Budd Returns to Britain, Is ‘Looking Forward to Running Again’

Zola Budd returned to Britain on Wednesday for the first time since her appearance at the Los Angeles Olympic Games and said she was “looking forward to running again” in her adopted country.

The South African-born athlete, who became a British citizen last March in order to compete at the Games, declined to comment on her immediate plans although she said she hoped to take part in the forthcoming British cross country season.

Budd, 18, arrived from Zurich where she won an 8-kilometer race on Sunday --her first competitive event since her disastrous appearance in the 3,000 meters at the Olympics where her legs tangled with race favorite Mary Decker.

The American fell in the infield and Budd, who continued to run despite a storm of booing, finished seventh. Budd, who prefers to run barefoot, returned to her homeland immediately and later announced she was to take up running there again.

But two days before she was due to race, she agreed to postpone her comeback when advised that she faced a worldwide ban.

South Africa is barred from international sports because of its policy of racial separation and Budd would not have been allowed to pursue her international career had she opted to compete again in the country of her birth.

Budd’s new advisor, Jannie Momberg, vice president of the South African Amateur Athletics Union, said on arrival at Heathrow Airport that Budd was feeling “very confident” about the future.

But he declined to say what she had decided to do.

Budd was expected to announce her plans at a private function in London today.

She also was due to meet with British athletics officials later this week before flying back to South Africa for a brief visit to see her ailing mother.

Nigel Cooper, secretary of the British Amateur Athletics Board, said he thought Budd would stay in Britain and resume her career as a promising international long distance runner competing for Britain.

Last week, Cooper said he would have to look closely at the role of Momberg in his discussions with Budd.

“We are aware of Momberg’s position. It’s like walking a tightrope and is an area we will have to treat with the utmost diplomacy,” he said.