Mary Slaney relives horror

Press, 24 September 1988, Page 28

Mary Slaney relives horror

NZPA-Reuter Seoul Mary Slaney relived for a moment the horror of her fall in the 1984 Olympics 3000 metres final when she was spiked during a qualifying heat yesterday. Slaney complained that a rival had stepped on her heel in her 3000 metres heat but she was able to continue, finishing fourth and qualifying for tomorrow’s final. “I tripped a little bit on the second last lap,” she said. “Somebody stepped on my heel. I looked to see who it was but I couldn’t tell. “Los Angeles flashed through my mind for a moment. It was a little scary.” SJaney’s agony, frustration and bitter tears after tangling with the feet of the Briton Zola Budd in the 3000 metres

final are among the most abiding memories of the Los Angeles Games. Budd, who felt she was being hounded out of the sport because of her South African connections, quit international athletics this year and returned to her native country. Slaney, the world champion over 1500 and 3000 metres in 1983, said she had her heart set on succeeding at the Seoul Games. Ironically, the Romanian Maricica Puica, who won the 3000 metres gold medal in Los Angeles after Slaney’s fall, failed in her bid to retain the title. She pulled up on the last lap of her heat, shrugged her shoulders and walked off, apparently suffering from a stomach upset and a headache.