Zola Budd And Mary Decker Finally Hash Out Their Infamous Olympic Scandal
Long-distance runner Zola Budd had the chance to be named the best in the world for her sport and win a gold medal for Great Britain and her home, South Africa. All she had to do was outrun the American, Mary Decker. But unbeknownst to her, one fateful incident on the track would go on to become one of the greatest scandals in Olympic history. Years later, Zola and Mary finally got the chance to confront each other in a highly emotional meeting—and it's clear that the controversy is only just getting going.
The Scandal
The historic moment happened so quickly: During the women's 3000-meter race final, American Mary Decker 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 and Britain's Zola Budd zooming past.
Falling Into Running
Though Zola gained a well-earned reputation as a talented runner, her early career only happened by chance. She wasn't naturally athletic. In fact, she only started running because her older sister Jenny did. But wherever she went, she stood out.
An Evolving Path
Because she never wore shoes! As a kid, she ran barefoot around Bloemfontein, her South African hometown, with her sister. Once Zola showed some skill at running, she found a coach. Jenny went into nursing. She worked the night shift, only seeing Zola as she left for school in the morning.
Major Loss
In 1980, Jenny was being treated for melanoma in the hospital, and Zola wasn’t allowed to visit her sister. She was 14 and her family tried to keep the seriousness of Jenny’s skin cancer treatment from the teenager. On September 9, Zola was shocked to learn her sister lost her melanoma battle.
