2026 INTERNATIONAL MEGA EVENTS

OVER ALL WINNERS

May 1-2; Klaipeda Zveju Palace, Republic Lithuania

289 competitors from 11 countries

59 -th "AMBER PRIX"

Jasmin Norgard (Kingdom of Denmark)

Grazvydas Narusevicius (Republic Lithuania)

27-th PRO "UNIVERSE"

Over All Women Categories Olga Bogacz (Republic of Poland)

Over All Bikini Champion Valeria Nilova (Republic Estonia)

Over All All Men Categories Maros Kanasz (Republic Slovakia)

21-st PRO EUROPE CHAMPIONSHIP

Evelina Pranauske (Republic Lithuania)

Vidmantas Malakauskas (Republic Lithuania)

27-th AMATEUR "UNIVERSE"

Olga Bogacz (Republic of Poland)

Piotr Sevcenko (Republic Lithuania)

30-th AMATEUR EUROPE CHAMPIONSHIP

Ruta Karpaite (Republic Lithuania)

Mantas Lunskys (Republic Lithuania)

32-d BALTIC CUP INTERNATIONAL

Sirle Lileleht (Republic Estonia)

35-th NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP REPUBLIC LITHUANIA

Rima Vaskiene (Republic Lithuania)

Tadas Jefisovas (Republic Lithuania)

EUROPE AERIAL FITNESS WINNERS

All Groups Aerial Fitness Over All Champion Lisandra Kaarma (Republic Estonia)

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

Hammocks Fitness Over All Champion Meda Zemgulyte (Republic Lithuania)

Silks Fitness Over All Champion Teja Jonaityte (Republic Lithuania)

Hoop Fitness Over All Champion Lisandra Kaarma (Republic Estonia)

Pole Dance Fitness Over All Champion Sofi Anette Elissaar (Republic Estonia)

Fit Kids Over All Champion Julia Szeffs (Republic Poland)

Aerobic Fitness Over All Champion Weronika Schreiber (Republic Poland)

Mini Trampolini Solo Over All Champion Anna Sidlovska (Republic Latvia)

Mini Trampoline Group Over All Champiuons Ieva Pazereckiene, Sartune Stone, Ligita Maciulske, Inga Naujioke, Sigita Stankuviene (Republic Lithuania)

JUDGES INTERNATIONAL

LILLEHT SIRET (Republic Estonia)

KRUSCIUNAITE VIKTORIJA (Republic Lithuania)

KHALED SHAABAN BEDINY (Egypt)

LUNDER KRAJER ANITA (Kingdom of Denmark)

SUNOKAITE SMAILIENE ALINA (Republic Lithuania)

AIZELMANN LORA (Israel)

STALIULIONYTE GINTARE (Republic Lithuania)

SIMAK GODULA ANNA (Republic Poland)

URUSOVAITE SKAIVA (Republic Lithuania)

VJAZOVKINA MARGARITA (Republic Latvia)

VARIAKOJYTE-REINSTROM IEVA (Republic Lithuania)

RAMANAUSKIENE LIUDMILA (Republic of Ireland)

JURANS NORMUNDS (Republic Latvia)

SCHREIBER OSCAR (Re[public Poland)

PELEPKO ALINA (Republic Lithuania)

SADAUSKAS VYTAUTAS (Republic Lithuania)

BAGAZKOVA KARINA (Republic Latvia_

STEPANOV JURIJ (Republic Lithuania)

MIKUCKIS VYTAUTAS (Republic Lithuania)

IVANOVA JELENA (Republic Latvia)

TOMAŠEVIČ-JAKOVIČ JUZEF (Republic Lithuania)

GUSAROVA INNA (Republic Latvia)

JUDGES CHAIRMAN INTERNATIONAL

PUGACHEVA SVETLANA (Republic Lithuania)

GENERAL SECRETARY INTERNATIONAL

UGNE RAUDYTE DAUBARIENE

SECRETARIES INTERNATIONAL

GOSTEVA ASTA

UTARAITE SMILTE

BACKSTAGE JUDGE

DARIUS DAUBARAS

NOTE: Category Winners we will publish in parts every next day. Follow

International Sites www.wff.lt and www.worldfitness.lt

INTRODUCTION TO THE BOOK
A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE HISTORY OF THE “AMBER PRIX” TOURNAMENT

The sixtieth anniversary of the historic international “Amber Prix” tournament is approaching. In this publication, its history will be presented in a structured way, revealing the key stages of its development. We intend to mark this anniversary not only with ceremonial events, but also with this book.

This is not merely a story about physical strength or athletic achievements. The international “Amber Prix” tournament, born and developed in Klaipėda, is a unique phenomenon—significant for the city, for Lithuania, and for the global bodybuilding movement. In this introduction, we briefly review the main themes and highlight the most important political, sporting, and social contexts.

The origins of the tournament date back to a period of rapid civilizational change: humanity was exploring the depths of the oceans and venturing into space. In this context, bodybuilding opened up new possibilities—it allowed not only the development of strength and endurance, but also the deliberate shaping of the human body.

The first competition was held in 1967 at the Klaipėda Polytechnic school. Athletes performed strength exercises and demonstrated their physiques. The initiator and organizer of the event was Klaipėda native Antanas Jonuškutis.

Following earlier unsuccessful attempts to establish bodybuilding, the second USSR Bodybuilding Federation (Athletic Gymnastics Commission) was founded in 1968 during an international tournament in Kaunas. It was decided that the federation would hold its first meeting in Klaipėda during the “Amber Prix” tournament—this decision was duly implemented.

After the events of 1967–1968, as bodybuilding rapidly gained popularity, the “Amber Prix” competitions were also held in Klaipėda in 1969 and 1970 under the leadership of Antanas Jonuškutis. He later withdrew from active organizational work.

In 1973, for political reasons, bodybuilding was banned and persecuted in the USSR and other socialist countries. Many athletes discontinued their training, while the most determined continued in secrecy—most often in basements of private homes.

You can find more detailed information on International site www.wff.lt

W.F.F. - W.B.B.F. International
(Since 1968)
PROFESSIONAL CARD HOLDERS
(2004-2026)
No. Cert., Athlete's Name, Country
26-001 Valerija  Nilova, Estonia

26-002 Olga Bogacz, Poland

26-003 Evelina Pranauske, Lithuania

26-004 Piotr Sevcenko, Lithuania

26-005 Ruta Karpaite, Lithuania

25-001 Mickael Louvel, France
25-002 Toru Fukutomi, Japan
25-003 Kamil Kowalczyk, Poland
25-004 Diana Stavchansky, Israel
24-001 Oleg Kametskov, Estonia
23-001 Majid Tashakkorinia, Iran
23-002 Vilma Poviloniene, Lithuania
23-002 Martina Fric, Slovakia
23-004 Palle Katring Rasmussen, Denmark
23-005 Raimundas Urbanavicius, Lithuania
23-006 Lukasz Kulinski, Poland
23-007 Jelena Ivanova, Latvia
22-001 Maris Sveiduks, Latvia
22-002 Anna Sobolewska-Kucharska, Poland
22-003 Natalia Miszkowska, Poland
22-004 Vasilij Bespalenko, Ukraine
21-001 Vidmantas Malakauskas, Lithuania
21-002 Sergej Rybakov, Latvia
21-003 Aleksejs Petkevics, Latvia
21-004 Roman Polshin, Estonia
20-001 Julija Magilinskaja, Lithuania
19-001 Ulku Ece Erturk, Turkey
19-002 Celal Orhan Bozkurt, Turkey
19-003 Tareq Ahmet Mohammed, Turkey
19-004 Olga Kolesova, Lithuania
19-005 Moumita Mazumder, India
19-006 Zina Usikova, Belarus
19-007 Arkadiusz Demidowicz, Poland
19-008 Aleksandr Pulbere, Russia
19-009 Alex Dunnett, UK
19-010 Ema Miliauskiene, Lithuania
18-001 Golab Rabha, India
18-002 Nerina Broggia, Argentina
18-003 Oksana Filimonova, Estonia
18-004 Amirhossein Pourezzat, Malaysia
18-005 Maik Thies, Germany
18-006 Tolga Murat Balikci, Turkey
18-007 Vipnesh Kumar, India
18-008 Igor Artemjev, Russia
18-009 Valentina Zabiiaka, Russia
18-010 Evelina Stulginskaite, Lithuania
18-011 Hollie Jade Feeney, UK
18-012 Hanna Kristina Skytta, Finland
18-013 Ricardo Cordeiro Fernandes, Brazil
18-014 Lilija Shcheklanova, Russia
18-015 Burcin Bayraktar, Turkey
18-016 Anas Nahhas, Turkey
18-017 Nadir Kassab, Turkey
18-018 Mohammad Maragheh, Iran
18-019 Kalimorad Morteza Siah, Iran
18-020 Hossin Reza Poor, Iran
18-021 Tajik Gholam Reza, Iran
18-022 Vahid Ashori, Iran
18-023 Ali Moieni, Iran
18-024 Hamid Solati, Thailand
18-025 Mohammad Ali Norozkhan, Iran
18-026 Shagmai Kushan, India
17-013 Jason Flechner, Germany
17-012 Sandro Piccirillo, Germany
17-011 Hugo Rafael, Brazil
17-010 Sergeii Iatsiuk ,Ukraine
17-009 Marcos Oloveira Dumont, Brazil
17-008 Eduard Sevcenko, Latvia
17-007 Marina Legenzova, Lithuania
17-006 Jana Zykiene, Lithuania
17-005 Evgenij Baishev, Russia
17-004 Rahul Joshi, India
17-003 Anita Lakatos, Serbia
17-002 Ugne Kukyte, Lithuania
17-001 Sandra Mockute, Lithuania
16-011 Hassan Benmestoura, Belgium
16-010 Jorg Fuchs, Germany
16-009 Vilma Naruse, Lithuania
16-008 Asta Butkute, Lithuania
16-007 Jannie Coetzee, South Africa
16-006 Liudmila Kakaulina, Russia
16-005 Christopher Mewes, Germany
16-004 Katja Bongart, Germany
16-003 Marina Putzinger, Germany
16-002 Arslanel Ödül, Turkey
16-001 Souto Glayson, Brazil
15-004 Marina Vlasova, Russia
15-003 Liudmila Senciugova, Russia
15-002 Sintia Katkevica, Latvia
15-001 Sylvester James, Scotland-Nigeria
14-007 Andrej Choroneko, Belarus
14-006 Andrej Rumiancev, Estonia
14-005 Leonor Greffel, Denmark-Mozambique
14-004 Jelena Kursanova, Russia
14-003 Sean Fergusson, UK
14-002 Jagjeet Singh, India
14-002 Roberto Reinaldo, Portugal-UK
14-001 Evelyn Dirocie, Belgium
13-005 Olga Samak, Belarus
13-004 Reza Bagherzadeh, Iran
13-003 Jelena Volkova, Russia
13-002 John Leslie, South Africa
13-001 Nikolaj Vorobjov, Russia
12-009 Svetlana Pugacheva, Russia
12-008 Kristina Narbutaityte, Lithuania
12-007 Sergej Kostel, Belarus
12-006 Reza Rezaei, Iran
12-005 Andrzej Rak, Poland
12-004 Andrzej Brzezinski, Poland
12-003 Marieta Zigalova, Slovakia
12-002 Marosz Kanas, Slovakia
12-001 Dalvaniza Aquino, Brazil
11-016 Elizabeth Van Den Merve, South Africa
11-015 Suzanna Lemmer, South Africa
11-014 Marina Bekojeva, Russia
11-013 Svetlana Agalarova, Russia
11-012 Arora Rajesh, India
11-011 Ali Mahdi, Iran
11-010 Andrius Pauliukevicius, Lithuania
11-009 Aleksandr Borsan, Belarus
11-008 Fernando Sardinha, Brazil
11-007 Mohsen Choranevis, Iran
11-006 Navtej Singh, India
11-005 Shameen Adams, South Africa
11-004 Crecky Chaves, Brazil
11-003 Ali Imani, Iran
11-002 Jevgenij Klockov, Russia
11-001 King Izogie, Belgium
10-008 Aleksandr Vohmjanin, UK
10-007 Sukvinder Singh, India
10-006 Dharminder Singh, India
10-005 Maria Lutsina, Russia
10-004 Tracey Gottchalk, South Africa
10-003 Dainius Dzikevicius, Lithuania
10-003 Heinrich Voss, South Africa
10-002 Valentina Kozlovskaja, Belarus
10-001 Eva Martinkova, Slovakia
09-003 Irina Valette, France
09-002 Liudmila Kolesnikova, Russia
09-001 Vitalij Aleksandrov, Latvia
08-011 Sanchez Flores, Mexico
08-010 Anton Zajanckovskij, Lithuania
08-009 Wojciech Nadolski, Poland
08-008 Jelena Panova ,Russia
08-007 Irina Stavickaja, Russia
08-006 Aleksandr Sciogolev, Russia
08-005 Leonid Filkatov, Russia
08-004 Oksana Lapsova, Russia
08-003 Timo Pekka Vilponen, Finland
08-002 Aelksandr Sevcov, Estonia
08-001 Yamila Toledo, Argentina
07-011 Vladimir Poliakov, Russia
07-010 Vladimir Belousov, Russia
07-009 Denis Burmistrov, Russia
07-008 Maria Kuzmina, Russia
07-007 Liudmila Kungurova, Russia
07-006 Tatjana Bojciuk, Russia
07-005 Jelena Frenkel, Israel
07-004 Jurij Solionov, Lithuania
07-003 Arvydas Miseikis, Lithuania
07-002 Irina Riabova, Russia
07-001 Maria Stukova, Russia
06-012 Vitalijus Kuzmycius, Lithuania
06-011 Aleksandr Liubomirov, Latvia
06-010 Dmitrij Skripnik, Russia
06-009 Marios Artemiou, Cyprus
06-008 Mona Costi, Cyprus
06-007 Elena Stasiukyniene, Lithuania
06-006 Silvia Malachovska, Slovakia
06-005 Diana Decesare, Brazil
06-005 Michail Malek, Russia
06-004 Jurij Gucan, Latvia
06-003 Aleksej Sebastjanov, Russia
06-002 Aleksandr Anaskin, Russia
06-001 Jurans Normunds, Latvia
06-001 Antonio Osta, Uruguay
05-014 Bruno Lembo, Italy
05-013 Jelena Stadnik, Ukraine
05-012 Brigita Brezovac, Slovenia
05-011 Dmitrij Zolin, Russia
05-010 Samuel Cullingworth, UK
05-009 Marek Kalmus, Estonia
05-008 Mike Mitchel, Turkey
05-007 Luigi Sabiela, Italy
05-006 Vera Jegorova, Russia
05-005 Maris Kliavins, Latvia
05-004 Andrej Jakubov, Russia
05-003 Ida Guscia, Russia
05-002 Rachel Kauppila, Finland
05-001 Andre Kai Kaknes, Norway
04-011 Martina Lepcin, Croatia
04-010 Aleksandra Kukres, Lithuania
04-009 Massimo Monaco, Italy
04-008 Marie Rippert, France
04-007 Irina Zincenko, Russia
04-006 Vladimir Marachovskij, Latvia
04-005 Aleksandr Baldin, Russia
04-004 Dmitrij Cizov, Russia
04-003 Ramunas Sendrius, Lithuania
04-002 Mindaugas Kvasys, Lithuania
04-001 Jolanta Mileriute, Lithuania

International Secretary UGNE RAUDYTE DAUBARINE

FACEBOOK does not allow long texts. Get full information on International Site www.wff.lt

LITHUANIA CUP OPEN INTERNATIONAL 1975–2026. FIVE DECADES OF BODYBUILDING HISTORY AND A LEGACY OF CHAMPIONS.

The Overall Winners of the international “Lithuania Cup Open,” organized by the World Fitness Federation (W.F.F. – International) and the World Bodybuilding Federation (W.B.B.F. – International): a history of sport, outstanding champions, and Lithuania’s tradition of excellence.

Fifty Years of International Sporting History

The period from 1975 to 2025 represents an important chapter in the history of the “Lithuania Cup Open.” It reflects not only the development of bodybuilding and fitness but also the contributions of several generations of athletes to the traditions of these sports. Over five decades, the tournament’s Overall Winners have represented Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Russia, Poland, Belarus, and Denmark.

Lithuanian athletes stand out particularly prominently, with their names appearing repeatedly among the Overall Winners. This demonstrates the longstanding importance of Lithuania’s bodybuilding tradition and the ability of its athletes to remain competitive on the international stage over an extended period.

The history of the “Lithuania Cup Open” encompasses several distinct stages in the development of the sport. Traditions established during the 1970s and 1980s continued to evolve following the restoration of Lithuania’s independence, while the geographical diversity of the tournament’s winners expanded further in the twenty-first century.

Men’s Competition: The Dominance of Lithuanian Athletes

The history of the men’s Overall Winners is characterized most notably by the strong performances of Lithuanian athletes. Competitors from Lithuania account for the majority of the titles recorded in the supplied list, and their names represent different stages in the development of bodybuilding.

Risard Krinickij holds a special place in the tournament’s early history, having won the Overall title in both 1975 and 1976. A decade later, Viktoras Jucys emerged victorious in 1986, followed by Rimontas Mazionis in 1987. These athletes represent the early period of the tournament’s history.

Between 1994 and 2000, Algirdas Kilčiauskas was particularly prominent. He became Overall Winner in 1994 and 1995 and captured the title again in 1999. His three victories establish him as one of the most successful athletes in the tournament’s history.

Other notable Lithuanian winners during this period included Gediminas Bacevicius, who claimed the Overall title in 1997, and Arturas Bartkus, who won in 2000. In 1996, the title went to Russia’s Roman Ivanov, while Estonia’s Vladislav Petrogradov emerged victorious in 1998.

At the beginning of the twenty-first century, Lithuania’s championship tradition continued with Mindaugas Kvasys, who won in 2001; Marik Stefanovic, victorious in 2003; Marius Leonavicius, who claimed the title in 2005; and Jurij Solionov, who won in 2007.

Athletes representing Latvia also played an important role during this period. Vladislav Labudz won in 2002, while Vladimir Marachovskij claimed the title in 2004. In 2006, Aleksandr Liubomirov secured another Overall victory for Latvia.

From 2008 to 2014, Lithuanian athletes maintained their strong position. Sergej Kiriuchin won in 2008, Dainius Dzikevicius in 2009, and Andrius Pauliukevičius claimed consecutive Overall titles in 2010 and 2011. Arvydas Miseikis won in 2013, followed by Mindaugas Piepolis in 2014.

Andrius Pauliukevičius’s two consecutive victories stand out as one of the most significant achievements of this period. They demonstrate his ability to maintain a high level of preparation and repeatedly establish his superiority in the Overall standings.

In 2012, Latvia’s Eduard Sevcenko became the Overall Winner. In 2015, Estonia’s Roman Polsin claimed the title, followed by Russia’s Nikolaj Abramov in 2016. In 2017, Dmitrij Aleksandrov, also representing Russia, emerged victorious.

In 2018, Latvia’s Normunds Jurans won the title, while Poland’s Rafal Lemanczyk triumphed in 2019. These results demonstrate the tournament’s international character and show that athletes from different countries have been able to claim the Overall Winner title.

In 2020, Lithuania’s Remigijus Ciplys emerged victorious. In 2021, Vidmantas Malakauskas won the title and repeated his success in 2023. Between those victories, Vilius Pranckevicius became the Overall Winner in 2022.

In 2024, Andrius Pauliukevičius was named the winner, followed by Brandon Gabrielius Aukštuolis in 2025. The latter victory continued Lithuania’s tradition of success and became the latest entry in the tournament’s five-decade history.

The men’s Overall Winners list therefore reveals not only individual achievements but also a number of recurring names. Algirdas Kilčiauskas, Andrius Pauliukevičius, and Vidmantas Malakauskas stand out as athletes who demonstrated the ability to achieve the highest result at the tournament more than once.

Women’s Competition: Generations of Champions and Outstanding Personalities

The history of the women’s Overall Winners reveals its own distinctive patterns in the tournament’s development. Lithuanian athletes again predominate, while the achievements of several champions stand out because of the number of titles they won and the length of time they remained among the leading competitors.

In 1994, Idalija Kaminskaite became the Overall Winner. Simona Miseviciene won in 1995, followed by Irina Miseviciene in 1996. These results represent the early period covered by the available list of women’s champions.

In 1997, Edita Daubaraite claimed the title, followed by Julija Kiseliova in 1998 and Lijana Masiuliene in 1999. In 2000, Aksana Len emerged victorious.

The period from 2001 to 2007 is particularly closely associated with Jolanta Mileriute. She became the Overall Winner in 2001, 2003, 2005, 2006, and 2007. Her five titles during this period demonstrate her exceptional importance in the tournament’s history.

Other Lithuanian athletes also achieved notable victories during these years. Aleksandra Kukres won in 2002, while Latvia’s Marina Burinskaja claimed the title in 2004. These results demonstrate that international competition remained significant even during a period of strong Lithuanian representation.

In 2008, Kristina Serksnaite won the title, followed by Ausra Tasiukeviciute in 2009 and Zita Satkauskaite in 2010. Sandra Syciova became the winner in 2011, while Indre Rimkute triumphed in 2013.

In 2012, Russia’s Svetlana Pugacheva became the Overall Winner. Her victory demonstrates that athletes from outside Lithuania have also played an important role in the tournament’s history.

In 2014, Denmark’s Leonor Hilario Greffel claimed the title. Latvia’s Sintija Katkevica won in 2015, followed by Lithuania’s Asta Butkute in 2016.

In 2017, Latvia’s Jana Zenovych-Leshkevych became the Overall Winner. Belarusian athlete Olga Listopadova won in 2018, while Poland’s Malgorzata Kurek claimed the title in 2019.

These victories highlight the international character of the women’s competition. Although Lithuanian athletes account for the majority of the champions, women representing Latvia, Belarus, Poland, Russia, and Denmark have also won the Overall title in different years.

In 2020, Julija Magilinskaja emerged victorious, followed by Karina Radziabova in 2021 and Akvile Sarkaite in 2022. In 2023, Vilma Povilioniene became the Overall Winner.

Marina Legenzova won in 2024, while Ema Sackute claimed the title in 2025. These recent results demonstrate that Lithuanian athletes continue to represent the largest group among the tournament’s women’s Overall Winners.

Jolanta Mileriute stands out as one of the most prominent personalities in the history of the women’s competition. Her five victories between 2001 and 2007 represent an exceptional achievement. Alongside her, many other Lithuanian athletes have contributed to the tournament’s history, with their victories reflecting successive generations and the development of sporting excellence.

International Competition and Lithuania’s Position

Although the name “Lithuania Cup Open” is associated with Lithuania, the list of Overall Winners demonstrates the tournament’s international character.

In the men’s competition, Overall titles have been won by representatives of Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Russia, and Poland. In the women’s competition, champions have represented Lithuania, Latvia, Russia, Belarus, Poland, and Denmark.

This is an important historical aspect of the tournament. Its significance is determined not only by the achievements of local athletes but also by the opportunity to compete against representatives of other countries. International competition makes it possible to compare athletes from different sporting traditions and enhances the prestige of the Overall Winner title.

The large number of Lithuanian athletes in the winners’ list establishes Lithuania as the central country in the tournament’s history. Nevertheless, victories by athletes from other nations demonstrate that the Overall title is not automatically guaranteed to competitors from the host country.

Repeated Victories as a Measure of Sporting Excellence

An analysis of the winners’ names reveals that several athletes have become Overall Champions more than once.

In the men’s competition, Algirdas Kilčiauskas stands out with victories in 1994, 1995, and 1999. Andrius Pauliukevičius won in 2010, 2011, and 2024. Vidmantas Malakauskas claimed the title in 2021 and 2023. Risard Krinickij won the first two editions recorded in the supplied list, in 1975 and 1976.

In the women’s competition, Jolanta Mileriute is the most prominent example of repeated success, having become the Overall Winner five times. Her victories in 2001, 2003, 2005, 2006, and 2007 demonstrate remarkable consistency over an extended period.

These achievements illustrate the ability of athletes to reach the highest level repeatedly. However, the number of Overall titles is not the only criterion for evaluating a sporting career. A more comprehensive assessment would require additional information about participant numbers, competition categories, opponents’ results, and the conditions under which the competitions were held in individual years.

Historical Gaps and the Evaluation of Records

The supplied historical list records results for 1975, 1976, and 1977, followed by 1986 and 1987. From 1994 onward, results are provided for every year through 2025.

Consequently, this period is best described as an overview of the tournament’s history based on the available list of winners, rather than a continuous chronology of championships held in every year. The absence of results for certain years should not be interpreted as proof that the tournament did not take place during those years.

It is also important to distinguish the Overall Winner title from victories in individual weight categories or other competition divisions. This article examines specifically the results identified in the supplied list as “Overall Winner.”

For a more precise historical analysis, it would be useful to verify the official results for each year and standardize athletes’ names according to the original sources. This would be particularly important when preparing an official federation archive or commemorative publication.

Conclusion: The Champions’ Names Form the Foundation of the Tournament’s History

The history of the “Lithuania Cup Open” Overall Winners from 1975 to 2025 reflects five decades of bodybuilding and fitness traditions. Lithuanian athletes have played the leading role, although competitors from other European countries have also achieved significant victories.

In the men’s competition, Algirdas Kilčiauskas, Andrius Pauliukevičius, Vidmantas Malakauskas, and Risard Krinickij stand out. In the women’s competition, Jolanta Mileriute provides the most striking example of repeated success.

However, the tournament’s history is not limited to multiple-title champions. Every Overall Winner, from the athletes of the tournament’s earliest recorded years to the 2025 champions Brandon Gabrielius Aukštuolis and Ema Sackute, forms part of this sporting legacy.

Over five decades, generations of athletes, the geography of international competition, and the circumstances surrounding the development of bodybuilding have changed. Yet one fundamental principle has remained: the Overall Winner title represents sporting excellence, preparation, and victory.

The list of “Lithuania Cup Open” champions is more than a statistical record. It is a history written through the names of athletes, documenting the development of Lithuanian and international bodybuilding and fitness traditions.

Official information: Further details about the activities of W.F.F. – International and W.B.B.F. – International, together with historical competition results, are available on the federation’s international website, www.wff.lt, and in the topics published on its forum.

60 YEARS OF ESTONIAN BODYBUILDING.

From Innar Mardo to the Present: What Remains After Six Decades?

Sixty years is a long enough period not only to remember, but also to evaluate.

Not by beautifully compiled lists of competitions, not by the number of medals awarded, and certainly not by how many times someone called themselves a bodybuilding leader.

History is best measured by what remains.

And if we look at six decades of Estonian bodybuilding from the outside, the picture becomes fairly clear: there were people who created, people who took over, and people who organized. But very few actually built a system capable of functioning without them.

Therefore, the history of Estonian bodybuilding is, above all, not a history of organizations, but a history of personalities.

And at the center of that history stands Innar Mardo.

The Beginning Was Serious

Estonian bodybuilding did not appear yesterday.

During the 1960s, bodybuilding began to organize itself throughout the socialist world despite ideological and administrative restrictions. In 1963, the sports authorities of the USSR established the first international organizational structure for bodybuilding — a commission under the USSR Weightlifting Federation.

In 1966, the first international bodybuilding tournament among socialist countries was held in Vilnius.

In 1967, Klaipėda hosted the first historic “Amber Prize” tournament.

In 1968, a public international bodybuilding organization — the USSR Bodybuilding Committee — was established in Kaunas.

And Estonia soon showed that it did not intend to remain merely a spectator in this process.

In 1970, the first Estonian bodybuilding championship was held in Tallinn. In 1971, the first “Georg Tenno Memorial” took place.

This was a very early stage. And that is precisely why it is so interesting to see what happened to this historical capital later.

Innar Mardo — More Than an Ordinary Leader

If one person must be chosen from the entire history of Estonian bodybuilding without whom its early development is difficult to imagine, it is Innar Mardo.

Mardo worked at a time when bodybuilding had no normal conditions in which to exist.

It was not enough simply to train. It was necessary to prove that the sport itself had a right to exist.

Mardo managed to convince the authorities of the Estonian SSR that bodybuilding was part of Estonia’s national sporting culture. As a result, from 1974 onward he was allowed to organize the “Georg Tenno Memorial” periodically, even during a period when bodybuilding faced extremely unfavorable conditions.

Today, this may seem self-evident.

At the time, it was something entirely different.

When others saw a prohibition, Mardo found an opportunity.

When others waited for the system to change, he worked within that system.

That is why his role cannot be judged solely by sporting results. He was an organizer, a diplomat, a club founder, and a man who understood that for a sport to survive, it had to establish its place in society.

1979: When the Game Changed

But wherever influence appears, interests eventually appear as well.

In 1979, a turning point occurred in Estonian bodybuilding. Innar Mardo was removed from the leadership of Estonian bodybuilding, and the sports club he had founded was taken away from him.

In his letters to Dr. Edmundas Daubaras, President of the WFF-WBBF World Federation, Mardo described these events as the result of an organized coup. He also pointed to the influence of bodybuilding leaders in the Lithuanian SSR and to the role of his student Olev Anus.

A historian must observe one principle here: Mardo’s account in his letters should be distinguished from facts independently established by other sources.

But even if we put all personal interpretations aside, one fact remains:

the man who had been one of the principal creators of the Estonian bodybuilding system was removed from its leadership.

And then the experiment began.

Could the system he had created be inherited without inheriting the abilities of the person who created it?

It Turns Out That a Position Is Not the Same as Ability

Olev Anus became one of the faces of the new era, but no organizational legacy comparable to Mardo’s work emerged in the history of Estonian bodybuilding.

Later, Lithuanian Pranas Mickevičius was also involved in leading Estonian bodybuilding.

But history is merciless here.

A position can be obtained. Authority cannot.

You can sit in the leader’s chair. You can have the name of an organization. You can announce competitions.

But that does not mean you have built a sport.

During Mardo’s period, a system was being created around a central figure. After Mardo, in many cases what remained was formal administration rather than strategic vision.

And this is where one of the biggest problems in Estonian bodybuilding lies.

There Were Events. There Was Less of a History.

After the collapse of the socialist world, all the doors opened.

The previous political restrictions disappeared. International contacts emerged. Commercial opportunities emerged. It became possible to organize competitions freely.

One would think that Estonian bodybuilding should then have taken off.

But what happened?

Events were held.

Organizers changed.

Leaders changed.

People appeared whose primary professional activities had little to do with sports administration — from restaurant workers to representatives of the trading business.

And once again, an uncomfortable question arises:

Where is the school they created?

Where is the organizational tradition of continuity?

Where are the names that a new generation of Estonian bodybuilders would still remember twenty years later?

Where is the system that is bigger than a single competition?

If there is no answer, then events were organized — but history was not created.

2009 — Proof That Estonia Could

And yet Estonia showed that it could.

In 2009, the WFF-WBBF World Championships were held in Tallinn.

28 countries. Nearly 300 competitors.

The delegation from South Africa alone consisted of more than 90 people.

This was an entirely different scale.

It was an event that demonstrated that Tallinn was capable of hosting a world-class bodybuilding competition and becoming a visible point on the international bodybuilding map.

But here again lies the paradox.

One impressive world championship does not create a strong national system.

It is proof that it can be done.

But it is not enough to demonstrate once that you can do something. You have to be able to repeat it.

Sixty Years — and the Problem Remains the Same

Today, one can list many dates from the history of Estonian bodybuilding.

         

But a list of dates tells us nothing about the vitality of a sport.

The real history lies between those dates.

There are the people.

Their ambitions.

Their conflicts.

Their abilities.

Their mistakes.

And above all — their legacy.

What remained after them?

This is where the history of Estonian bodybuilding becomes painful.

Because a mechanism created by one person was often not continued at the same level after that person was removed or departed.

This means one thing: a sufficiently strong institutional tradition was never created.

The Mardo Paradox

Perhaps Innar Mardo’s greatest achievement was precisely that, during his time, Estonian bodybuilding had a face.

His departure exposed a problem that has still not been completely solved.

If a sport depends on one person, that person must eventually be replaced by a system.

If the system cannot replace the person, then essentially, there is no system.

That may be the greatest lesson of six decades of Estonian bodybuilding.

And One More Uncomfortable Conclusion

In sports history, people often like to say: “We organized,” “we held competitions,” “we were the first,” “we had champions.”

But history measures things differently.

Not by the number of competitions you organized.

But by how many of those competitions left a lasting mark.

Not by the number of medals you awarded.

But by how many athletes and organizers you developed.

Not by how many years you occupied a leadership position.

But by what you created so that, after you left, people no longer needed you.

From this perspective, the history of Estonian bodybuilding is unforgiving.

Many wanted to be leaders. Few managed to become creators.

Sixty Years — A Time Not Only to Celebrate

A 60th anniversary should not be merely an occasion to raise a trophy and say beautiful words about the past.

It is an excellent opportunity to ask:

Does Estonian bodybuilding today have a person capable of creating what Innar Mardo created in his time?

And even more importantly:

Does Estonian bodybuilding today have a system that will survive even after that person leaves?

If the answer is no, then the main problem of this sixty-year history remains unresolved.

In Conclusion

The history of Estonian bodybuilding did not begin weakly.

On the contrary — its beginnings were very strong.

Tallinn became an important regional center at an early stage. There were the first championships. There was the “Georg Tenno Memorial.” There was Innar Mardo, who managed to secure a place for bodybuilding within the system at a time when doing so was extremely difficult.

Then came conflicts, changes in leadership, emigration, new organizers, commercial interests, various competitions and, finally, the major 2009 World Championships.

But after sixty years, one main conclusion remains:

Estonia did not lack people who wanted to organize bodybuilding. It lacked people willing to take historical responsibility for its continuity.

Innar Mardo was such a person.

That is why his story matters today not merely out of nostalgia.

It matters as a benchmark.

Because it shows that a true sports leader is not the person who temporarily occupies a position.

A true leader is the person whose departure leaves a functioning system behind.

And if, after a person leaves, only memories, old protocols and a few medals remain, then one has to admit:

the person existed — but the system was never created.