Zola Budd To Run Ultra Marathon
- By News
- Published Jan. 16, 2012
The famous barefoot middle-distance ace is now taking on much longer races.
At 45, Zola Budd, the former world-record holder made famous for beating her competitors sans shoes will be tackling a new discipline: the ultra marathon. It was announced late last week that Budd will be taking part in the Comrades ultra marathon in South Africa.
“I started running seriously at the age of 14 and I’ve turned 45, but I still look forward to running,” Budd said. “I still find it challenging.”
Budd grew up in South Africa and is best remembered for her collision with Mary Decker in the 3,000m final at the 1984 Los Angeles Summer Olympics.
She twice broke the 5,000m world record, but her first mark wasn’t officially recognized, because it was run in apartheid South Africa.
Budd now lives in South Carolina. “It’s all about the camaraderie,” she said. “A lot of things have changed, a lot of things haven’t changed. I am still the same person, I am still Zola Budd.”
For More: ESPN
FILED UNDER: News TAGS: 1984 Los Angeles Summer Olympics / 3000m / Mary Decker Slaney / Middle Distance / South Africa / summer games / Zola Budd
