Athletics singlet edged with white

The black singlet was edged in white for the first time in 1986 and worn by the New Zealand athletes who competed in the International Association of Athletics Federation Cross Country World Championships in Neuchâtel, Switzerland. The women were initially declared the winners, but England protested that one of their runners, who had fallen over the line, had been given the wrong finishing position. The result was overturned despite counter protests. England would never have beaten New Zealand if it wasn’t for the controversial inclusion of the brilliant South African Zola Budd, who successfully defended her 1985 title in this race. Due to the apartheid sporting ban Zola couldn’t compete in or for her home country. So New Zealand didn’t win that day, but they did learn the value of including brilliant South Africans in their national teams.

Details

Credit: Garment loan courtesy of Jack Ralston
Copyright: Creative Commons BY-NC-ND 4.0 Licence
Garment type: Singlet
Material: Cotton
Colour: Black
Label: Canterbury Apparel Limited under Adidas License
Date: 1986