Zola Budd

Budd won back-to-back world cross-country titles in 1985 and 1986, running barefoot as she had on the South African veld, including on the cold, muddy course in Neuchâtel in 1986 where many runners struggled for grip. Running for Britain at the height of the sporting boycott of apartheid South Africa, she was a controversial figure, but on the country her light, quick stride and front-running were simply too good for the field.