Over a thousand Romanians died in the December 1989 revolution, killed by the communist oppressors. Among the people whose blood was shed in 1989 were also sportsmen who came in the streets to breathe the fresh air of freedom. One of the heroes who were shot and died before they had the chance to taste freedom was the bodybuilder Vasile Balmus, Florin Teodorescu’s friend and colleague. “He was standing near me on December 17th”, recalls Florin. “We had to rush asunder to hide from the gun shots. I heard a bullet. He fell down beside me. There was nothing I could for him in that moment. Nobody could have done anything for him. In memory of my friend, who did not have the chance to grow old, because he died at only 25, I initiated the Liberty Cup – Vasile Balmus Memorial, the most important competition for amateurs in Romania”, as proved by the great sportsmen who take part in it every year – world and European champions, multiple national and Balkan champions – and the value of the awards, which has exceeded 10,000 euro. First-rate world bodybuilders, several Mr. Olympia laureates included (a first-time event in Romania), have honoured the Liberty Cup with their professional demonstrations.
In the past years, the contest has become more and more attractive, as the open system replaced the weight categories. The former marathon-long contests are now shorter, but have gained in quality, and the audience is delighted to watch first-class bodybuilders who enhance the quality and the prestige of the competition.
