I've never felt that I was less of an athlete or not accomplished athletically because I didn't win an Olympic medal. It's definitely something I would have liked to have added to my resume, but at the same time I think I can look back at my athletic career and feel that I was one of the best.

At a press conference Mary Decker said that Budd was to blame for the collision. In 1982 Mary Decker received the James E. Track officials initially disqualified Budd for obstruction but Mary Decker was reinstated just one hour later once officials had viewed films of the race.

During her career Mary Decker won gold medals in the 1500 meters and 3000 meters at the 1983 World Championships and set 17 official and unofficial world records and 36 US national records.