2025 NEWS INTERNATIONAL.

MAYOR CITY KLAIPEDA MR. ARVYDAS VAITKUS.

OFFICIAL MEETING.

When bodybuilding is no more sport today, when no one International Sport Organization recognizes bodybuilding any more - we go on with real REVOLUTION IN OUR SPORT. Last fifty years we were always on the top and other bodybuilding organizations were copying us. Ok - You are welcomed. Life is changed so quickly and our sport as well. We work hard to remain on official level and we seek the RECOGNITION OF INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE.

We Start Our Big Job as this Historic Event is Closer. On the Way we have Official Meetings with Governmental Institutions of the Republic Lithuania including National Olympic Committee and Ministry of Sport. To thank for the support organizing the 58-th “Amber Prix International” on May 28, 2025 Members of the International W.F.F. - W.B.B.F. (World Fitness Federation, World Bodybuilding Federation) Executive Council visited Mayor City Klaipeda Mr. ARVYDAS VAITKUS.

Official Documents are on International Site www.wff.lt

World Fitness Federation, World Body Building Federation

(Activities Since 1968; 141 Country Members)

INTERNATIONAL MEGA EVENTS

(May 10, 2025, Klaipeda Zveju Palace, Republic Lithuania)

Participating Honour Guests - 2025 UNESCO Award Holder Professor Vasilij Bespalenko (Ukraine), 2020 UNESCO Award Holder Darius Daubaras, International Honour Silver Medal Holder World Bodybuilding Legend Natalia Murnikoviene.

180 Competitors from Republic Ukraine, Republic Latvia, Republic Estonia, Republic Slovakia, Republic Poland, Kingdom of Denmark, State of Israel, Republic Belarus,  Republic Lithuania

RESULTS

36-th World Amateur Championship

Over All Winners: Olga Bogacz (Republic Poland), Dainius Dzikevicius (Republic Lithuania)

“Fit-Kids” Over All Champion Elzbieta Matoga (Republic Poland)

Aerobic Fitness Over All Champion Julia Nowak (Republic Poland)

Pole Dance Fitness Over All Champion Jana Solovjova (Republic Lithuania)

Mini Trampoline Over All Champion Marija Karabovska (Republic Latvia)

Disabled Categories Over All Champion Kamil Kowalczyk (Republic Poland)

Model Fitness Over All Champion Olga Bogacz (Republic Poland)

Aerial Fitness (Hoop) Women Over All Champion Smilte Lauceviciute (Republic Lithuania)

Aerial Fitness (Hoop) Men Over All Champion Edvardas Korciaginas (Republic Lithuania)

Aerial Fitness (Hammock) Over All Champion Marlen Reimann (Republic Estonia)

Aerial Fitness (Silks) Over All Champion Ema Sackute (Republic Lithuania)

Bikini Over All Champion Valeria Nilova (Republic Estonia)

Baywatch Over All Champion Rita Liatukiene (Republic Lithuania)

Figure Classic Over All Champion Martina Fric (Republic Slovakia)

Martial Arts Over All Champion Vasilij Bespalenko (Republic Ukraine)

CATEGORY WINNERS

Pole Dance Fitness 12 years Sifi Anette Elissaar (Republic Estonia)

Pole Dance Fitness 16 years Sirie Lilleleht (Republic Estonia)

Pole Dance Fitness 18 years Ketlin Sainas (Republic Estonia)

Pole Dance Fitness Jana Solovjova (Republic Lithuania)

Aerial Fitness (Hoop) 8 years Akvile Korciaginaite (Republic Lithuania)

Aerial Fitness (Hoop) 12 years Nora Tomson (Republic Estonia)

Aerial Fitness (Hoop) 14 years Ugne-Kotryna Kaminskaite (Republic Lithuania)

Aerial Fitness (Hoop) 16 years Laura Valaityte (Republic Lithuania)

Aerial Fitness (Hoop) Over 21 years Gabriele Korciaginiene (Republic Lithuania)

Aerial Fitness Advanced (Hammock) Sirie Lilleleht (Republic Estonia)

Aerial Fitness Advanced (Hammock) 12 years Nora Tomson (Republic Estonia)

Aerial Fitness Advanced (Hammock) 16 years Sirie Lilleleht (Republic Estonia)

Aerial Fitness Advanced (Duet Hammock) Brit Nomm, Marien Reim (Republic Estonia)

Aerial Fitness (Duet Silks) Lise Lund Kjaer, Emily Lund Kjaer (Kingdom of Denmark)

Aerial Fitness Advanced (Silks) 12 years Meja Ziupsnyte (Republic Lithuania)

Aerial Fitness Advanced (Silks) 14 years Ema Sackute (Republic Lithuania)

Aerial Fitness Advanced (Silks) 16 years Emile Prunskute (Republic Lithuania)

Mini Trampoline Over All Champion Marija Karabovska (Republic Latvia)

Model Fitness 165 cm. Olga Bogacz (Republic Poland)

Model Fitness 175 cm. Svetlana Lavrenova (Republic Latvia)

Bikini Fitness 175 cm. Valeria Nilova (Republic Estonia)

Baywatch Fitness 165 cm. Maie Kiik (Republic Estonia)

Baywatch Fitness 175 cm. Rita Liatukiene (Republic Lithuania)

Figure Classic 165 cm. Baiba Libiete (Republic Latvia)

Figure Classic 175 cm. Martina Fric (Republic Slovakia)

Men’s Physique Elvis Siksna (Republic Latvia)

Men’s Physique Seniors Vladimir Fiodorov (Republic Estonia)

Muscle Models Damian Jakovic (Republic Lithuania)

Muscle Models Seniors Oleg Kametskov (Republic Estonia)

Body Athletic David Melikov (Republic Lithuania)

Disabled Fitness Kamil Kowalczyk (Republic Poland)

Disabled Fitness Seniors Grzegorz Piotr Dabrowski (Republic Poland)

58-th “Amber Prix International”

Over All Winners:  Olga Bogacz (Republic Poland), Szymon Lubecki (Republic Poland)

22-d World Pro Championship

Over All Winners: Svetlana Pugacheva (Republic Lithuania), Maros Kanasz (Republic Slovakia)

World Pro Bikini Winner Jelena Ivanova (Republic Latvia)

World Pro Figure Classic Over All Winner Martina Fric (Republic Slovakia)

World Pro Aerial Fitness (Hoop) Sofi Anette Elissaar (Republic Estonia)

28-th Amateur Europe Championship

Over All Winners: Marina Legenzova (Republic Lithuania), Szymon Lubecki (Republic Poland)

19-th Pro Europe Championship

Over All Winners: Martina Fric (Republic Slovakia), Dainius Dzikevicius (Republic Lithuania)

32-d “Baltic Cup International”

Over All Winners: Jelena Ivanova (Republic Latvia), Szymon Lubecki (Republic Poland)

32-d National Championship Lithuania

Over All Winners: Rita Liatukiene; David Melikov.

JUDGES INTERNATIONAL:

Alina Sunokaite

Gintare Staliulionyte

Viktorija Kriksciunaite

Ania Simsak Godula

Margarita Ozerova

Karolina Cesone

Terje Jaanoja

Gintare Zdanaviciene

Alina Pelepko

Jurans Normunds

Wojciech Nadolski

Karina Bagazkova

BACKSTAGE JUDGE

Olga Kolesova

SECRETARIES INTERNATIONAL

W.F.F. - W.B.B.F. International General Secretary Ugne Raudyte Daubariene

Renata Pelegrimiene

Smilte Utaraite.

See International Pages www.wff.lt

www.worldfitness.lt 

WHO IN U.S.S.R. COULD THINK ON INTERNATIONAL LEVEL?

ROLE OF PERSONALITY IN LIFE AND SPORT.

Everyone‘s personality depends on many items. One of them is – basing on which position a personality analizes all happenings. We mean bodybuilders, of course. Do you think of this as a sportsman, as a trainer or organizer or you think as an International Leader? Specialists of our sport scrutinize the same documents and the same basics but everybody of them evaluate the same items on a different way. Then we may look if this specialist is of a local level or he represents the International one. The specialist must get himself above the happenings of his time and he must look on everything like a flying bird high in the sky. Otherwise he can not understand waht is going on.

In the U.S.S.R. there were only few personalities who could think wide in the very beginning of bodybuilding. The representatives of various regions of the U.S.S.R. mostly were thinking in a narrow way. For example, Tiumen gym trainer JEVGENIJ KOLTUN (Евгений Колтун, R.S.F.S.R.) always represented a gym level and nothing more. The same was with a Kaliningrad trainer JURIJ SMOLIAKOV (Юрий Смоляков, R.S.F.S.R.) and with a Severodvinsk trainer the U.S.S.R. Champion ALEKSANDR LEMECHOV (Александр Лемехов, R.S.F.S.R.). The same was with a Leningrad gym trainer VLADIMIR DUBININ (Владимир Дубинин, R.S.F.S.R.). A representative of Riga (Latvian SSR) FELIKS SAJKOVSKIJ (Феликс Сайковский) and nearly all representatives of the Lithuanian SSR were on the same local level of understanding. There were no more active bodybuilding organizers in the U.S.S.R. at that time but only those we mentioned only. The exception could be the General Secretary of the formal „U.S.S.R. Bodybuilding Federation“  («Федерация культуризма С.С.С.Р.») ROMANAS KALINAUSKAS (Романас Калинаускас). How we can understand this „U.S.S.R. Bodybuilding Federation“ when bodybuilding in the U.S.S.R. is prohibited? It had totally no power. But unfortunatelly all activities of ROMANAS KALINAUSKAS were done through intrigues and blackmailing of his sport friends to the Communist political powers. Knowing no foreign languages ROMANAS KALINAUSKAS was separated from the World and could not understand the International process. Another exceptional person was INNAR MARDO (Иннар Мардо, 1946 – 2002, Tallinn, Estonian SSR). He also did not know any foreign language and worked only in Estonia. Even to do anything on the U.S.S.R. level he had no interest. But on regular basis organized by INNAR MARDO „Georg Tenno Memorial“ («Мемориал Георга Тенно», 1971 – 1989, Tallinn, Estonian SSR) contests gave him a huge prestige and respect of others. One more exception was DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS. During the period of bodybuilding prohibition he organized illegal „Amber Prix International“ („Gintarinis prizas“, «Янтарный приз», 1968 – 2023, Klaipeda, Lithuanian SSR) contests in 1974, 1975, 1976 and in 1977. Wishing to defend bodybuilding sport DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS for several years was in correspondence with the Ministry of Sport of the U.S.S.R. („U.S.S.R. Goskomsport“, Госкомспорт С.С.С.Р.). Finally received from the U.S.S.R. Ministry of Sport a negatyve answer DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS wrote a bodybuilding defending petition and personally brought it to Moscow. He presented the petition to the highest U.S.S.R. political powers:  to the Central Committee of the U.S.S.R. Communist Party  (Центральный Комитет Коммунистической партии С.С.С.Р.), to the U.S.S.R. Supreme Council (Верховный Совет С.С.С.Р.) and to the U.S.S.R. Ministry Council (Совет Министров С.С.С.Р.) and to the U.S.S.R. cental political newspapers  „Pravda“ («Правда») and „Izvestija“ («Известия»). In 1978 due to the petition of DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS the U.S.S.R. political powers gave him permition to organize „Amber Prix International“ in Klaipeda (Lithuanian SSR).

Leaders do not like a stable life. A Leader of any kind has courage and resposibility. Leaders always seek the result end never doubt if they will not succeed. At the same time the majority does nothing. They sit  in silence. So who was the bodybuilding Leader in the U.S.S.R.? The very similar to DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS life was of his friends in sport: the President I.F.B.B. (International Federation of Body Builders) BEN WEIDER, also the similar way of life was of the President N.A.B.B.A. (National Amateur Body Building Association) OSCAR HEIDENSTAM and W.A.B.B.A. (World Amateur Body Building Association) President SERGE NUBRET. The same similar way was of the General Secretary F.I.H.C. (Federation Internationale Halterophile et Culturiste) International OSCAR STATE.

Not knowing foreign languages narrowed possibilities of INNAR MARDO, but DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS assisted and helped him always. ROMANAS KALINAUSKAS did not know any foreign language and he always worked to be close to the U.S.S.R. Ministry of Sport. To say more he did his best to be close to the U.S.S.R. Weightlifting Federation (Федерация тяжёлой атлетики С.С.С.Р.). That were his top items for respect and loyality. But what he could get out of this when bodybuilding was prohibited in the U.S.S.R.? Just nothing.

While studying English and German philology at the Vilnius State University DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS did several attempts to unite gyms of Vilnius City. Nobody else never tried to do this. Anyway bodybuilding was prohibited in the U.S.S.R. and bodybuilders were afraid to do anything.

It is easy to speak when the work is done and everything goes smoothly. But at the moment to fight agaist bodybuilding prohibition no one supported DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS. No one. Today being already old many former U.S.S.R. bodybuilding organizers and bodybuilders try to „be Facebook friends“ of DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS. Fine. But where they were at the hard times of risky fighting?

During the fifty years of his bodybuilding activities there was a number of „deputies“ and assistants of DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS. Many wanted to take the place of DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS and to go on doing the same. No one succeeded.

Many disliked the stormy activities of DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS. Especially when he succeeded in his work. And he did. Having no wish to get into the intrigues of such people DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS got into the Vilnius State University in 1979 again. This time DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS studied law after he received the speciality of the phylology before. And again he succeeded. The same happened with INNAR MARDO. He was pressed by the people of envy and hate to leave his work and positions after the intriques in the formal Bodybuilding Federattion of the Estonian SSR. INNAR MARDO did not succeed to come back in full power again. There were several attemps but he was never back to the former normal situation. Hate and envy of his bodybuilding collegues ruined his life in sport. This information is based on the letters of INNAR MARDO to DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS.

Klaipeda bodybuilding was always a „Separate Republic“. And still is. It was in Lithuania, in the U.S.S.R. and Internationally now. It was based on the social and juridical status, on the International level - remember the World Bodybuilding Leaders whom we have mentioned above. International President W.F.F. – W.B.B.F. DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS is involved in the work of a number of International organizations which are collaborating with U.N. (United Nations) and U.N.S.E.C.O. (The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization). Who else was in the same position? The road was long. Much work and  studies were needed.

Due to his active International work DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS meets many World known persons.

In 2010 in Portugal during the Congress of the International Order of Templars (O.S.M.T.H., Ordo Supremus Militari Templi Herosolimitani) for the original ideas to unite World Religions DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS by Greek ARCHIMANDRIT CHARALAMPIJ was awarded with the „St. Nicholas the Wonderworker Silver-Gold Medal“.

In 2011 the Official Visit of the President W.F.F. – W.B.B.F. (World Fitness Federation, World Body Building Federation) International DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS was organized to Vatican. Listening about the Bodybuilding activities during the years of prohibition of this sport in the Socialist Countries the Vatican Congregat Perfect Cardinal J. Em. JOZEF KARDINAL TOMKO (Кардинал Иозеф Томко) was interested very much. Very big interest was shown to the bodybuilding defending petition of DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS and the victory that was achieved due to this. J. Em. JOZEF KARDINAL TOMKO positively evaluated our efforts to fight for the Bodybuilding Sport recognition and at once he named DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS as the „disident of the Communist Regime“. For this work done the Vatican Congregat Perfect Cardinal J. Em. JOZEF KARDINAL TOMKO presented the Original Vatican Pontific Medal (Medaglia Ufficiale di Pontificato di Sua Santita Benedetto XVI) to the International President W.F.F. – W.B.B.F. Federation EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS (Headquarters State Vatican, Cita del Vaticano, March 29, 2011).

During the last decades DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS had meetings and spoke about various International questions with the President Parliament Austria Professor ALFRED GERSTL (Президент Парламента Австрии профессор Альфред Герстл), the Prime Minister of the Republic Slovakia VLADIMIR MECIAR (премьер министр Словакии Владимир Мечиар), the Prime Minister of the Republic Slovakia ROBERT FICO (премьер министр Словакии Роберт Фицо), President Parliament Republic Slovakia JAN FIGEL (президент Парламента Словакии Ян Фигель), President Parliament Republic Lithuania ARUNAS VALINSKAS (президент Парламента Литвы Арунас Валинскас), Prime Minister Republic Lithuania GEDIMINAS KIRKILAS (премьер министр Литвы Гедиминас Киркилас), Prime Minister Republic Lithuania ALGIRDAS BUTKEVICIUS (премьер министр Литвы Альгирдас Буткявичус) and other High State officials of various Asia and Europe Countries.

Crowning the fifty years of bodybuilding activities of DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS Russia journalists call him “The Father of Russia Bodybuilding” («Отец российского культуризма»).

In 2015 at the International contest in front of a number of Members of the Parliament Republic Lithuania the representative of the Government Republic Lithuania ANTANAS VINKUS (Антанас Винкус) named DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS the „Lithuania Embassador for the World“ («Амбассадор Литвы в мире»). Then National Teams of America, Asia, Africa and Europe took part at this event.

It is easy to speak when the work is done and everything goes smoothly. But at the moment to fight agaist bodybuilding prohibition no one supported DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS. No one. Today being already old many former U.S.S.R. bodybuilding organizers and bodybuilders try to „be Facebook friends“ of DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS. Fine. But where they were at the hard times of risky fighting?

During the fifty years of his bodybuilding activities there was a number of „deputies“ and assistants of DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS. Many wanted to take the place of DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS and to go on doing the same. No one succeeded.

Many disliked the stormy activities of DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS. Especially when he succeeded in his work. And he did. Having no wish to get into the intrigues of such people DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS got into the Vilnius State University in 1979 again. This time DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS studied law after he received the speciality of the phylology before. And again he succeeded. The same happened with INNAR MARDO. He was pressed by the people of envy and hate to leave his work and positions after the intriques in the formal Bodybuilding Federattion of the Estonian SSR. INNAR MARDO did not succeed to come back in full power again. There were several attemps but he was never back to the former normal situation. Hate and envy of his bodybuilding collegues ruined his life in sport. This information is based on the letters of INNAR MARDO to DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS.

Klaipeda bodybuilding was always a „Separate Republic“. And still is. It was in Lithuania, in the U.S.S.R. and Internationally now. It was based on the social and juridical status, on the International level - remember the World Bodybuilding Leaders whom we have mentioned above. International President W.F.F. – W.B.B.F. DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS is involved in the work of a number of International organizations which are collaborating with U.N. (United Nations) and U.N.S.E.C.O. (The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization). Who else was in the same position? The road was long. Much work and  studies were needed.

In 2011 the Official Visit of the President W.F.F. – W.B.B.F. (World Fitness Federation, World Body Building Federation) International DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS was organized to Vatican. Listening about the Bodybuilding activities during the years of prohibition of this sport in the Socialist Countries the Vatican Congregat Perfect Cardinal J. Em. JOZEF KARDINAL TOMKO (Кардинал Иозеф Томко) was interested very much. Very big interest was shown to the bodybuilding defending petition of DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS and the victory that was achieved due to this. J. Em. JOZEF KARDINAL TOMKO positively evaluated our efforts to fight for the Bodybuilding Sport recognition and at once he named DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS as the „disident of the Communist Regime“. For this work done the Vatican Congregat Perfect Cardinal J. Em. JOZEF KARDINAL TOMKO presented the Original Vatican Pontific Medal (Medaglia Ufficiale di Pontificato di Sua Santita Benedetto XVI) to the International President W.F.F. – W.B.B.F. Federation EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS (Headquarters State Vatican, Cita del Vaticano, March 29, 2011).

During the last decades DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS had meetings and spoke about various International questions with the President Parliament Austria Professor ALFRED GERSTL (Президент Парламента Австрии профессор Альфред Герстл), the Prime Minister of the Republic Slovakia VLADIMIR MECIAR (премьер министр Словакии Владимир Мечиар), the Prime Minister of the Republic Slovakia ROBERT FICO (премьер министр Словакии Роберт Фицо), President Parliament Republic Slovakia JAN FIGEL (президент Парламента Словакии Ян Фигель), President Parliament Republic Lithuania ARUNAS VALINSKAS (президент Парламента Литвы Арунас Валинскас), Prime Minister Republic Lithuania GEDIMINAS KIRKILAS (премьер министр Литвы Гедиминас Киркилас), Prime Minister Republic Lithuania ALGIRDAS BUTKEVICIUS (премьер министр Литвы Альгирдас Буткявичус) and other High State officials of various Asia and Europe Countries.

Crowning the fifty years of bodybuilding activities of DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS Russia journalists call him “The Father of Russia Bodybuilding” («Отец российского культуризма»).

In 2015 at the International contest in front of a number of Members of the Parliament Republic Lithuania the representative of the Government Republic Lithuania ANTANAS VINKUS (Антанас Винкус) named DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS the „Lithuania Embassador for the World“ («Амбассадор Литвы в мире»). Then National Teams of America, Asia, Africa and Europe took part at this event.

In September, 2023 the Rector of the oldest Ukraine Lvov Stavropigeon University Professor DSc. JAROSLAV KMIT proposed International W.F.F. – W.B.B.F. (World Fitness Federation, World Body Building Federation) federation President, Rector of the International Sport University (I.S.U.) DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS to the respectful title the “2023 U.N.E.S.C.O. Ambassador of Peace”. U.N.E.S.C.O. (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) organization presented this title to DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS. At the same time DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS was awarded with the U.N.E.S.C.O. Medal and the Star.

In May, 2024 being among the delegates at the Parliament Republic Lithuania official representatives of the Republic Estonia – the U.R.K. EESTI KASAKATE UHING S.A. Colonel - General ANDREI GRITSKOV, Colonel - General VASSILI TROFIMOV, ALEKSEJ FILATOV, EVGENIA TOFFERT highly evaluated activities of International W.F.F. – W.B.B.F. (World Fitness Federation, World Body Building Federation)  President DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS. For the active social work the Estonians presented DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS the Order of the „U.R.K. Silver Cross“.

INFORMATION. More Detailed Information on Global Site www.wff.lt

60 YEARS OF LITHUANIA BODYBUILDING.

SHORT HISTORY.

On May 17, 2025 in City Gargzdai 60 years of Lithuania bodybuilding (1965-2025) were celebrated. Gargzdai organizers led by Viktoras Kura did tremendous job. That was a real bodybuilding fiesta. Respectful Guests and sport Personalities came to the Event.

Respectful Guests and Participants: Member Parliament Republic Lithuania Alvydas Mockus, President International W.F.F. - W.B.B.F. (World Fitness Federation, World Bodybuilding Federation) Federation DSc. Edmundas Daubaras, Candidate to the Parliament Republic Lithuania Klaipeda Polititian Gintaras Martinkenas, Participant of “Amber Prix International” (1968 - 2025) Gargzdai Event Organizer Viktoras Kura, 2020 U.N.E.S.C.O. Award Holder and President Lithuania Fitness Sport Federation Darius Daubaras, W.F.F. - W.B.B.F. International Silver Honour Medal Holder World Pro Bodybuilding Legend Natalia Murnikoviene, W.F.F. - W.B.B.F. International Silver Honour Medal Holder Vidmantas Malakauskas, W.F.F - W.B.B.F. International Official Alina Pelepko, President Lithuania Bodybuilding Federation Modestas Puise, Chairman Lithuania Bodybuilding Academy Remigijus Bimba, 2024 Over All W.F.F. - W.B.B.F. Pro “Universe” Champion President Latvia Bodybuilding Federation Maris Sveiduks, Lithuania Bodybuilding Statist Arunas Petraitis, Lithuania Bodybuilding Legends U.S.S.R. Champion Saulius Misevicius, U.S.S.R. Champion Raimundas Petraitis, U.S.S.R. Champion Ricardas Petrauskas, Tautvilas Rinkevicius, Aleksas Stankus, Igor Karpec, Vidmantas Lukys, Romas Mile and Famous Contemporary Bodybuilders Over All W.F.F. - W.B.B.F. Amateur Europe Champion Martynas Pakalnis, Arvydas Mickus, Rokas Razanauskas, Over All W.F.F. - W.B.B.F. World Champion Vaida Budriene, 2023 W.F.F. - W.B.B.F. Pro Europe Champion Raimundas Urbanavicius.

More Information is on International Site www.wff.lt 

1959.IMPORTANT TIME FOR SOCIALIST BODYBUILDING.

THIRD ARTICLE. BODYBUILDING COMES TO SOCIALST WORLD.

The thirteenth F.I.H.C.  (Federation Internationale Halterophile et Culturisme) bodybuilding “Mr. Universe” contest was organized in 1959 in Warszawa (People’s Republic of Poland). Traditionally this contest was held together with the annual F.I.H.C. World Weightlifting Championship. First time in sport history Socialist audience and athletes  saw “live” bodybuilders direct. At the F.I.H.C. World Weightlifting Championship the U.S.S.R. weightlifters were the best. The personal leadership was under Japan origin American multiple Olympic Champion TOMMY KONO (Tamio "Tommy" Kono, 1930 – 2016) and Russian Olympic Champion YURY VLASOV  (Юрий Власов, 1935 – 2021). TOMMY KONO was a student of BOB HOFFMAN (Robert Collins Hoffman, 1898 - 1985) and in his life he three times became over all F.I.H.C. bodybuilding “Mr. Universe” Champion (1954, 1955, 1961). In 1987 YURY VLASOV became the first President of the officially recognized “U.S.S.R. Bodybuilding Federation” («Федерация культуризма С.С.С.Р.»). Again the biggest popularizer of bodybuilding through the World was BOB HOFFMAN.

The Over All Winner of the 1959 F.I.H.C. bodybuilding “Mr. Universe” in Warszawa was a National French bodybuilding Champion GUY MIERCZUK (born in 1936).

Several USA private companies tried to fight with International leadership of BOB HOFFMAN. That were the owners of private I.F.B.B. (International Federation of Body Builders) commercial company brothers JOE (Joseph Weider, 1919 - 2013) and BEN (Benjamin Weider, 1923 - 2008) WEIDERS and another American DAN LURIE (1923 - 2013) with his own company W.B.B.G. (World Body Building Guild). Both companies were copying activities of BOB HOFFMAN but they had no chances to succeed as behind BOB HOFFMAN were International Olympic Committee (I.O.C.) members A.A.U. (Amateur Atlete’s Union) and F.I.H.C..

Copying BOB HOFFMAN along with the thirteenth F.I.H.C. bodybuilding “Mr. Universe” contest WEIDER brothers organized their first “Mr. Universe” in Mexico in 1959. That was a sad competition at there were only few competitors in three high categories from USA, Mexico, Canada ant England. Later in 1977 I.F.B.B. changed “Mr. Universe” name to the “World Championship”. I.F.B.B. Category Winners in Mexico were EMILIO KURY (Mexico), ED THERIAULT (Canada) and EDDIE SYLVESTRE (Mexico, 1931 - 2001). The Over All Winner was EDDIE SYLVESTRE and that was the greatest win of his sport life.

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