Mary Deckers clash with Zola Budd at the 1984 Los Angeles Games is one of the biggest & most controversial events in Olympic history.
In a head-to-head that gripped the imagination of the world, the 3000 metres race pitted the experienced & glamourous world champion from the host nation against a prodigious, teenage waif from South Africa wearing a hastily-organised British flag on her vest &, memorably, no shoes on her feet.
Disastrously, a mid-race collision saw Decker tumble to the inside of the track after her legs tangled with Budds as the 18-year-old overtook the American in a battle for pole position.
Distraught & unable to carry on, the tearful Decker watched in frustration as Maricica Puica of Romania stormed to gold while Budd, who was heavily booed by the partisan crowd in the closing stages, faded to seventh.
Product Information:
• ISBN: 9781909715363
• Author: Jason Henderson
• Publisher: Arena Sport
• Format: Paperback
• Pages: 232
• Dimensions: 23.5 x 15.5 x 2cm