Runner

Nine for IX: Runner (2013)

*** 1/2 (out of 4)

Shola Lynch does a terrific job directing this episode in ESPN's "Nine for IX" series. This one here takes a look at the career of runner Mary Decker who by many was considered the greatest in American history but throughout her career she kept having issues come up before the Olympics. This all changed when the 1984 Olympics came where she found herself the favorite but up-comer Zola Budd would enter the picture and change everything forever. I must admit that I had never heard of Decker before and I wasn't aware of the big event at the 1984 Olympics so going through the drama of everything that happened was quite tense. I thought director Lynch did a wonderful job at not only telling the complete story of Decker but she did an exceptionally good job when it came time for that now famous race and the drama that played out during the race and afterwards. There's no doubt that the director wanted to stand up for Decker who took some pretty strong abuse over how she handled the event but I think Lynch stays fair throughout. As with other episodes, it's great that both Decker and Budd are on hand to discuss the events.