Olympic 3000m Finals 1984

[@dynamobahamas]

Mary's mistake was getting boxed in you either set the pace In front or run wide or at the back. She was in her prime at that time and the class of the field but the second you are bunch in like that anything could happen and it did. At the end of the day she needed to understand that and run accordingly.

[@BCTMarcus]

Thanks for posting. Such a dramatic race. Lot of memories of Summer 1984 came back. I still doubt if Budd really was to blame. But it's a pity that a great athlete like Decker never achieved Olympic success. Let's face it though: Maricica Puică ran a great race and was a worthy champ!

[@jimmymack1973]

Watching this now, it's unbelievable that they thought that Zola "faded" and wasn't affected by the incident and all of the booing. She quite clearly takes her foot off the pedal with 500m to go.

[@captainspirou]

What exactly was really wrong with her competing for Great Britain? She wasn't responsible for the apartheid policy. She was a world class athlete that happened to be from a country with a reprehensible government. If the only way she could compete against the world's best was to leave the country then I sympathize. If she was ever quoted in support of apartheid then I would think differently.

[@SenseBoy]

One of the most famous races in history won by Maricica Puica, a legend !! :)

[@Leeyore1]

Let's put this to rest. According to Mary Decker herself: "The reason I fell, some people think she [Zola Budd] tripped me deliberately. I happen to know that wasn’t the case at all. The reason I fell is because I am and was very inexperienced in running in a pack." You can even hear her say it in her own words. Wikipedia on "Zola Budd," Note 10, NY Times link to hear Mary Decker speak about it.

[@garrysimpson1395]

They were both re-united in the film The Fall in World Cinema"s from Next Friday.

[@TheWolfontherun]

In 1982 Decker ran a 1.58.33 800m (in Switzerland) and a 31.35 10.000m (in Eugene) in only 48 hours. No one else (doped or not) was, or is, able to do it.

[@JohnnyEldritch]

Strange that the IAAF jury found Budd not responsible for the collision; Decker, herself, said Budd was not responsible for the collision, yet you know better than all of them. I bow down to your greater understanding and knowledge... all garnered from watching a low quality video. Well done. Give yourself a pat on the back.

[@theAzsportsman22]

Thanks for the video....Great win for Puica

[@dankwartdenkhardt5714]

In German television the reporter was a bit anoyed about all the advanced praisal and the fuss that was made at all about her. When the slow motion afterwards was fiddling with a bright stroked to mark the moment she felt he said: Was this the beam that Mary Decker did stumble over? It wasn´t laying around there just before."

[@Kozani-Eordaia-Greece]

I remember this final very clearly... I had watched it live , and IS the incident that has marked me the MOST , together with the yesterday unbielevable race in 400 meters of South African athlete Niekerk... It was ALSO here in Greece the first theme in newspapers for days... After having seen this about "millions" of times , i have found NOTHING about who should be blamed about the downfall of Decker ... But IN WHAT i am sure , this is that MARICIKA PUIKA would won the race IN ANY CASE ...

[@simpsonsfan09]

Incidentally, this was brought up on NBC's Olympic coverage tonight, after one of our ladies fell late in the 1500m race.

[@calql8er]

As a proud American who still fumes at our loss to Russia in '72 in basketball, I have to say more of the fault lies with Decker than with Budd

[@sbtbfanatic]

@jimmymack1973 I remember Budd saying that she gave up over the past couple laps because she felt badly about what happened to Decker.

[@christopherfoote4643]

Why would she do that? She was being booed and was crying. Obviously she shouldn't have done what she did. But maybe it was karma. Decker shouldn't have trailed. That was strange in itself.

[@craydee1975]

David Coleman - one of the all time greats

[@Sephiroth766]

Decker later on may have defended Budd but in the moment cameras caught Dr screaming saying she hoped the race is held up on protest.

[@felroberto]

Romanian Power! I was so happy for Maricica Puica. She was not a surprise winner. She later show she was by far better than Decker, Budd, Sly or any of those athletes in the final

[@clanrunner]

Many believe Budd deliberately slowed after the incident, in order to throw the race. She heard the booing and didn't want to win in front of that crowd. Or maybe she was just rattled by the incident. Either way, at the start of the race she had every reason to believe she could win.

[@simonhindley65]

No matter what, she certainly wasn't beating Puica.

[@paulouk83]

thanks for this!

[@thegreatalyssa]

1000m = 2:50.5, Mary. 2000m = 5:44.1, Zola. 3000m = 8:35.96, Maricica. Mary led with 66.9, 68.6, 70.4, 70.0. Not all the racers wanted a slowing pace. Zola took the lead running the next 100m faster than any other 100m up to that point in 16.0. Then she was interfered with. Zola's last 4 laps were in 68.1, 69.5, 72.7, 77.2. She slowed as she chose to stop competing at her best. I took the splits from Track & Field News, page 62, September, 1984 issue.

[@carlnev1]

Im a BRIT, a very proud Brit at the moment obviously. It's all well and good the American's quoting IAAF rules about not being able to cut in unless you are three strides clear... CUT In-Budd was clear,emphasis should be on runner behind to keep clear of legs/spikes. Watch any middle-distance race,you will see how many time this "rule" is not obeyed.

[@jimmymack1973]

Additionally, 4.35 college milers tend not to also have 4.01 personal bests for 1,500m. If her 1,500 best time was 4,17 or something, then I would say Budd was over-exerting herself. And it's completely relevant to mention her 2,000m and 5,000m world records. They highlight her speed and endurance in relation to running a 3,000m. This race was run in exceptional circumstances and were in no way a reflection of Budd's true ability.

[@Mr_SoloDolo]

Yes I am in high school, and no we are not talking about middle distance.

[@sbtbfanatic]

Decker probably would have gotten either the gold or silver if Budd hadn't tripped her up.

[@anthonymensingh1989]

Are you on drugs she wouldn't have beaten that juiced up doped up Romain lady who looked like a man

[@peterjones9938]

Was Decker on the juice back then?

[@jimmymack1973]

Well, as one who as submitted, rationale but heated, debate, I am genuinely interested in specifics of your take on it.

[@BlantonDelbert]

Zola Budd was a sensation creted by the media. She had not times near Mary Decker and the great Romanian runner who won the race. It should have been a duel between the great Romanian runner and Decker at the end.

[@holdencaufield200]

@skopexc 1)Once again this Isn't the 5000, 2) what Budd did after this later in her career has no bearing on this race or my comments and 3) I never said she was the blame for the fall, or Decker for that matter. It's simply foolhearty to attempt to seize the lead in a race in a lackadaisical manner. Any track coach will tell you that you seize the lead with authority and proper clearance for your own good as well.

[@Snidebark]

If people were removed from the debate who express a view that is based on how they feel rather than on objective consideration of the evidence, we could have a legitimate discussion. An argument is invalid if opinions are expressed by those who make up their minds first and then try to make the evidence support it, rather than consider the evidence and then draw a conclusion based on it. Our opinions should be based on a dispassionate evaluation of the evidence, not on what we want them to be.

[@taytotal]

It's a shame that the real winner of this race we will never know, I don't know much about race track running but Zola Budd was definitely not the loser here!

[@JohnnyEldritch]

@Chilly994 As I stated before, there are plenty of people who think Decker "was" in the wrong. Including the IAAF and Decker herself. As for understand the rules of track and field, it is the trailing athlete's responsibility to avoid contact with the runner ahead. All this is moot though as I'm guessing English is your second language? Therefore, perhaps unfairly, I'm losing something in your translation. Besides your grasp on the use of expletives; I am finding it hard to understand you, whic

[@holdencaufield200]

@rayjr62 Up to this point in their careers, Budd's best time was 8:37 and Decker's best was 8:29 which is a HUGE difference at this level. Decker had run these world class times more frequently AND was the world champion. I won't compare women to men & women have improved a lot since, but my best time in college in the 2000 was actually better than Budd's so I do know what I'm talking about when it comes to track & field especially more than some USA hating Zola Budd groupie like you.

[@Kozani-Eordaia-Greece]

And i say - claim this because 1) Mary Decker had lost then the first position and had be 'closed " inside without having " way-out " that exact moment , AND Mary Decker could NOT act LIKE THAT , she could only if-when she is in first position CONTINUOUSLY and 2) more important , the race was RELATIVELY slow , perfect conditions for "the" very strong , very power MARICIKA PUIKA at the last laps and even more , at the last lap... BESIDES, as anyone can watch , Mary Decker had tried , using her arm , to put herself again in first position , exactly before the downfall...

[@kevinmalone3210]

Mary should've just pushed her way past Budd, or keep her from getting in front of her. Her opportunity to win gold here was her best chance, and they only come once every 4 yrs. I believe she would've won this race, if only she didn't fall.

[@jimmymack1973]

Zola Budd was a "nuisance" in this race? In what respect? She was the fifth fastest overall and had the third best time of 1984 in that field. In short, she was a genuine medal contender. Had the race played out normally, given that this was her first 3,000m final where she was running against competition other than the clock, there was every possibility that she would have knocked seconds off her best time.

[@fiagrey]

I admit I don't like Mary Decker, but her thigh landed on a white-bump boundary (I don't know the right word for it), which has to hurt. Try landing your arm or leg on something like a metal pole and see if it doesn't hurt.

[@jubbadupa]

Puica would have won this race... regardless of the fall.

[@andrewpaul7363]

puica would av won anyway! one of the most funniest moments in olympic history!

[@jimmymack1973]

Er, maybe it was because, oh I don't know, she had tens of thousands of people booing and jeering her? Yeah, it's really easy to keep your mind on the job when you've got a stadium full of people openly hating on you. Budd wrote in her autobiography that she deliberately slowed down because she couldn't take the hatred of the crowd. It's so obvious! Incidentally, were these 100 women also also 8:37 3,000m runners, or the world record holder at the two middle distance events that book-ended it?

[@OneBigRetard]

Wow. Is English your second language?

[@holdencaufield200]

@skopexc And clearly her "poor pack runner" comment is simply her being kind, what the heck does that mean anyway, The fastest runner in the event saying that she's poor at running should tell you that she's just trying to take the high road. Elite runners aren't poor at running in packs. Some like she, simply mean to say they don't like them or they don't like to be boxed in. And that's exactly what Budd did.

[@JohnnyEldritch]

Funny you should take that opinion... the American opinion, but decker, herself, later said "some people think she tripped me deliberately. I happen to know that wasn't the case at all. The reason I fell is because I am and was very inexperienced in running in a pack."

[@cdts20]

i didnt think there was lanes for this type of race.

[@Snidebark]

I don't have one; I've no interest in the issue, and don't know enough of the facts to be entitled to an opinion. I came to this video out of curiosity, not having seen it since 1984 and having heard on the radio today a dramatisation of Budd's nationality controversy. My point applies to argument in general. It's a shame when people can't have a rational debate without letting their personal feeling into it, because it can turn to unnecessary bitterness, as it has among some here.

[@schmetterlink]

"The etiquette is" also that you don't trip other runners in the race.

[@schmetterlink]

@@bfc3057 I don’t remember writing this comment and I don’t even agree with what it implies, so yes: good point

[@TroupeGoal]

Hard to deliberately trip somebody who's running behind you. Yeah she got in front of her, blocked her off or whatever, that's the idea.

[@Josephin51791]

I am here for the same reason.

[@TotnumMatt]

Have you ever watched other sport??? Have you ever seen how the home crowd thinks their athletes are the best thing since sliced bread, and the opposition are hated, REGARDLESS of what is actually happening? Have you watched rugby, where now the opposition kicker gets booed when taking a penalty, even if its a blatent offense by the home team? The crowd being biased has nothing to do with her slowing down, and good on her for taking a high road despite the collision not being her fault.

[@jxxxjppp]

I think if decker hadnt fallen,she'd have outkicked zola budd,and won the race.Mind you,if there was no boycott,i think the soviet,tatyana kazankina would have won.She broke the world record,running 8.22,the following week.Mary decker had beaten kazankina,the year before,at the world championships,but kazankina was a lot faster by 1984,and had leg speed(doped probably)that even decker didnt have.

[@OneBigRetard]

She altered her stride because she was touched by Decker a couple of times.

[@spottydog4477]

Budd clearly stepped to the left - cut her off whilst in front - and Dekker went down real hard.......

[@jimmymack1973]

Up until that point Zola Budd ran just about every one of her races in the UK with screams from anti-apartheid protesters ringing in her ears. And we're not talking mild-mannered barracking here, we're talking things like "racist bitch" and "fascist scum". Someone who is "mentally weak" wouldn't be able to tune that kind of abuse out and win all of her races. As has been pointed out to you before, the clash and the reaction of the crowd here made for an extraordinary set of circumstances.

[@TotnumMatt]

You didnt state Budd didnt slow her pace deliberately, but you implied it by stating she was a weak and inexperienced 3000m runner.

[@erzug]

Certainly looks to me as though Budd cut Decker off around the turn. I immediately thought of this event when Morgan Uceny went down in the 1500M final in London. The irony is that Budd probably shouldn't have even been participating in the Olympics since she was from South Africa, which had been banned due to their Apartheid policy. Seems some strings were pulled and she was allowed to run for Great Britain.

[@jimmymack1973]

And your objective view is?

[@jimmymack1973]

You are kidding me? It's psychologically draining enough running a race at that level without having that added pressure - *nothing* to do with mental fragility. Listen to the commentary on this clip, and the American coverage elsewhere on KZbin. They both mentioned Budd as a front runner and their expectation that she *would* challenge for the lead. You're the only one who can't get their head around that. The pace was slowing, Budd didn't like it. She moved to the front to push it on.

[@yescanto]

Your wrong... the runner who has the lead... has the right of the way... so the girl who fell... it was her responsibility to watch her feet. She didn't and she spiked the front runner and fell... it was her own fault..no one else's.

[@shottut]

Mary spiked Zola in the heel... don't know why she is lying there crying ... she should have got her steroid - ed ass back up off the track and finished the race !

[@holdencaufield200]

Her pathetic last two laps and her 6th place finnish(which should have been seventh) speaks volumes and is proof that she had no right surging to the lead in that manner. There were over 100 women in the world that could have run a 4:35 mile and moved to the lead at that point and then virtually drop out as Budd did. In track and field, we call them rabbits, here it was proven it was not her pace at this point in her career and just foolish. Why is she the only runner to drop back 5 places?

[@skopexc]

@holdencaufield200 Don't play down Budd's talent just because you don't like the outcome of this race. This same year Budd broke Decker's 5k world record, so I don't know how you can claim she isn't in the same class. Also Decker admits years later that Budd was no to blame for the incident, Decker said she (Decker) was a poor pack runner.

[@lhoffman_3]

5:05 The reason you came here.

[@HunterR909]

It looks like budd cut off mary, and was in her lane and not in her own

[@joaquinfecicia]

jeje lo encontre despues de leer el estudio de la atalaya..(use disernimiento el lector)

[@holdencaufield200]

Your questions aren't relevant but Yes, Yes and No, to your three questions. As an evolved nation, in America we have Football so Rugby is strange and ridiculous to most Americans. Once again, I never said that Budd did or didn't SLOW DOWN because of a biased crowd. (maybe you think everyone here is one in the same). Refering to someone else's statement, I said if he (G58) believes she slowed down for that THEN G58 is saying she is weak minded. LEARN TO FREAKING READ!!!!!!

[@spike7101]

Puica looks like a bricklayer with a blonde wig, juiced up to the nines, this really should have been Wendy Sly's gold medal, if only they could retest samples that far back.

[@dumitavi1]

You are talking about the winner, like she was some lousy athlete that had the fortune to benefit from this incident between these two great runners. I suggest you look up and compare the records of Maricica Puica (the winner), Mary Decker and Zola Budd. Maybe, then, you will reconsider your point of view.

[@mrmystiq8964]

if you look decker tried to trip zola but got it wrong

[@peterpeterxxo]

decker ends up, erm..on the deck, her own fault she fell, and she admitted it.

[@226Liu]

i agree with you

[@jimmymack1973]

HAS sumitted, even.

[@holdencaufield200]

Er, maybe, if a stadium full of people are "booing and jeering you", Er most likely you did something wrong. Budd can say anything that she wants after the fact. If she's that fragile mentally, then that explains her novice attempt for the lead. Just because she's used to frontrunning, doesn't mean it's going to happen in an OLYMPIC FINAL!!! Yes, there is a 4:35 miler(the point just before she spent herself) at every major college track program and this is the 3000, not the "book-ends".

[@PARDI62]

zola bud n etait pas responsable... mais dans sa tete pendant qu elle courait autour du stade voyant decker qui "agonise" quelle torture pour elle, ELLE DECIDA de finir 7ème. Mais je sais qu elle aurait du etre championne olympique..No doubt about it.

[@rachel7000rf]

well that was deckers fault wasn't it. she runs into budd that's her fault.

[@mrsbilliejoemargera]

poor Morgan :'(

[@holdencaufield200]

Zola was not in the class of Mary Decker or any of the top 3 finishers. She was merely a nuisance to the better runners in the field. Why on earth she thought that she could go to the lead and hold it is a mystery. As proved by her poor finnish on the last lap, as far as i'm concerned she was merely in the way.

[@Josephin51791]

I agree:)

[@poolkop7]

Mary Decker was an over-rated athlete and drama queen. She knew she was not capable of winning this race, so she chose a dramatic and spiteful exit. Zola ran barefoot. Decker in spikes. Decker being the experienced (but stupid) competitor, tried to get through a gap where there was no gap. Decker got what she deserved. . . . . . Nuff said.

[@Vukf1]

watchtower 15.3.2013

[@MegaWhiner]

Zola moved in too early. Cut her off. How about that Jordan Hasay!? Check her out.

[@jubbadupa]

Unintelligent ?? That would be you ! Distance runner ?? what is this high school ? Since the Romanian, Russian, Bulgarian and other European's had successfully use steroids to improve their performance on the track at the middle distances... why wouldn't a track runner use steroids.

[@Chilly994]

In fact, if in a nascar race as everybody is goin 200 miles an hour, if the car in front of someone slammed thier brakes and made the car 2 inches from his bumper crash, the driver in front would be suspended..no different here..Zola fucked up AND ADMITTED IT! So hoe does anyone say "zola no, its mot your fault for what you admit you did" MORONS..LOVE MARY DECKER,,,HAA

[@holdencaufield200]

@rayjr62 And this is not the 5000 or the 2000 rayjr62, anyone who knows anything about track and field knows that comparing runners at different distances is foolish. With your logic Florence Griffith Joyner could win this race too.

[@Theckonestroh]

boxed her in! Silly as hell!

[@boomdocker100]

when budd got her uk passport the left in britain were as vicious as possible to her, she didnt create apartheid,

[@darjavauch1]

5:11

[@rayhs1984]

wow you can't type . . . or see.

[@markguest36]

puica would av won anyway! zola was not 2 blame at all. it was an accident,laugh though!

[@garrettkjacob87]

Watchtower

[@mauia88]

That clearly looks like Zola Budd tripped her because her leg comes behind her unnaturally. She leans to her right to kick behind her. A runner wouldn't take a step like that, especially if they are running in a straight line. Poor Decker. How messed up!

[@JorgeDan75]

What exagerate tragedy Mary has done here!

[@LPCLASSICAL]

I am certain Decker would have won gold. Budd had a running style inconvenient to other athletes - barefoot and ankles which fling wide. Shed went past Decker and really cut into the inside lane forcing Decker to check back - which she could not due to having Puica right behind her. I think that Budd was wreckless to overtake and was already fading which caused Decker and her legs to tangle. Budd's fault totally!.

[@benmcdonnell4167]

I still think it was Budd's fault. She cut Decker in too close, compacting the field.

[@spike7101]

I gather that Decker liked being a front runner, when Budd pulled ahead of her it rattled her, she got too close, obviously under enormous pressure, clipped Zolas back leg and then whoof!

[@spike7101]

The bloke from Romania won (Oh sorry, the rather masculine, muscled, big shouldered, flat chested woman), watching this race back its so obvious Puica was juiced up, like all the eastern europeans back in the day

[@Theckonestroh]

Lmao girl didn't even win the race! Why the hell trip her! I could see if she was your top and only threat at winning and losing! She finished 7th! loser goes all the way to the front of the race what a joke! You don't get out front unless you know you can win. Junior champion thinks she is going to win the race. She didn't even have wheels to win that race. She finished like a 1,000 feet behind one of the top racers..

[@MARDAMKIT]

No, not a US citizen, but a proud subject of Old Blighty, and thats why I find it so embarrassing. Since bud was representing GB, she could have been a little more polite, but I guess she was never taught. Decker was also magnanimous in defeat, which makes the bud affair so hard to take. After watching Track & Field for forty years, I have never seen any other runner behave like Bud when bumped. You appear to have the same manners as Bud; are you from Africa as well?

[@bunutzu]

.....and Romania wins!!!!

[@matigol361]

yo igual xd

[@katinaponder]

She did try to trip her lmao FAIL!

[@nereydalb]

:)

[@IDeBeast]

Ms. Bud firstly should not have been allowed to participate, as she was a citizen of South Africa. Secondly, she ran a dirty race, not shoes, putting all other competitors in the position of watching out not to spike her. Many ignorant decisions all around. Mary should have gave her a shove, the shove Ms. Bud was asking for.