BOULDER, Colo. - (December 15, 2000) - World record holder and three-time Olympian Colleen de Reuck is now a U.S. citizen after taking the citizenship oath Monday in Denver. However, the native of South Africa will not be eligible to compete internationally for the United State for a year.

"It was a tough decision," de Reuck said on Thursday, "but at this time in my life it is the right thing to do."

Darren de Reuck, Colleen's husband and the accountant for the Bolder Boulder 10K, became a citizen earlier this year. Boulder residents since 1993, the couple have a daughter, Tasmin, age 5. Colleen de Reuck has been a prolific racer on the U.S. roads the past several years. She has run every Bolder Boulder since 1993, with a best finish of second.

De Reuck, 36, has a personal best of 2:26:35 in the marathon, run in winning the 1996 Berlin Marathon. In 1998, she set world bests for 10 miles and 20K. She placed ninth in the 1992 Olympic Marathon and 13th in the 10,000 meters in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. She was 31st in the 2000 Sydney Olympic Marathon, competing with a bone spur and a heel injury.

De Reuck had some difficulties with South African athletic officials before being named to the 2000 South African Olympic team. She was initially left off the South African squad, but was put on at the end of June. De Reuck said that contributed to her decision to become a U.S. citizen. "Eventually it gets emotionally draining, and I couldn't race properly."

She also said she and her husband are anxious to bring her daughter up in the United States, where there is less crime and a better education system than in South Africa. De Reuck sent a letter explaining her decision to the president of Athletics South Africa.

"I feel like I am part of a country now," de Reuck said. "Before it was like I was in no-man's land. You don't live in South Africa, but you compete for them. You live here, but don't compete here. You live in the middle of nowhere, so you don't do well with your sponsorship."

De Reuck is going to Europe next week to compete in three road races. She will then run the U.S. winter cross country championships, Feb. 17 in Vancouver, Wash., even though she will not be able to qualify for the team.

Special thanks to 
Ryan Lamppa, Running USA Media Coordinator for providing us this press release.
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