“AMBER PRIX” – WHAT IS IT? HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE.

For more than six decades, the name “Amber Prix” has resonated throughout the world. What is it? Once a traditional bodybuilding tournament, today it has grown into a broad movement promoting wellness, fitness, and professional sport. Thanks to the activities of the international WFF-WBBF Federation, the “Amber Prix” has become a significant international sporting phenomenon.

During the period when bodybuilding was banned in the Soviet Union, the “Amber Prix” competition became the unofficial USSR Bodybuilding Championship, later recognized as such by the USSR Ministry of Sports. At that time, for many athletes from across the Soviet Union, this tournament effectively served as both the World and European Championship. The highest sporting achievements were associated with victories and prize-winning places at the “Amber Prix” competition.

In his efforts to rehabilitate bodybuilding, Dr. Edmundas Daubaras spent years corresponding with leaders of the USSR Weightlifting Federation, the central Soviet sports press, and meeting with the Minister of Sports of the Lithuanian SSR, Zigmas Motiekaitis. Eventually, he decided to prepare and submit an official petition defending bodybuilding to the highest political authorities in Moscow. At that time, not a single well-known bodybuilding organizer, coach, or athlete supported this initiative — on the contrary, most advised him to abandon the idea.

It was through the efforts of Dr. Edmundas Daubaras that permission was granted to organize the “Amber Prix” tournament in Klaipėda. Later, under the leadership of Romanas Kalinauskas, Kaunas bodybuilders began organizing the traditional “Komsomol Cup” competitions. These initiatives continued until the collapse of the Soviet Union.

After Lithuania restored its independence, the “Amber Prix” tournament continuously received support from the Government of the Republic of Lithuania. On the occasion of the tournament’s 40th anniversary, the Parliament of the Republic of Lithuania adopted a decision to provide state funding for the event through a separate line in the national budget.

Today, the “Amber Prix” is not only a part of sports history, but also an international symbol of bodybuilding and wellness that promotes Lithuania throughout the world. Throughout the history of the “Amber Prix” tournament, athletes from various countries around the world have participated, representing all continents. In 2008, competitors from 32 countries took part in the event.

More information about these historical events and the activities of the international federation can be found on the official website: www.wff.lt

2026 BODYBUILDING ANNIVERSARIES. CEREMONIAL SPORTS HONOURING EVENT OF 2025.

On May 17, 2025, the 60th anniversary of Lithuanian bodybuilding (1965–2025) was solemnly celebrated in the seaside town of Gargždai. It was the only official event of this scale in Lithuania dedicated to the history of national bodybuilding and to honour distinguished representatives of the sport.

The event was organized by sports enthusiasts from Gargždai under the leadership of Viktoras Kura, prize winner of the international “Amber Prix” tournament. The celebration brought together bodybuilding veterans, sports leaders, public figures, and honoured guests from Lithuania and abroad.

Among the distinguished guests were Member of the Parliament of the Republic of Lithuania Alvydas Mockus, President of the World Fitness Federation / World Bodybuilding Federation (W.F.F. – W.B.B.F.) Dr. Edmundas Daubaras, Klaipėda politicians Gintaras Martinkėnas and Romualdas Milė, President of the Lithuanian Sports Fitness Federation Darius Daubaras, legendary world professional bodybuilder Natalija Murnikovienė, Vidmantas Malakauskas, Alina Pelepko, President of the Lithuanian Bodybuilding Federation Modestas Puišė, Head of the Lithuanian Bodybuilding Academy Remigijus Bimba, President of the Latvian Bodybuilding Federation and absolute 2024 W.F.F. – W.B.B.F. professional “Universe” champion Maris Šveiduks, along with many other well-known athletes.

The event was also attended by legendary Lithuanian bodybuilders and former U.S.S.R. champions Saulius Misevičius, Raimundas Petraitis, and Ričardas Petrauskas, as well as athletes Tautvilas Rinkevičius, Aleksas Stankus, Igor Karpec, and Vidmantas Lukys.

Current Lithuanian bodybuilding leaders were also honoured during the celebration: absolute W.F.F. – W.B.B.F. European Amateur Champion Martynas Pakalnis, athletes Arvydas Mickus and Rokas Ražanauskas, absolute 2024 W.F.F. – W.B.B.F. World Champion Vaida Budrienė, and 2023 Professional European Champion as well as 2025 Professional World Cup Champion Raimundas Urbanavičius.

2026 BODYBUILDING ANNIVERSARIES. Major Historical Anniversaries 1966 – the first international bodybuilding tournament in Lithuania was organized. 1976 – for the first time in U.S.S.R. bodybuilding history, Estonian athlete Olev Annus used a special competition diet while preparing for the “Georg Tenno Memorial”. 1986 – the future of U.S.S.R. bodybuilding was discussed and decided through the initiative of Dr. Edmundas Daubaras in Klaipėda. 1996 – for the first time in Lithuanian sports history, the European Bodybuilding Championship was officially supported and financed by the Government of the Republic of Lithuania. The competition took place at the Klaipėda Drama Theatre, while a ceremonial banquet for 300 participants, guests, and organizers was held at Count Tiškevičius Palace in Kretinga. The chairman of the organizing committee was Julius Jurgutis, Secretary of the Ministry of Public Administration Reforms and Municipal Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania, and the vice-chairman was Vice Minister of Sports Rimas Girskis. The championship was filmed and broadcast by LNK television. 2006 – the officially supported W.F.F. – W.B.B.F. Professional Bodybuilding Championship was organized in Vilnius.  “AMBER PRIX” – 60TH ANNIVERSARY.

The 60th anniversary of the world’s oldest traditional bodybuilding tournament, “Amber Prix International” (“Янтарный приз”), is approaching (1967–2026).

Athletes and bodybuilding organizers from Lithuania and abroad are already actively preparing for this historic event.

The first absolute winner of the tournament in 1967 was Klemensas Alšauskas. In 1968, the second tournament held in Klaipėda was won by famous Vilnius sculptor Leonas Pivoriūnas.

During the period when bodybuilding was prohibited, following the example of Czechoslovak bodybuilders, Dr. Edmundas Daubaras of Klaipėda independently prepared a petition defending bodybuilding and personally delivered it to the highest U.S.S.R. institutions and media offices in Moscow. Despite the ban and persecution of bodybuilding at the time, official political permission was granted in 1978 to organize public bodybuilding competitions in Klaipėda – the “Amber Prix”.

More information: www.wff.lt

HISTORY BOOK OF ARUNAS PETRAITIS.

WE GO ON DEVELOPING WORLD’S SPORT.

PRERPARING FOR THE 60-TH “AMBER PRIX”.

Today, the sports community gathered for the presentation of a book by journalist and sports historian Arūnas Petraitis. The book is titled Lithuanian Bodybuilding 1965–2015. An Illustrated History of the “Iron” Sport.
During the event, the legendary “Amber Prix International”  was also remembered, first organized back in 1967. It is wonderful to see that this beautiful tradition continues – on May 1–2, the “Amber Prix” will take place for the 59th time.
Therefore, this was not only a book presentation, but also a meaningful discussion and exchange of ideas for the upcoming 60-th anniversary of the “Amber Prix,” which will be held next year, in 2027, in Klaipėda. The works done and the works we are doing for the coming unique contest were presented by the General Secretary W.F.F. – W.B.B.F. International Ugne Raudyte Daubariene and federation Official Alina Pelepko.
This is an especially significant event for the city of Klaipėda – the International tournament has been held here for 60 years, and all of this is thanks to DSc. Edmundas Daubaras, President of the International W.F.F. – W.B.B.F..
During the meeting, we revisited the old-school era of bodybuilding – a time when this sport was not only about physical form, but also a true art of aesthetics, plasticity, and stage culture, nurtured by our W.F.F. – W.B.B.F. community. The book highlights Lithuania’s highest achievements and gives special attention to Natalija Murnikovienė, who still holds the highest-level accomplishments to this day.
We spoke about how, in those times, great importance was placed on smooth and artistic posing transitions, the aesthetics of movement, and harmony on stage. A performance was much more than simply stepping on stage and demonstrating standard poses – it was the peak of bodybuilding as an art form.
This spirit was beautifully embodied by Aretas Kolmakovas, who demonstrated elegant and fluid transitions during the meeting, recalling the legendary days of the “Amber Prix.” Even more meaningfully, he himself participated in the “Amber Prix” tournaments for about ten times with his own individual posing program, making his performance a living reflection of our history and traditions.
This inspired a special idea for the upcoming 60-th anniversary in 2027 – to revive the classic artistic posing of the “Amber Prix” as a separate category, honoring our roots, aesthetics, and the unique philosophy of light and natural bodybuilding promoted by W.F.F. – W.B.B.F.. The idea will be fulfilled by Lithuania senior bodybuilder Aleksas Stankus and pretender to the Parliament Republic Lithuania Klaipeda polititian Romualdas Mile.
It would be not only a tribute to history, but also the return of true classical bodybuilding art to the stage.
Photos by: Audrius Kundrotas.

More information is on International Site www.wff.lt

New Names in the World Sport History. The 37th World Championship for Professionals and Amateurs – A Spectacular Sporting Event in Nida!

From October 24 to 26, Nida will host the 37th World Championship for Professionals and Amateurs, bringing together several hundred athletes from countries around the world.

Spectators can look forward to a truly spectacular event featuring athletes of different ages, exciting competitions, and outstanding performances by representatives of several generations.

A year ago, the Olympic Committee discontinued the popular “Sport for All” initiative. However, the World WFF–WBBF Federation continues this tradition successfully.

Children, teenagers, young athletes, and sports veterans will compete in Nida, including athletes in their seventies.

At the same time, professional athletes will compete for top honours, striving to demonstrate their skills and inscribe their names in the history of world sport forever.

This is an event that brings together sporting excellence, determination, experience, and people of different generations!

For more information, visit the international websites:

www.wff.lt
www.worldfitness.lt

“AMBER PRIX INTERNATIONAL”: 60 YEARS OF HISTORY THAT CANNOT BE ERASED FROM LITHUANIA’S SPORTING MAP.

In 2027, the “Amber Prix International” competition in Klaipėda will reach a remarkable milestone. It will mark the 60th anniversary of this historic event. Six decades is a period in which states, borders, political systems, sporting cultures and even the very understanding of competition have changed. Yet “Amber Prix” has survived. And the history of its champions allows us to see not only the development of bodybuilding, but also Lithuania’s place in the history of international sport.

It Is More Than Just a List of Winners

The name of the first “Amber Prix International” champion entered the competition’s history in 1967. The inaugural winner was Lithuanian athlete Klemensas Alšauskas.

Almost six decades later, in 2026, the title was once again won by a Lithuanian athlete — Grazvydas Naruševičius.

These two names, separated by nearly sixty years, symbolically close one great historical circle.

Between them lies an entire era of Lithuanian bodybuilding.

It is the story of athletes who trained under conditions completely different from those of today; the story of a period when Lithuania was not yet an independent state; the story of preserving sporting traditions after 1990; and, ultimately, the story of a competition that grew from a regional Baltic event into an international arena.

That is why “Amber Prix International” cannot be viewed simply as another bodybuilding competition.

It is a living sports archive.

Lithuania Was There From Day One

One of the most striking features of the competition’s entire history is the dominance of Lithuanian athletes.

The first years of “Amber Prix” were, in many ways, a chronicle of Lithuanian sport. In 1967, Klemensas Alšauskas won the title; in 1968, Leonas Pivoriūnas; and in 1969 and 1970, Antanas Mineikis.

The list of Lithuanian champions continued to grow.

During the 1970s, titles were won by athletes such as Risardas Krinickis, Stasys Cukanovas and Vytautas Zenkevičius.

In the 1980s, a new generation emerged — Vladas Kapcevičius, Saulius Misevičius, Jevgenij Gorelik, Vincas Dubickas, Algirdas Ivanauskas and Rolandas Bučinskas.

And then came the era of Viktoras Jucys.

In 1987, 1988 and 1989, he became the “Amber Prix International” champion three consecutive times.

Three consecutive victories are more than a statistical fact. They demonstrate that the competition stage was a place where an athlete could establish a reputation and become part of history.

The Soviet Era: A Competition That Survived

The history of “Amber Prix” cannot be separated from the era in which it was born.

In 1967, Lithuania was part of the Soviet Union. This means that the competition’s first decades developed within a completely different political and sporting system.

But sport has a special quality — it can preserve things that official documents sometimes fail to preserve.

Names remain.

Results remain.

Victories remain.

And today, by looking at the history of “Amber Prix International,” we can trace the development of entire generations of Lithuanian bodybuilding from a time when an independent Lithuanian state sporting system did not exist.

That gives the competition additional historical significance.

The 1990s: Lithuania Rediscovers Itself

After Lithuania restored its independence, it was not only the country’s political status that changed.

The sporting world changed as well.

Lithuanian athletes gained greater freedom to participate in international competitions, new opportunities emerged, new connections were established, and a new competitive environment developed.

But the “Amber Prix International” tradition did not disappear.

In 1990 and 1991, the winner was Olegas Žuras.

In 1994 and 1996, the title went to Algirdas Kilčiauskas.

In 1997, Rolandas Pocius became champion; in 1998, Ricardas Gurskas; and in 1999, Darius Buksnaitis.

This was a critically important period.

Lithuania was now independent, yet a competition that had begun during the Soviet era continued to exist.

This means that “Amber Prix” managed to cross the boundaries of political eras.

Klaipėda Becomes an International Stage

In the 21st century, the competition entered another fundamental phase.

“Amber Prix International” gradually ceased to be primarily a regional event.

Athletes from an increasing number of countries began travelling to Klaipėda.

In 2003, the winner was Latvia’s Aivars Visockis. In 2005, the title went to Russian athlete Ivan Sergeyev. In 2006, Latvia’s Aleksandr Liubomirov won, followed by Estonia’s Aleksandr Sevcov in 2007.

These names matter not only because they belong to champions.

They demonstrate that the competition had become a meeting point for the sporting schools of the Baltic region.

Klaipėda, geographically situated on the Baltic Sea, proved to be a particularly appropriate setting for an international sporting tradition.

The Real Turning Point — The Second Decade of the 21st Century

If, during the previous decades, the geography of “Amber Prix” had been primarily connected with Lithuania and other European countries, the 2010s changed the situation.

In 2010, Dharmender Singh of India won the title.

In 2011, another Indian athlete, Naftej Singh, became champion.

In 2012, victory went to Pir Sarandib Mehdi of Iran.

In 2013, Andrzej Brzezinski of Poland won.

In 2015, the champion was Ahmadi Arash of Iran.

In 2016, the title went to Jörg Fuchs of Germany.

In 2018, Aleksandr Sacharov of Uzbekistan won.

In 2019, the champion was Golap Rabha of India.

This was no longer simply a Baltic geographical footprint.

It was an international stage.

India, Iran, Uzbekistan, Germany, Poland, Slovakia, Ukraine, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania — different sporting schools, different cultures, different training traditions.

And at different points in history, all of them met on the stage in Klaipėda.

“Amber Prix” Is Also a Story of Champions Returning

Another interesting feature of the competition is the return of former champions.

Radik Manafov won in 2000 and 2002.

Aleksandr Maslovskij won in 2001 and 2004.

Darius Buksnaitis won in 1999 and 2008.

Maroš Kanaš won in 2017 and 2020.

This means that “Amber Prix” was not simply a one-time stop in an athlete’s career.

For some champions, the stage became a place worth returning to.

From a sporting perspective, this is one of the strongest indicators of a competition’s prestige.

The Modern Era: The International Character Is Here to Stay

In 2021, the champion was Poland’s Artur Kamieniak.

In 2022, the title went to Ukrainian athlete Vasilij Bespalenko.

In 2023, Estonia’s Aleksej Lapshin won.

In 2024, the champion was India’s Rahul Joshi.

In 2025, Poland’s Szymon Lubecki took the title.

And then came 2026.

Grazvydas Naruševičius. Lithuania.

This victory came at a particularly significant moment.

Exactly 60 years earlier, Klemensas Alšauskas had become the first “Amber Prix International” champion.

Now, on the eve of the competition’s 60th anniversary, a Lithuanian athlete has once again brought the title back to Lithuania.

It is a powerful symbol.

2027 — More Than an Anniversary

Sixty years is a point at which a competition can no longer be judged only by what is happening today.

Its history begins to matter.

How many athletes have appeared on its stage?

How many times have champions changed?

How many countries have been represented?

How many athletes went on from “Amber Prix” to become recognised on the international stage?

And, most importantly — why has this competition survived while many other events from the same era have disappeared?

The answer lies in tradition.

“Amber Prix International” has survived political changes, transformations of the sporting system, the restoration of Lithuania’s independence, the emergence of new international federations and the appearance of new competitions.

It survived because it was never merely a one-year event.

It became an institution in the history of Lithuanian bodybuilding.

From Lithuanian Champions to the World

During the competition’s first decades, Lithuanian athletes were the undisputed leaders.

Then athletes from Latvia and Estonia arrived in Klaipėda.

Later came competitors from Russia, Poland, Slovakia, Ukraine and Germany.

Eventually, the competition opened its doors to Asia — India, Iran and Uzbekistan.

This evolution is extremely significant.

It does not represent the loss of Lithuania’s position. It represents the growth of “Amber Prix” itself.

When a competition becomes attractive enough for athletes from different continents to compete for its title, its significance automatically changes.

It is no longer simply a Lithuanian or Baltic championship.

It is an international stage whose roots are firmly planted in Klaipėda.

A History That Must Be Preserved

Today, when sporting events are often judged by the results of a single day, “Amber Prix International” reminds us of another value of sport — continuity.

One champion arrives.

Another leaves.

Records are broken.

Generations of athletes change.

But the competition itself can survive.

And that is the greatest value of “Amber Prix International.”

From Klemensas Alšauskas to Grazvydas Naruševičius — almost six decades of history.

From Lithuanian dominance to champions from India, Iran, Uzbekistan, Poland, Ukraine, Slovakia, Germany, Latvia and Estonia.

From the Soviet era to independent Lithuania.

From a regional stage to an international competition.

“Amber Prix International” does not simply count the years — it counts generations of sporting history.

60 Years — And the Story Continues

The 2027 anniversary edition of “Amber Prix International” in Klaipėda will be more than another competition.

It will be a moment when today’s athletes meet six decades of history.

In 1967, the first stone was laid.

In 2026, a Lithuanian athlete once again brought the title back to Lithuania.

And in 2027, the 60th anniversary will arrive.

That is why the history of this competition should be regarded as more than a collection of bodybuilding results.

It is part of Lithuania’s sporting memory.

And as long as new champions continue to step onto the stage in Klaipėda, this story is not finished.

It continues.