Mary Decker Biography

Mary Decker is one of the most decorated middle distance runners in history. Over the course of her career the New Jersey native set 17 world record and 36 US national records in the 1500-meters, mile, 2000-meters and 3000-meters. She rose to prominence in her early teens, ranking first in the United States and fourth in the world in the 800-meters by the time she was 14. In 1973 she broke the world record in the indoor mile at the age of 15 and broke the world indoor record in the 880 yards and 800-meter in 1974. Over the next few years she overcame several injuries and returned to competition with a vengeance in 1979, winning gold in the 1500-meter at the Pan American Games. In 1982 she returned to form, breaking six world records and earning the James E. Sullivan Award as the top US amateur athlete. She followed that up with gold medals in the 1500-meter and 3000-meter at the 1983 World Championship, which earned her the Jesse Owens Award and the SI Sportsperson of the Year Award. She currently holds the American record in the 1500-meter, mile, 2000-meter and 3000-meter, which she set in the 1980’s. 

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