The Daily Mail, a British newspaper, persuaded her father to get her to apply for British citizenship on the grounds of her having a British grandfather, and race in the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, United States. This was accomplished and she moved to Guildford where, still a naïve 17 year old, she was startled by the venom of the anti-apartheid demonstrations. She was selected for the 3000m Olympic event and during the race collided with her longtime hero, Los Angeles runner Mary Decker, the favourite. Decker fell and did not finish the race, as a result Budd was booed by the crowd. Budd finished 7th.
In 1985 she set a new 5000m world record, but shortly after retired from international competition and returned to her native country. She still runs for her own pleasure, but not competitively.
In 1989 she married Mike Pieterse and changed her name to Zola Pieterse.