Eric Brogar is a star East German penthathlete who finds himself constantly "protected" by his country's secret police, the Stasi. Afer an emotional Gold Medal win in the 1988 Seoul Olympics and buoyed by hopes of gaining political asylum, Brogar escapes to the U.S. with the help of a beautiful athlete. Brogar's defection is a national embarrassment, and his demanding coach, Heinrich Mueller, vows revenge for humiliating him and the team.