Slaney, Mary Decker (1958–)

American middle-distance runner. Name variations: Mary Decker. Born Mary Teresa Decker, Aug 4, 1958, in Bunnvale, NJ; m. Ron Tabb (marathoner), 1981 (div. 1983); m. Richard Slaney (British discus thrower), 1985; attended University of Colorado.

At 13, qualified for US Olympic track team but was too young to compete (1972); set world records in New Zealand and US for the mile and 1,500-meter races respectively, then went on to break the world record for the 880-yard event and the US record for the 800-meter event at San Diego Invitational track meet (1980); qualified for Olympics in Moscow but could not compete due to US boycott (1980); at a European meet, ran the 10,000 meters for 1st time and beat US record by 42 seconds (1981); set 5 world records in indoor and outdoor races, including a 4:18 mile (1982); held every American distance record from 800 to 10,000 meters (1984); during Los Angeles Olympics (1984), in one of the most famous collisions in sports history, became entangled with Zola Budd, lost balance, and pulled a hip muscle; set a world record in indoor 2,000 meters and another world record for the mile (1985). Named female athlete of the year by Associated Press (1982); named Jesse Owens International Amateur Athlete of the Year, the 1st woman to be so honored (1982); received Amateur Sportswoman of the Year award from Women's Sports Foundation and named Sportswoman of the Year by Sports Illustrated (1983).

See also Women in World History.