It is 1989. Nothing indicates any change in the communist regime. The changes that are to come are going to be swift and irreversible. Mark and Pete do not know that. Their minds have crossed the Rockies, and their desires are stronger than any totalitarian regime can bound. There is nothing can hold them back, now that they have made the plan and given up their position as members of the Olympic Team - abdicated on success, in order to gain their dreams, but also their very selves. To escape is the only way to survive, it seems...

Mark and Pete, two teenage members of the Czechoslovak Olympic Swimming Team live their lives physically and mentally abused by the Party coaches, teachers, even their own parents who themselves are but caricatures of free human beings, distorted by lies and pretensions, their fear swallowed only by the echo of their own hands zealously clapping as the communist comrades "from above" are pinning "Medals of Socialist Work" to the chests of their Party disciples. Principal Chief Comrade Mucha gives orations on the vices of capitalism while the two boys... Just follow the unquenchable gleam in...

This book is the third part of "Escape." Part I describes Mark and Pete's life in the Olympic Team in communist Czechoslovakia and their attempted escape to Austria. Upon "Becoming Rich" (in Part II), Mark finally leaves Italy and travels across the Continent, through France to Belgium and Germany. He struggles hard to acquire new documents and employment, but his dreams are stronger than any social codes that surround him, and he cannot be contained by borders of any state... This is the story of true and false love, entrapment and escape, victory and loss, personal growth through trial and...

This is Volume IV of ESCAPE, the tetralogy whose main hero, Mark, is an Olympic swimmer on the run from the communist Czechoslovakia. In Volume One, Mark and his friend Peter attempted to cross the border to Austria, in Volume Two, Mark learned his ropes in Italy, then traveled to France and Belgium. After a failed love affair and a strange adventure in Germany in Volume III, Mark finally finds the love of his life and regains not only reputation but much more than riches and wealth - in part in England, partly back on the Continent, he achieves his goals and dreams.

This book is a universal one-year training log for swimmers at all levels. It contains sections for each day of the year, regular monthly testing sheets, notes on each stroke, as well as sufficient room for personal notes, which should facilitate your goal setting and achievement as a professional athlete eager to improve. Personalize this log book with information about yourself, your coach, your team. Review it regularly and learn from your experience, how your react to different workouts, how to taper and how to prepare for a meet. Review other volumes in the Condor for Swimmers series, in...