Barbed Circles: The Perfect ScoreAuthor Cornel Vena was just a teenager when World War II ended, changing life in the tiny Transylvanian village of his childhood forever. A ruthless Bolshevik army swarmed over the land, and his family faced an uncertain future living under a communist regime. But it soon became clear that the country was keen to promote its athletic prowess on an international stage, offering a glimmer of hope to the young man. If Cornel could shoot, ride, fence, run, and swim well enough, he might be able to find freedom. Success in the sporting arena offered better conditions for athletes and priceless opportunities to escape the constraints of communism; however, the athletes who survived the intense training regimen could not fail. An entire country counted on them to succeed, and losing was not tolerated. The weak would be punished, and those who succeeded would be rewarded. Join Cornel as he prepares to confront superhuman physical challenges in this inspiring true story of one mans quest for freedom, set against the backdrop of the 1956 Olympic Games. Romanians, history students and athletes alike will find important lessons that continue to resonate today in Barbed Circles: The Perfect Score. |
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1956 Olympic Games able asked athletes attack Australia back home bout Bucharest champion chance coach Communist regime compete competition competitors cross-country run decided Dumitru epee Essendon airport everything face feel felt fencers fencing event finally finished flying friends Galimir getting happened hard horse Hungarian Hungary jump knew leaders lessons looked managed Manciu Melbourne minutes Modern Pentathlon movement moving Muresanu never night Norman officials ofthe Olympic Games Olympic Village opponent particular Pentathlon Team perhaps plane points political asylum ready realized riding event Romanian Air Force Romanian Communist regime Romanian language Romanian team rowing running Russian Sandu score session shooting Sibiu smile sport squad stadium started stopped suddenly swimming talk tell things Tismana told took totally triathlon tried trying Tudor usual Victor village Viorel walked wanted wasn’t whilst young Zidaru