"Coming from a farming background, I saw nothing out of the ordinary in running barefoot, although it seemed to startle the rest of the athletics world. I have always enjoyed going barefoot and when I was growing up I seldom wore shoes, even when I went into town"

Growing up in a farming environment often shapes a person’s relationship with the world in ways that may seem unfamiliar or even astonishing to others. Zola Budd’s reflection on her barefoot running reveals not only a practical adaptation to her upbringing but also exposes the cultural divide between rural living and the expectations of formal athletics. On the farm, going without shoes is commonplace, driven by necessity, comfort, and familiarity with the land. The tactile connection to earth, the feeling of soil and grass beneath one’s feet, becomes second nature. To Budd, barefoot running was simply an extension of her daily life, a habit formed from childhood that persisted naturally into her athletic career.

When Budd entered the international athletics arena, her barefoot style starkly contrasted with the highly-equipped and commercialized world of professional sports, filled with carefully engineered footwear designed for peak performance. The spectacle of a world-class runner choosing to forgo shoes altogether became a symbol, startling the watching crowds and media, many of whom associated barefootedness with either poverty or eccentricity. For Budd, however, barefoot running was neither radical nor symbolic, it was the most natural thing she could do, both physically and psychologically.

Her words underscore longevity and authenticity: “I have always enjoyed going barefoot…” This enjoyment suggests a sense of freedom, an unencumbered connection to her environment, and perhaps even a resistance to conformity. More than a physical preference, her barefoot running became a quiet assertion of identity amid a world eager to fit her into established molds. The astonishment of others highlighted the contrast between organic self-expression and the restrictive norms of mainstream sport. Budd’s reminiscence invites readers to consider how personal background and tradition can challenge prevailing standards, making us question what is truly “ordinary” and what is extraordinary only by the standards of unfamiliar observers.