Tran – with her parents as role models – is well equipped to mother (his father passed away in 1974), four of his siblings handle such pressures. and a few other relatives left their family home with what they “It was hard this year at first, because the competition is get- could carry on a pair of bicycles. One of 10 kids, Mark Tran did ting stronger and stronger,” Tran said. “But having them here not know what became of the rest of his siblings at that point. has pushed me to work hard. In the long run, when it comes A long trek ensued and included the loss of many of his famdown to racing and having anxiety about what other people ily’s belongings, illness and little to eat but spare servings of are doing, I think this is good practice.” rice. The journey left the Trans and many other refugees in This sort of struggle pales in a forest, where the Khmer comparison to what her parRouge told them to build a ents dealt with while growing new community. They creup in Cambodia. ated one there but needed to Ethnically Chinese, Mark remain careful, as the troops and Linda Tran were born and often removed anyone whom grew up in Cambodia, where they thought threatened their they survived the killing fields power, especially anyone who of the Khmer Rouge in the was educated or appeared 1970s. Both fled to Canada educated. Mark Tran heeded and later to Westminster, Calif., a friend’s warnings to “act stuwhere they built a better life pid” and “ask no questions” in for themselves and eventually order to survive. Cindy and her brother, Alex. In 1978, when the Trans Tran’s mother doesn’t talk were still living in this ento her about what she lived forced community, soldiers through. In the summer of suddenly pulled Mark Tran her junior year at Edison High away from his work detail for School, Tran and her family a trip to an unknown locavisited relatives in Cambodia tion. They wound up near his and toured concentration old village at a clearing in the camps. Tran watched as her woods, where he found one of mother walked through one his younger brothers as well camp, apparently searching as a body laying on the ground. for something or some place in The body was that of one of his particular, though they never older brothers, who had been discussed it. shot in the head. The Khmer Mark Tran has told his Rouge forced the pair to bury daughter about the horrors him, which – despite their grief he dealt with once the Khmer and their anger towards the Rouge came to power, includnearby armed soldiers – the ing the murder of his brother, brothers did. They then renear starvation and being turned to their mother, whom forced from his home. Knowthey told their brother died of ing that and watching her Cindy Tran captured NCAA championships in the 100 backstroke in 2011 illness. parents raise her family while (top) and 2012 (bottom). Photos by Tim Binning/TheSwimPictures.com In late 1978, the Vietnamese working hard at their southern invaded Cambodia and topCalifornia donut shop has made Tran appreciative of her life. pled the Khmer Rouge from power, which, in April of 1979, left “I do a pretty good job of putting things in perspective when the Trans free. They relocated to a refugee camp in bordering things are going pear shaped,” she said. “I’m very appreciative Thailand. But a dispute regarding funding from the United Naof things that people take for granted.” tions led to Thailand returning many of the refugees to Cambodia at gunpoint. Fleeing Phnom Penh Eventually, the Trans migrated to Canada, where some of Tran’s father has recounted his life in Cambodia to his Cindy’s family still lives. Mark and Linda Tran moved to southdaughter in a series of stories that “are very heavy,” she said. ern California, where they bought a donut shop that they still “It’s different when you read a story about someone from the run today. Holocaust from when you actually know a person who lived “Having gone through that made my parents hard workers,” through something like that and can kind of feel their pain.” Cindy Tran said, “just to build a foundation for my brother and After the Khmer Rouge took power in Cambodia in 1975, its me to live in a place where we don’t have to suffer like they suftroops drove much of the population of Phnom Penh – Cambo- fered. Watching my parents and watching their work ethic made dia’s capital – into the countryside. The troops told the people me improve mine. I’ve learned to enjoy working hard. I think that the Americans – who had supported the previous regime – that’s helping me get through workouts and get through school were going to bomb the city. Fourteen-year-old Mark Tran, his and to enjoy life and be more enjoyable to be around.” WINTER 2012-13
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