When was zola budd born

She competed in both the m and m at the European Championships but did not win a medal in either, finishing 9th and 4th respectively. It later emerged that Budd was suffering a painful leg injury for much of the season: she did not compete in as she sought treatment for this.

Ranked on the list of most popular Runner. Also ranked in the elit list of famous celebrity born in South Africa. Zola Budd celebrates birthday on May 26 of every year. In she claimed the world record officially, while representing Great Britain, clocking In Budd began to compete again with a handful of cross-country runs.

However, several African nations claimed she had competed in an event in South Africa and insisted she be suspended from competition. Budd claimed she only attended the event and did not compete. She retired from international competition for several years, but returned in time to represent South Africa in the Summer Olympics in Barcelona, competing in the m.

In Budd married Mike Pieterse. The couple have three children, daughter Lisa and twins, Azelle and Mike. On her return home to South Africa, Budd began racing again. She had an excellent season in and was the second-fastest woman in the world over m. In , she finished fourth at the World Cross Country championships but would never translate this form on to the track. As South Africa was banned from competing in any sporting code with other countries, the event took place without publicity that might have attracted anti-apartheid demonstrators.

Budd returned to South Africa after she was banned by the IAAF in because she allegedly took part in an event in this country, though she insisted that she only attended the event and did not run. She retired from international competition for several years, but began racing again in South Africa and had an excellent season in , when she was the second fastest woman in the world over 3,m.

Budd is married to Mike Pieterse, a South African businessman and has three children. Popular topics:. By profession:. American Argentinia Spanish Swedish Swiss. Famous authors:. Priestley Jerry B. Facts about Zola Budd. I felt more in touch with what was happening - I could actually feel the track". In Budd began to compete again with a handful of cross-country runs.

However, several African nations claimed she had competed in an event in South Africa and insisted she be suspended from competition. Budd claimed she only attended the event and did not compete. She retired from international competition for several years, but returned in time to represent South Africa in the Summer Olympics in Barcelona, competing in the m. However, after a couple of victories in fast early season times over m She competed in both the m and m at the European Championships but did not win a medal in either, finishing 9th and 4th respectively.

It later emerged that Budd was suffering a painful leg injury for much of the season: she did not compete in as she sought treatment for this. In she claimed the world record officially, while representing Great Britain, clocking Budd competed internationally for the UK in and The most significant of these was her rematch with Mary Decker-Slaney at Crystal Palace in July , in which she finished fourth, some 13 seconds behind Decker-Slaney.

Budd, who was born in Bloemfontein, Orange Free State, South Africa, achieved fame in , at the age of 17, when she broke the women's m world record with a time of Since her performance took place in South Africa, then excluded from international athletics competition because of its apartheid policy, the International Amateur Athletics Federation IAAF refused to ratify Budd's time as an official world record. The Daily Mail, a British tabloid newspaper, persuaded Budd's father to encourage her to apply for British citizenship, on the grounds that her grandfather was British, to circumvent the international sporting boycott of South Africa, so that she could compete in the Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.

With a strong push from the Daily Mail, British citizenship was granted in short order and she moved to Guildford. Her application and arrival was controversial due to her acquiring a passport under preferential circumstances. Groups supporting the abolition of apartheid campaigned vociferously and effectively to highlight the special treatment she received; other applicants had to wait sometimes years to be granted citizenship, if at all.

In unratified and , she broke the world record in the women's metres. She was also a two-time winner at the World Cross Country Championships — Budd's career was unusual in that she mainly trained and raced barefoot. She moved with her family to South Carolina in , and competes at marathons and ultramarathons.