In a well-worn boxing gym in Chisinau Octavian Ticu wraps his hands while sharing his remarkable life-story. The ex-boxer turned historian-politician (now in his early-50s) remembers the game-changing moment when his homeland broke free from the USSR.
The fall of the Soviet Union in early-90s wasnt just about politics - it opened new paths for young athletes like Ticu. “It was a happy moment for me‚“ he says while demonstrating his still-quick footwork; the memory brings a hint of pride to his face.
In 1996‚ I participated in the Olympics in Atlanta... If I were in the Soviet Union‚ I would never have accomplished this
His journey from a small post-soviet nation to the worlds biggest sports stage shows how independence created real-life chances: the freedom to compete under Moldovas flag became a life-defining moment for this multi-talented athlete