Zola Budd

[@qballshanratty1447]

Brilliant, brilliant natural runner. We were denied some of the spectacles such as this by the politics that marred her career. She was also a tough, gutsy athlete, often seen front-running barefoot into northern European headwinds. Check out her performances in the World Cross Country Champs in 1985 and 1986!

[@ivansanders8459]

Her running dazzled me then and I'm still watching her tapes all these years later.

[@kimberleylcd8051]

Zola Bud, une légende

[@muc390]

Zola has always been one of my favorites, especially after the way she was treated at the 1984 Olympics.... shame she never managed to win a global medal in her career (as a senior)

[@TheLights045]

She really made the commentators eat their words! Zola has always been my favorite. It's amazing to compare the size of these runners to today's girls of the same age. Even Olympic level--much more muscular today and not as waif like...

[@lemonblemon]

Wow! Thanks for sharing this. What a beautiful runner. Great memories.

[@marcellogan5570]

World class at that time.

[@sedwards8870]

I remember this it was a world junior best !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Wow, in that cold wind to boot what a girl xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

[@cosmicsconscious7242]

This is why I barefoot run!! Just ran at Grant Park in Chicago earlier today.

[@jimmymack1973]

Brilliant run by Zola here. Took that field apart.

[@Dinu-desculţ]

Excellent! This is another reason for me to say that BAREFOOT IS THE BEST !!! All the sport shoes is hard, uncomfortable. I also run barefoot :D

[@williamperry9602]

Never thought she reached her full potential.at end of most races she didn't look push and seemed to have more in the tank.

[@jorgemaisonetmimomio8565]

Amazing runner!

[@williamperry9602]

I actually ran barefoot in Michigan in the winter snow because of her

[@Silver_Sibiya]

Wow!!!! Unbelievable speed throughout the race, unfortunately I could not watch her during her time.

[@cheetahcheetah3756]

she was great. so humble. sad that politics and world banned SA from int athletics.

[@uselessjoe]

I loved Zola

[@bradhayes8294]

I used to always run barefoot whenever I ran cross country at golf courses. In fact the first race I actually lead I was running barefoot and was way ahead of the pack. I had never lead before and made a wrong turn and didn't realize it until I heard everybody yelling at me. By the time I got turned back around I ran an extra 100 yards enough for my teammate running in second place to catch up with me. We we're both running our guts out at the finish and I just barely nosed him out to win.

[@bradhayes8294]

@NBCeeUs! Wow! Me recounting one high school cross country race, trying to trump an Olympic athlete. Where did that come from?

[@waynehentley4332]

@NBCeeUs! Good one!😀😀😀

[@petermalloy5360]

A true champion

[@running.lawyer]

Barefoot goddess.

[@AnneliseFortuin]

Legend❤

[@mattymath1]

How demoralizing is it to the field when the #2 girl just quits because the leader is too awesome!

[@annetteelliott1494]

She was thrown under the bus......she was so young to face all the politics on her own and on top of it she couldn't speak. English properly......my heart just broke for her.....

[@franciosdeswart2764]

And Zola almost got tripped...I always say and i stand by it...The person behind you are at fault...they can see where they're running...You in front dont have eyes behind your back...Point.Love u lots Zola

[@BluntTrauma621]

Legend.

[@cintroberts6614]

Had Mary Decker been there this would be a whole different story.

[@waynehentley4332]

@NBCeeUs! The UK championship was sometimes open to foreigners.

[@simonedwards5564]

I remember Gillian green was loud in her dislike for Zola and was GONNA STICK IT TO BUD IN THIS RACE,,,,, somebody shouts cmon Gillian just as green drops out,,,,, THAT WIND WAS VICIOUS!!!!!!!! ,,,,YET BUD RUNS SUB 4:06 IN CONDITIONS NOT CONDUSIVE TO FAST TIMES,,,,,THIS REMARKABLE RUN IF SHE HAD BEEN IN OSLO OR ZURICH WAS WORTH ,,WELL ,, WELL INSIDE ,,4 MINUTES,,,, LOVE YOU ZOLA !!!!!!!!!!!!

[@keirbateman267]

If the dislike for Zola Budd was because she was representing the apartheid regime then ok that's just a misunderstanding of the situation. If it's because she was given a British passport very quickly that isn't really her fault either. Zola would always run honestly and bravely and is one of my favourite runners. My first memory of watching the Olympics is of Tokyo 64. I hope Tokyo 2020/21 is as memorable

[@keirbateman267]

You remember more than I do. Who was/is Gillian Green or Jane Furness? Were they concerned that Zola was going to relegate them to 13th or 14th instead of 12th?

[@froggy8814]

poor sportsmanship by Gillian Green… wow just gave up like that

[@siongyuen]

haha, she is like cheating by taking of the shoes. She running so smoothly with no vertical movement and while other bouncing like rabbit.