Background
Cowley was born in South Africa to an English mother.
Cowley was born in South Africa to an English mother.
She was disqualified, with Zola Budd, on residency grounds. At the time South Africa was subject to an international boycott in protest at the Apartheid government. The ban was upheld by the High Court, and she was unable to compete.
She was unable to compete for South Africa after the re-admittance of South Africa to international sport, as she had represented England previously.