The Daily Mail, a British newspaper, persuaded her father to get her to apply for British citizenship on the grounds of her having a British grandfather, and race in the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, USA. This was accomplished and she moved to Guildford where, still a naïve 17 year old, she was startled by the venom of the anti-apartheid demonstrations.
She was selected for the 3000m Olympic event and during the race collided with Los Angeles runner Mary Decker[?], the favourite. Decker fell and did not finish the race, as a result Budd was booed by the crowd.
In 1985 she set a new 5000m world record, but shortly after retired from international competition and returned to her native country. She still runs for her own pleasure, but not competitively.
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