New Details Surface About The Olympic Drama Between Zola Budd And Mary Decker
Zola Budd had the chance to be named the best in the world. All she had to do was outrun the American Mary Decker. But, unfortunately, it wasn't quite that simple — as Zola found to her cost. What happened next became one of the greatest scandals in Olympic history. And even years later, we're still finding out the truth of what really went down.
The scandal
The historic moment happened so quickly. During the women's 3,000-meter final, Mary went tumbling to the grass as Zola went speeding past her. Was there a push? A shove? The Los Angeles crowd wasn't sure. All they saw was their representative down for the count. Zola had to fight to have her side heard.
Falling into running
Would it spell the end of Zola's career? She'd previously had a well-earned reputation as a talented runner. She wasn't naturally athletic, either. In fact, she only started running because her older sister Jenny did. But wherever Zola went, she stood out.
An evolving path
What set Zola apart? Well, there was the curious detail that she never wore shoes! As a kid, she ran barefoot around Bloemfontein, her South African hometown, with her sister. And once Zola showed some skill at running, she found a coach. Jenny, meanwhile, went into nursing. She worked the night shift, only seeing Zola as she left for school in the morning.
Major loss
And a major loss may have spurred Zola on — whatever the cost. In 1980 Jenny was being treated for melanoma in the hospital, yet Zola wasn’t allowed to visit her sister. She was just 14, and so her family tried to keep the seriousness of the situation away from her. Naturally, it came as a shock for Zola when Jenny ultimately lost her battle.
