Watch When Fates Collide: The Mary Decker & Zola Budd Story

When Fates Collide: The Mary Decker & Zola Budd Story is a gripping sports biography show that covers the tumultuous collision of two of the greatest female athletes of the 1980s – American Mary Decker and South African Zola Budd. This documentary, produced by TLC, retells the engaging tale of how the two women's worlds merged in the high-pressure arena of the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics and the impact it had on their lives and careers.

The show captures the essence of the heated rivalry between Decker and Budd, both vying for the top spot in the 3000 meters race, which drew worldwide attention due to their contrasting personalities and nationalities. Decker, an established track and field star from the United States, was a two-time Olympic medalist and world champion with a competitive drive seemingly matched only by her tenacity. Budd, on the other hand, represented apartheid-era South Africa, which was subject to an international sports boycott, and was only able to join the race after a fast-tracked naturalization process.

Narrated by the two competitors themselves, the show provides an intimate and often emotional account of their journey to the Olympics, their fateful race, and its aftermath. Through exclusive interviews, vintage footage, and recreated scenes, viewers get a vivid impression of the incredible pressure both women were under in the lead-up to the historic race.

Notably, the footage of their race, interrupted by Decker's infamous fall, has become one of the most iconic moments in Olympic history. While their rivalry was on full display to the world, the clash on the track also ultimately led to a tragic sequence of events that would forever change their lives.

As the show unfolds, it becomes apparent just how much fate played a hand in the lives of both athletes, leading up to their meeting on the track, the collision that changed everything, and the long-reaching impact that stayed with them both even after they retired from athletics. Through Decker and Budd's experiences, viewers gain an insight into the high-stakes, high-pressure world of professional athletics and the uniquely personal world of elite sporting competition.

Overall, When Fates Collide: The Mary Decker & Zola Budd Story is a powerful, thought-provoking biography that re-examines an iconic moment in sports history from a fresh perspective. The show inspires as much as it enlightens, challenging viewers to look beyond the headlines and see the real human beings behind the triumphs and controversies. Whether you're a longtime sports fan or simply looking for an engaging and deeply moving story, When Fates Collide: The Mary Decker & Zola Budd Story is a must-watch.

When Fates Collide: The Mary Decker & Zola Budd Story is a series that ran for 1 seasons (1 episodes) between August 13, 2020 and on TLC