an international arena in which athletes from different countries compete.

The second trend – Lithuania's contribution.

The contribution of Lithuanian athletes is particularly significant. Lithuanian representatives won the Overall World Champion title in 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2022, 2023 and 2024.

This demonstrates the continuity of Lithuanian sporting achievements across different historical periods.

Lithuania's importance in this history is not limited to championship victories. It also reflects the country's participation in the development of international children's fitness.

The third trend – the achievements of Polish athletes.

Polish athletes also occupy a prominent position in the history of Overall Champions. Wiktoria Parkot deserves particular recognition for winning the title in two consecutive years, 2014 and 2015.

In 2025 and 2026, Polish athletes once again claimed the Overall World Champion titles.

The fourth trend – international competitiveness.

Victories by representatives of Belarus, Russia, Ukraine, Serbia, Slovakia and Hungary demonstrate that the history of the World Championships is not the sporting chronicle of just one country. It is a history of competition between different national sporting traditions.

THE CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY OF 1999–2026 – A REFLECTION OF THE SPORTING MOVEMENT

Over the 28 calendar years from the first championship in 1999 to 2026, the list records 28 Overall Champions.

It is particularly important that this period encompasses several distinct stages in the development of children's fitness:

1999–2005 – the initial formation of the international movement; 2006–2015 – the expansion of international competition and athletic performance; 2016–2020 – further geographical and sporting development; 2021–2026 – the modern stage of children's fitness sports.

This periodisation makes it possible to view "Fit-Kids" not simply as a series of individual competitions, but as a long-term sporting development process.

CHILDREN'S FITNESS – MORE THAN JUST COMPETITIVE RESULTS

When analysing the development of children's "Fit-Kids", it is important to remember that young athletes' achievements should not be evaluated solely by their World Championship titles.

The significance of this sporting discipline is much broader.

It provides children with opportunities to develop physical abilities, coordination, flexibility, movement skills, discipline and self-confidence.

Participation in international competitions also encourages cultural awareness, communication with peers from different countries and the acquisition of international sporting experience.

At the same time, it is essential to emphasise that children's health, safe training loads, age-appropriate preparation and positive sporting experiences must always remain the highest priorities.

CONCLUSIONS: THE PLACE OF WFF-WBBF IN THE GLOBAL HISTORY OF FIT-KIDS

The development of the children's "Fit-Kids" division by the WFF-WBBF Federation, initiated in 1999, became an important milestone in the organisation of international children's fitness sports.

From the World Aerobic Fitness Championships launched in 1990 to today's specialised system of children's sporting disciplines, a long journey of organisational and athletic development has taken place.

Throughout this period, the age-category system was improved, the diversity of sporting disciplines expanded, international competition traditions were established, and a historical record of World Championship results was accumulated.

A particularly important role in this development belongs to Alexandra Kobielak, whose initiative contributed to the expansion and further classification of children's sporting disciplines.

Lithuania's contribution is equally significant. The victories of Lithuanian athletes across different periods demonstrate the country's prominent position in the history of WFF-WBBF "Fit-Kids" World Championships.

The main historical conclusion: Since 1999, the activities of the WFF-WBBF Federation have provided one of the important organisational foundations for the development of international children's "Fit-Kids" sports.

Today, the championship record covering 1999–2026 represents much more than a list of sporting results. It is a 28-year historical record of an international movement, reflecting the achievements of athletes from different countries and the evolution of children's fitness sports.

Information source: World WFF-WBBF Federation. Official international website: www.wff.lt (Forum sections).