In a headtohead that gripped the imagination of the world, the 3000 metres race pitted the experienced and glamourous world champion from the host nation against a prodigious, teenage waif from south africa wearing a hastilyorganised british flag on her. During her career, she won gold medals in the 1500 meters and 3000 meters at the 1983 world championships, and was the world record holder in the mile, 5000 meters and 10,000 meters. The slaney family live in a twostory, three bedroom home in an upper middleclass neighborhood in eugene, oregon. For a latemorning race, i get up early and do an easy 2. Review of olympic collision sport in american history.
At this writing, she still held the american record for 3000 meters set in 1985, and her 1500 mark had just fallen after 32 years. All mary teresa decker tabb slaney had to do was apologize. She is arguably the greatest woman middle distance runner in u. He coached mary decker slaney in her best years, crowned by 1983 when she won two gold medals 1500m and 3000m at the inaugural iaaf world championships in helsinki. Mary decker slaney has made her peace with usa track and field after the sport s national governing body considered suspending her. She was a prodigy, breaking american records indoors when she was only 15, and won aau titles indoors and out in 1974. The pain seemed unbearable, but being mary slaney she knew she would work through it. Mary decker slaney doesnt obsess anymore about not winning an olympic medal. Earlier that year budd had broken deckers world record in the 5,000 metres, setting up a muchanticipated showdown in the 3,000metre race at the olympics. Businesses, nonprofit organizations, event planners and companies across the country have worked closely with our booking agents to hire mary decker slaney for a speaking engagements, guest appearances, product endorsements and. Mary decker slaney covered the rainslickened new times 10k in a course record 32. For anyone familiar with mary decker slaneys enormous competitive drive, it isnt really surprising that her best mile ever a world record, in fact would come in a tight race against. Rather, the 18yearold budd found herself in the unflattering glare of the spotlight after a collision with her idoland rivalamerican mary decker later mary decker slaney. Champion runner mary decker slaney had finally met her match.
Slaney and decker became friends and then lovers, marrying 1011985. She still lives in eugene while keeping the lowest of profiles. Mary was the pretty allamerican star who, at 26, had captured the hearts of the nation. Mary decker 1958 american track and field athlete source for information on. Mary decker slaney running through the pain national. The rumblings started last fall, like drums along the road circuit. Espn biopic on runners bumpy career mary decker slaney talks about the olympic medal she didnt win. At iaaf world indoor championships, iaaf statistics book world indoor championships sopot 2014 pdf, iaaf, pp.
Howard schroeder follows the champion runner from her first race at the age of eleven to her recognition as one of the top runners in the world. Although decker, who started her impressive career as a preteen, is one of the worlds fastest middledistance runners ever, bad circumstances interfered in deckers attempts to win an olympic gold medal. Buy online, pick up in store is currently unavailable, but this item may be available for instore purchase. Contact mary decker slaney address, agent, manager. Soon, he was director of the athletics west program and coaching some of their elite members, including the first female member of the team, mary decker slaney. The complete book on the worlds greatest female athletes. After her breakout years of 197374, she had problems for a few years with injuries, which would become a recurrent feature of her career. Slaney enters hall of fame, putting disputes behind her. It is hard to believe that mary decker slaney turns 57 years old on august 4th. Ahead of the 3,000m womens final, she was pitted against mary decker, a world recordholding us star. Mary decker slaney project gutenberg selfpublishing.
Olympic track and field trials in indianapolis last month. Mary decker slaney sports closeups hardcover january 1, 1986 by matthew newman author visit amazons matthew newman page. Mary decker slaney she is arguably the greatest woman middle distance runner in u. Mary decker slaney running through the pain national pain. Mary deckerslaney, 1982, in a year when she set seven world bests, from 1,500m 10,000m, sports illustrated cover. Former marathoner ron tabb not your average bar owner. Mary decker falls to the track as zola budd leads the final of the. Distance runner mary deckerslaney battles with the rest.
In total, she set 17 official and unofficial world records, including being the first woman in. Mary teresa slaney is a retired american middledistance runner. Join facebook to connect with mary slaney and others you may know. With the russians boycotting the games in retaliation for the americans pulling out of moscow in 1980, the budddecker grudge match was. Mary decker comes face to face with zola budd and forgives. Thirty fifth anniversary of mary decker slaneys amazing. A simple statement of regret for having laid harsh wordsand full. In total, she set 17 official and unofficial world records, including being the first woman in history to run. And oh the stories he has, from being stripped of a chance to represent the united states in the 80 games to knocking on decker slaneys door at 11 p. Follows the champion runner from her first race at the age of eleven to. Mary decker has been the greatest american female middle distance and distance runner.
She was barely too young to make the olympic track and field team in. But their meeting became one of the most infamous moments in olympic history. Their daughter, ashley lynn was born on 5301986, a difficult ninehour labor. Mary deckerslaney, with a youngish jeff benjamin, from the benjamin photo collection. Mary decker is remembered by many for what she did not do, rather than what she did. Mary slaney made two more olympic teams and continued competing into her late 30s while compiling a lifetime count of about two dozen surgeries.
The story of mary decker and zola budd keiderling, kyle on. Looking ahead to seoul runner mary decker slaney stares into the distance as she warms up before a race at the u. Mary decker slaney scu2, sports closeups matt newman on. Howard schroeder follows the champion runner from her first race at the age of eleven to her recognition as one of. Mary decker, horoscope for birth date 4 august 1958, born. Mary decker slaney by matthew newman, hardcover barnes. Mary, mary, still contrary vault sports illustrated. Typically a frontrunner, slaney, then mary decker, said she followed her coachs advice when she let others lead a portion of the 3,000 meters final many believed would bring her the ultimate. A precocious talent, her body paid for it, as she required nine plus surgeries during her career. Robyn benincasa updates for the fall 2012 going for my third guinness record in paddling in september. Mary slaney first ran in new york citys millrose games in 1974, when she was little mary decker, a pigtailed 15yearold so absurdly talented that she was already the best female. Mary decker slaney agent speaker fee booking contact.
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