Former Olympian Zola Budd is out of South Carolina cross-country meet because of illness

Illness keeps ex-track Olympian Budd from SC meet

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Former track sensation Zola Budd Pieterse has dropped out of a cross-country meet at South Carolina.

University officials said that Budd Pieterse is sick and won’t run Friday in the Gamecock Invitational.

Budd Pieterse is a former world champion and record holder at 5,000 meters. She now lives in Myrtle Beach and is an assistant coach for Coastal Carolina.

The South African was part of one of the most disputed moments in Olympic history. Competing for Great Britain in the 3,000-meter final at the 1984 Los Angeles Games, she was running barefoot when she became entangled with American Mary Decker, who tumbled to the track in tears.