Five Athletes Linked by One Race by Rob Leachman From the “Great Rivalries of Olympic Track and Field” Series In the decades following their meeting on the Olympic track in Los Angeles, the five main characters in that fateful event, Slaney, Budd, and the three medalists, each in her own way lived a successful and … Read more
“Aftermath: Seeking a Return to Normal“ by Rob Leachman From the “Great Rivalries in Olympic Track and Field” Series In the hours and days following their momentous 3,000-meter clash, the experiences of Mary Decker and Zola Budd were vastly different. And under very different circumstances, each quickly headed for home. After being examined and receiving … Read more
“An Unlikely Rivalry” by Rob Leachman From the “Great Rivalries of Olympic Track and Field” Series While young Zola Budd was experiencing emotional turmoil as the Los Angeles Games approached, the more seasoned, two-time world champion Mary Decker was experiencing her own challenges. The “Double Decker” naturally increased expectations, with many American fans now hoping … Read more
“The Tragic Rise of Zola Budd” by Rob Leachman From the “Great Rivalries of Olympic Track and Field” Series While eight-year-old Mary Decker was going to school and playing with her friends in New Jersey, Hendrina Wilhelmina “Tossie” De Swardt was giving birth to her sixth child. But things at Bloemfontein Hospital in South Africa … Read more
“Little Mary Decker” by Rob Leachman From the “Great Rivalries of Olympic Track and Field” Series Some rivalries are made for the media, storylines of perpetual quests for Olympic glory, or battles of perceived good versus evil serving to drive up ratings and circulation. In the case of Mary Decker’s tragic encounter with Zola Budd … Read more
