View source for Merlene Ottey

{{Short description|Jamaican-born Slovenian track athlete (born 1960)}}
{{Use Jamaican English|date=March 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2014}}
{{Infobox sportsperson
| honorific_prefix = [[The Honourable]]
| name = Merlene Ottey
| honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals|country=JAM|ON|OJ|OD|size=100%}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://jamaica.loopnews.com/content/merlene-ottey-receive-jamaicas-fourth-highest-national-honour |work=Jamaica Loop News |title=Merlene Ottey to receive Jamaica's fourth-highest national honour |accessdate= 28 June 2021}}</ref>
| image = Ottey.jpg
| image_size = <!--Only for images narrower than 220 pixels.-->
| alt = 
| caption = Merlene Ottey in Warsaw, Poland, in September 2011
| headercolor = 
| birth_name = Merlene Joyce Ottey
| fullname = Merlene Joyce Ottey
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1960|5|10|df=y}}
| birth_place = Cold Spring, [[Hanover, Jamaica|Hanover]], [[Colony of Jamaica]], British Empire
| citizenship = Jamaican (birth), Slovenia (since May 2002)
| death_date = 
| death_place = 
| height = {{convert|175|cm|ftin|abbr=on}}<ref>{{cite web|title=Merlene Ottey-Page|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ot/merlene-ottey-page-1.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200417051942/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ot/merlene-ottey-page-1.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=17 April 2020|work=sports-reference.com|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|access-date=10 February 2014}}</ref>
| weight = {{convert|62|kg|lb|abbr=on}}
| spouse = [[Nat Page]] (1984–1987; divorced)
| website = 
| country = {{ubl|Jamaica (1978–2002)|[[Slovenia]] (2002–2012)}}
| sport = Athletics
| medaltemplates = {{MedalCount
|[[Summer Olympics|Olympic Games (9 medals)]]|0|3|6
|[[IAAF World Championships in Athletics|World Championships (14 medals)]]|3|4|7
|[[IAAF World Indoor Championships in Athletics|World Indoor Championships (7 medals)]]|3|2|2
|'''Total (30 medals)'''|'''6'''|'''9'''|'''15'''
}}
{{Medal|Competition|[[Olympic Games]]}}
{{Medal|Silver | [[1996 Summer Olympics|1996 Atlanta]] | [[Athletics at the 1996 Summer Olympics - Women's 100 metres|100 m]]}}
{{Medal|Silver | [[1996 Summer Olympics|1996 Atlanta]] | [[Athletics at the 1996 Summer Olympics – Women's 200 metres|200 m]]}}
{{Medal|Silver | [[2000 Summer Olympics|2000 Sydney]] | [[Athletics at the 2000 Summer Olympics – Women's 4 × 100 metres relay|4 × 100 m relay]]}}
{{Medal|Bronze | [[1980 Summer Olympics|1980 Moscow]] | [[Athletics at the 1980 Summer Olympics – Women's 200 metres|200 m]]}}
{{Medal|Bronze | [[1984 Summer Olympics|1984 Los Angeles]] | [[Athletics at the 1984 Summer Olympics – Women's 100 metres|100 m]]}}
{{Medal|Bronze | [[1984 Summer Olympics|1984 Los Angeles]] | [[Athletics at the 1984 Summer Olympics – Women's 200 metres|200 m]]}}
{{Medal|Bronze | [[1992 Summer Olympics|1992 Barcelona]] | [[Athletics at the 1992 Summer Olympics – Women's 200 metres|200 m]]}}
{{Medal|Bronze | [[1996 Summer Olympics|1996 Atlanta]] | [[Athletics at the 1996 Summer Olympics – Women's 4 × 100 metres relay|4 × 100 m relay]]}}
{{Medal|Bronze | [[2000 Summer Olympics|2000 Sydney]] | [[Athletics at the 2000 Summer Olympics – Women's 100 metres|100 m]]}}
{{Medal|Competition|[[IAAF World Championships in Athletics|World Championships]]}}
{{Medal|Gold|[[1991 World Championships in Athletics|1991 Tokyo]]|[[1991 World Championships in Athletics – Women's 4 × 100 metres relay|4 × 100 m relay]]}}
{{Medal|Gold|[[1993 World Championships in Athletics|1993 Stuttgart]]|[[1993 World Championships in Athletics – Women's 200 metres|200 m]]}}
{{Medal|Gold|[[1995 World Championships in Athletics|1995 Gothenburg]]|[[1995 World Championships in Athletics – Women's 200 metres|200 m]]}}
{{Medal|Silver|[[1983 World Championships in Athletics|1983 Helsinki]]|[[1983 World Championships in Athletics – Women's 200 metres|200 m]]}}
{{Medal|Silver|[[1993 World Championships in Athletics|1993 Stuttgart]]|[[1993 World Championships in Athletics – Women's 100 metres|100 m]]}}
{{Medal|Silver|[[1995 World Championships in Athletics|1995 Gothenburg]]|[[1995 World Championships in Athletics – Women's 100 metres|100 m]]}}
{{Medal|Silver|[[1995 World Championships in Athletics|1995 Gothenburg]]|[[1995 World Championships in Athletics – Women's 4 × 100 metres relay|4 × 100 m relay]]}}
{{Medal|Bronze|[[1983 World Championships in Athletics|1983 Helsinki]]|[[1983 World Championships in Athletics – Women's 4 × 100 metres relay|4 × 100 m relay]]}}
{{Medal|Bronze|[[1987 World Championships in Athletics|1987 Rome]]|[[1987 World Championships in Athletics – Women's 100 metres|100 m]]}}
{{Medal|Bronze|[[1987 World Championships in Athletics|1987 Rome]]|[[1987 World Championships in Athletics – Women's 200 metres|200 m]]}}
{{Medal|Bronze|[[1991 World Championships in Athletics|1991 Tokyo]]|[[1991 World Championships in Athletics - Women's 100 metres|100 m]]}}
{{Medal|Bronze|[[1991 World Championships in Athletics|1991 Tokyo]]|[[1991 World Championships in Athletics – Women's 200 metres|200 m]]}}
{{Medal|Bronze|[[1993 World Championships in Athletics|1993 Stuttgart]]|[[1993 World Championships in Athletics – Women's 4 × 100 metres relay|4 × 100 m relay]]}}
{{Medal|Bronze|[[1997 World Championships in Athletics|1997 Athens]]|[[1997 World Championships in Athletics – Women's 200 metres|200 m]]}}
{{Medal|Competition|[[World Indoor Championships in Athletics|World Indoor Championships]]}}
{{Medal|Gold|[[1989 IAAF World Indoor Championships|1989 Budapest]]|200 m}}
{{Medal|Gold|[[1991 IAAF World Indoor Championships|1991 Seville]]|200 m}}
{{Medal|Gold|[[1995 IAAF World Indoor Championships|1995 Barcelona]]|60 m}}
{{Medal|Silver|[[1987 IAAF World Indoor Championships|1987 Indianapolis]]|200 m}}
{{Medal|Silver|[[1991 IAAF World Indoor Championships|1991 Seville]]|60 m}}
{{Medal|Bronze|[[1989 IAAF World Indoor Championships|1989 Budapest]]|60 m}}
{{Medal|Bronze|[[2003 IAAF World Indoor Championships|2003 Birmingham]]|60 m}}
{{Medal|Comp|[[Athletics at the Commonwealth Games|Commonwealth Games]]}}
{{Medal|Gold|[[1982 Commonwealth Games|1982 Brisbane]]|[[Athletics at the 1982 Commonwealth Games|200 m]]}}
{{Medal|Gold|[[1990 Commonwealth Games|1990 Auckland]]|[[Athletics at the 1990 Commonwealth Games|200 m]]}}
{{Medal|Gold|[[1990 Commonwealth Games|1990 Auckland]]|[[Athletics at the 1990 Commonwealth Games|100 m]]}}
{{Medal|Silver|[[1982 Commonwealth Games|1982 Brisbane]]|[[Athletics at the 1982 Commonwealth Games|100 m]]}}
{{Medal|Bronze|[[1982 Commonwealth Games|1982 Brisbane]]|[[Athletics at the 1982 Commonwealth Games|4 × 100 m relay]]}}
{{Medal|Competition|[[Pan American Games]]}}
{{Medal|Silver| [[Athletics at the 1979 Pan American Games|1979 San Juan]] | 4 × 100&nbsp;m relay}}
{{Medal|Bronze| [[Athletics at the 1979 Pan American Games|1979 San Juan]] | 200&nbsp;m}}
}}

'''Merlene Joyce Ottey''' (born 10 May 1960) is a [[Jamaica]]n-[[Slovenia]]n former [[track and field]] [[sprint (running)|sprint]]er. She began her career representing Jamaica in 1978 and continued to do so for 24 years before representing [[Slovenia]] from 2002 to 2012. She is ranked sixth on the all-time list over [[60 metres]] (indoor), eleventh on the all-time list over [[100 metres]] and seventh on the all-time list over [[200 metres]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=World Athletics {{!}} 60 Metres - women - senior - all |url=https://worldathletics.org/records/all-time-toplists/sprints/60-metres/all/women/senior |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20241219162637/https://worldathletics.org/records/all-time-toplists/sprints/60-metres/all/women/senior |archive-date=2024-12-19 |access-date=2025-03-13 |website=worldathletics.org |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=World Athletics {{!}} 100 Metres - women - senior - all |url=https://worldathletics.org/records/all-time-toplists/sprints/100-metres/all/women/senior |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20240717061453/https://worldathletics.org/records/all-time-toplists/sprints/100-metres/all/women/senior |archive-date=2024-07-17 |access-date=2025-03-13 |website=worldathletics.org |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=World Athletics {{!}} 200 Metres - women - senior - all |url=https://www.worldathletics.org/records/all-time-toplists/sprints/200-metres/all/women/senior |url-status=live |access-date=13 March 2025 |website=worldathletics.org}}</ref> She is the current world indoor record holder for 200 metres with 21.87 seconds, set in 1993.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=World Athletics {{!}} 200 Metres Short Track - women - senior - all |url=https://worldathletics.org/records/all-time-toplists/sprints/200-metres-short-track/all/women/senior |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20240717061448/https://worldathletics.org/records/all-time-toplists/sprints/200-metres-short-track/all/women/senior |archive-date=2024-07-17 |access-date=2025-03-13 |website=worldathletics.org |language=en}}</ref> She was named Jamaican Sportswoman of the Year 13 times between 1979 and 1995.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last= |title=Merlene Ottey-Page |url=https://joa.org.jm/olympic_athlete/merlene-ottey-page/#:~:text=Ottey%20was%20named%20Jamaican%20Sportswoman,role%20model%20for%20athletes%20worldwide. |access-date=2025-03-13 |website=Olympic {{!}} Jamaica |language=en}}</ref>

Ottey had the longest career as a top-level international sprinter appearing at the [[1979 Pan American Games]] as a 19-year-old fresh from U-20 and Junior competitions, and concluding her career at age 52 when she anchored the Slovene [[2012 European Athletics Championships – Women's 4 × 100 metres relay|4 × 100 m relay]] team at the [[2012 European Athletics Championships|2012 European Championships]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://masterstrack.com/2010/07/14700/ |title=Merlene Ottey becomes oldest athlete in Euro championships |publisher=masterstrack.com |access-date=23 October 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111008004702/http://masterstrack.com/2010/07/14700/ |archive-date=8 October 2011 |df=dmy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2010/jul/31/merlene-ottey-oldest-competitor | location=London | work=The Guardian | first=Helen | last=Chandler | title=Merlene Ottey hopes age will be no barrier in the long run | date=31 July 2010}}</ref>

A nine-time Olympic medalist, she holds the record for the most Olympic appearances (seven) of any track and field athlete. Although gold medal success at the Olympics eluded Ottey, she was able to bring home three silvers and six bronze medals. She won 14 [[IAAF World Championships in Athletics|World Championship]] medals,<ref>[http://www.iaaf.org/mm/Document/Competitions/Competition/05/15/62/20090706014640_httppostedfile_p001-344_11301.pdf Statistics book, Berlin 2009] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605024617/http://www.iaaf.org/mm/Document/Competitions/Competition/05/15/62/20090706014640_httppostedfile_p001-344_11301.pdf |date=5 June 2011 }}. [[IAAF]]. Retrieved on 13 August 2009.</ref><ref name=":3" /> and still holds the record (as of 2017) for most medals in individual events with 10.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.iaaf.org//ebooks/2017/WCH/index.html#page=72 |work=IAAF |title=Individual placings |access-date=13 August 2017}}</ref> Her career achievements and longevity led to her being called the "Queen of the Track". Her proclivity for earning bronze medals in major championships earned her the title of "Bronze Queen" in track circles.<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A20189-2004Aug20.html Washington Post 20 August 2004]</ref>

Ottey was formerly married to the American high jumper and 400 m hurdler [[Nat Page]] and was known as Merlene Ottey-Page during the mid-1980s.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Merlene OTTEY {{!}} Profile |url=https://www.worldathletics.org/athletes/slovenia/merlene-ottey-61432 |url-status=live |access-date=2020-04-11 |website=www.worldathletics.org}}</ref>

==Life and sprinting career==
{{BLP sources section|date=August 2022}}
Merlene Ottey was born to Hubert and Joan Ottey in Cold Spring, [[Hanover, Jamaica]]. She was introduced to the sport by her mother, who bought her a manual on track and field. {{citation needed|date=August 2022}}

In her early school years in the 1970s, Ottey attended Gurneys Mount and Pondside Schools before graduating from [[Rusea's High School|Rusea's]] and Vere Technical High Schools. There, she frequently competed barefoot in local races.{{citation needed|date=August 2022}}

Ottey's inspiration came from listening to the track and field broadcast from the [[1976 Summer Olympics]] in Montreal, where [[Donald Quarrie]] ran in the sprint finals. Her athletics career took off when she moved to the [[US]] and attended the [[University of Nebraska]] in 1979, where she joined the track team. She won 14 individual national titles and earned 24 All-America awards, both of which are the most by any Husker student-athlete. Ottey won multiple NCAA titles in each of her five total seasons, including five combined indoor and outdoor titles in 1982 and four in 1981. She earned multiple All-America accolades in each of her five seasons, with seven combined All-America awards in 1982, six in 1980 and five in 1981. Ottey was also a member of Nebraska's indoor national championship teams in 1982, 1983 and 1984. She still holds Nebraska's top indoor marks in the 55- and 200-meter dashes and the program's top outdoor marks in the 100- and 200-meter dashes.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://huskers.com/news/2022/4/14/track-and-field-greene-ottey-inducted-into-collegiate-athlete-hall-of-fame.aspx | title=Greene, Ottey to be Inducted to Collegiate Athlete Hall of Fame }}</ref>

She represented Jamaica in the [[1979 Pan American Games]], winning a [[bronze medal]] in the 200 m. She graduated from university with a Bachelor of Arts degree, married fellow athlete Nathaniel Page in 1984, and briefly used the name Merlene Ottey-Page. The couple later divorced.{{citation needed|date=August 2022}}

In the [[1980 Summer Olympics|1980 Moscow games]], Ottey became the first female English-speaking [[Caribbean]] athlete to win an Olympic medal. Back in Jamaica, she was awarded an Officer of the Order of Nation and the Order of Distinction for "services in the field of sport".{{citation needed|date=August 2022}}

In the [[1982 Commonwealth Games]], Ottey won a gold medal in the 200 m and a silver medal in the 100 m. Nearly a decade later, in the [[1990 Commonwealth Games]], she won gold in both events. Ottey was named Ambassador of Jamaica after winning her gold medal at the 1993 World Championships. She has also been named Jamaican Sportswoman of the Year 13 times between 1979 and 1995.<ref name=":3" />

Throughout her career, she has won nine Olympic medals, which is second to [[Allyson Felix|Allyson Felix's]] eleven medals for the [[List of multiple Olympic medalists|most by any woman]] in track and field history [https://web.archive.org/web/20050216074451/http://www.olympic.org.nz/Article.aspx?ID=685]. These include three silver and six bronze medals. She had never won an Olympic gold medal but lost by five-thousandths of a second to [[Gail Devers]] in the [[Athletics at the 1996 Summer Olympics – Women's 100 metres|100 m final]] at the [[1996 Summer Olympics]] in Atlanta when they both recorded the same time of 10.94 seconds.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/devers-gives-the-old-shoulder-to-ottey-1331014.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220512/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/devers-gives-the-old-shoulder-to-ottey-1331014.html |archive-date=12 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live | work=The Independent | location=London | title=Devers gives the old shoulder to Ottey | first=Mike | last=Rowbottom | date=29 July 1996 | access-date=12 May 2010}}</ref> This was not her closest finish to Devers – she recorded a time of 10.812 seconds to Devers' 10.811 seconds in the [[1993 World Championships in Athletics – Women's 100 metres|1993 World Championships]] in [[Stuttgart]] – still the closest finish at an international athletics meet.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iaaf.org/mm/document/competitions/competition/05/15/62/20090706014640_httppostedfile_p001-344_11301.pdf |title=Draft Front inside & p001 1 |access-date=23 October 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605024617/http://www.iaaf.org/mm/Document/Competitions/Competition/05/15/62/20090706014640_httppostedfile_p001-344_11301.pdf |archive-date=5 June 2011 }}</ref>

Her [[List of athletes with the most appearances at Olympic Games|seven Olympic appearances]] from 1980 to 2004 are the second most by any [[Athletics at the Summer Olympics|Track & Field]] athlete, after Spanish race walker [[Jesús Ángel García]].{{citation needed|date=August 2022}}

She held the record for most World Championship medals, winning 14 (three gold, three silver, eight bronze) between 1983 and 1997 until [[Allyson Felix]] took her total from 13 to 16 in 2017, to 18 in 2019, and to 20 in 2022. Ottey still holds the record for most World Championship medals in individual events, with 10. 13 of her medals at the Olympics and World Championships were bronze, earning her the nickname "the Bronze Queen" in racing circles. Ottey was appointed an Ambassador at Large by the Jamaican government in 1993. She was inducted into Nebraska's first Athletics Hall of Fame Class in 2015.{{citation needed|date=August 2022}}

==Controversy==
{{BLP sources section|date=August 2022}}
In 1999, during a meet in [[Lucerne, Switzerland]], a [[urine]] sample submitted had returned positive for the banned [[anabolic steroid]] [[nandrolone]]. Her 'B' sample also contained higher than normal levels of the substance. Ottey was subsequently banned by the [[IAAF]] from competing in the World Championships in [[Seville, Spain]].{{citation needed|date=August 2022}}

Ottey fought to clear her name, asserting that charge was a "terrible mistake", and that she was innocent of knowingly taking steroids.<ref name="BBC">{{cite news |title= Ottey cleared of drug charge |url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/519559.stm |work= BBC News, Sport |date= 15 November 1999 |access-date=4 August 2009}}</ref> In the summer of 2000, Ottey was cleared of all charges by the Jamaica Amateur Athletic Association; the IAAF lifted its two-year ban after the Court of Arbitration for Sport dismissed the case. The case was dismissed because the retesting order by the CAS was not completed in the time frame allotted.{{citation needed|date=August 2022}}

In Jamaica, at the National Senior Trials before selection for the Olympics, Ottey placed a disappointing fourth. According to the rules of the Jamaica Amateur Athletics Association (JAAA), only athletes who had finished in the top three at the trials were eligible to run at the Olympics; she was only qualified to run on the [[4 × 100 m relay]] team. Ottey asked that she be substituted for another team member, a courtesy that had been extended to others in the past. The JAAA's decision to replace [[Peta-Gaye Dowdie]] with Ottey caused widespread controversy. Dowdie's team members and many Jamaicans believed that Ottey had bullied her way onto the team. Jamaican 400 m Olympian and championship medallist [[Gregory Haughton]] led the notorious "Games Village" protests to oust Ottey, which made international headlines. The protest ended when the [[International Olympic Committee]] (IOC) threatened to throw the Jamaicans out of the Games if the team managers were not able to control their athletes.<ref name = "Observer 1">{{cite web |author= Agostinho Pinnock |title= Merlene Ottey – no longer going for gold? |url= http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/magazines/AllWoman/html/20040822T220000-0500_64978_OBS_MERLENE_OTTEY___NO_LONGER_GOING_FOR_GOLD__.asp |work= Jamaica Observer, newspaper |date= 23 August 2005 |access-date=4 August 2009 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071017102249/http://jamaicaobserver.com/magazines/AllWoman/html/20040822T220000-0500_64978_OBS_MERLENE_OTTEY___NO_LONGER_GOING_FOR_GOLD__.asp |archive-date = 17 October 2007}}</ref>

At the 2000 Olympics, Ottey finished fourth in the 100 m, beaten from a medal by fellow Jamaican sprinter [[Tayna Lawrence]]. The race was won by [[Marion Jones]], who registered 10.75 seconds, followed by [[Ekaterini Thanou]] of [[Greece]] in 11.12 seconds. Lawrence posted 11.18 seconds to Ottey's 11.19 seconds. In the 4 × 100 relay, the Jamaican team – bronze medalist Lawrence, teenager and newcomer [[Veronica Campbell]], and [[Beverly McDonald]] – was anchored by Ottey to a silver medal. This medal gave Ottey her eighth medal, the most ever for a female athlete. Nine years later, after the disqualification of Jones for steroid abuse, Ottey's fourth place in the 100 m was [[Athletics at the 2000 Summer Olympics - Women's 100 metres|retroactively promoted]] to third – giving Ottey her ninth medal – and Lawrence to second.{{citation needed|date=August 2022}}

Due to the controversy, Ottey decided that "after Sydney, I said I wasn't going to run another race for Jamaica ... because I felt like the Jamaicans were trying to push me out of the sport, and I really needed to prove my point, that I might be 40 but I can still run."<ref name="Reuters">{{cite web |title= Interview: Merlene Ottey |url= http://www.rediff.com/sports/2004/aug/13oly-ath.htm |work= rediff.com |publisher= Reuters |date= 13 August 2004 |access-date=4 August 2009}}</ref>

==Slovenia==
In 1998 Ottey moved to [[Slovenia]] and began training with Slovene coach [[Srđan Đorđević]]. There, she was still representing Jamaica. However, in May 2002, she became a Slovene citizen and resided in [[Ljubljana]], where she represented her new country in international events.

Ottey competed for Slovenia in the [[Athletics at the 2004 Summer Olympics – Women's 100 metres|100 metres]] at the [[2004 Summer Olympics]] in Athens, where she reached the semifinals. She finished 5th, missing out on qualification for the final by just 0.03s. At age 46, she competed in the [[2006 European Championships in Athletics]]. She finished fifth in the semi-finals of the 100 metres and did not qualify for the final, which was won by [[Belgium]]'s [[Kim Gevaert]].

Ottey failed by 0.28 seconds to reach her eighth Olympic Games, aged 48 in 2008. Despite this, two years later, she qualified for the Slovenian 4 × 100-meter relay squad at the [[2010 European Athletics Championships]], where she became the oldest athlete ever to participate in the history of the European championships.<ref>[http://www.bcn2010.org/paginasFront/Noticies/Detall_Noticies_/_IZ5g6X2evdHtKyMtyaZJdhhdFfQDAPI5pWMbTpXzwcZ7LRTK51qBS52lxDUjv_YNfZjhINTz38XP-sf06-aXnflDIOvdRcku Merlene Ottey races in Barcelona at 50 years of age] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100726163214/http://www.bcn2010.org/paginasFront/Noticies/Detall_Noticies_/_IZ5g6X2evdHtKyMtyaZJdhhdFfQDAPI5pWMbTpXzwcZ7LRTK51qBS52lxDUjv_YNfZjhINTz38XP-sf06-aXnflDIOvdRcku |date=26 July 2010 }}. Barcelona 2010 official site. Retrieved on 29 July 2010.</ref>

At the age of 52, Ottey competed in the [[4 × 100 meters relay]] at the [[2012 European Athletics Championships]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/sport/52-y-o-Ottey-for-Helsinki-champs_11751741|title=52-y-o Ottey for Helsinki champs|publisher=jamaicaobserver.com|access-date=20 June 2012}}</ref> The Slovenian team were ranked 22nd in the world before the [[Athletics at the 2012 Summer Olympics – Women's 4 × 100 metres relay|2012 Olympics]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.worldathletics.org/records/toplists/sprints/100-metres/outdoor/men/senior/2020|title=100 Metres - men - senior - outdoor - 2020|website=www.worldathletics.org|access-date=2020-04-11}}</ref> with only the top 16 teams qualifying.

Since 2014, Ottey has lived in [[Switzerland]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/sports/20161129/ottey-usain-legend- |work=The Gleaner |title=Ottey: Usain is a legend |date=29 November 2016 |access-date=2 April 2018}}</ref>

==Records and achievements==
[[File:Merlene Ottey 2011 European Team Championships.jpg|thumb|Ottey at the [[2011 European Team Championships]] in [[İzmir]]]]
*Ottey ranks at number seven on the all-time list of the [[200 metres#Women (outdoor)|200 metres]], and number eleven on the [[100 metres#All-time top 25 women|100 metres list]].<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />
*In 1990, Ottey was awarded the [[World Athlete of the Year]] and the [[Track & Field News Athlete of the Year]] awards.
*Ottey is the first female athlete to run 60 metres under seven seconds (6.96 in 1992).
*Ottey is the only woman to have run the 200 metres under 22 seconds indoors (21.87 in 1993).
*Ottey has the second 100 and 200 metres one day combination, with 10.93 and 21.66 (32.59 total) at the 1990 [[Weltklasse Zurich]] grand prix.
*Ottey has run 100 metres under eleven seconds – 68 times (plus 9 wind-assisted) a record among female sprinters.
*Ottey has run 200 metres under twenty-two seconds - 16 times (plus 1 wind-assisted), another record among female sprinters.
*Ottey has 57 consecutive wins in 100 metres – the most consecutive wins over 100 metres for a female and 34 consecutive wins at 200 metres.
*Ottey holds the official [[World Masters Athletics]] [[Masters Athletics World Records|world records]] in the 100 m and 200 m for the age groups W35 ( 100- 10.74 in 1996, 200- 21.93 in 1995 ) W40 ( 100- 10.99 in 2000, 200- 22.74 in 2004 ) W45 ( 100- 11.34 in 2006, 200- 23.82 in 2006 ) W50 ( 100- 11.67 in 2010, 200- 24.33 in 2010 ).<ref>[http://www.world-masters-athletics.org/records/outdoor-women World Masters Athletics World Records] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120111105152/http://www.world-masters-athletics.org/records/outdoor-women |date=11 January 2012 }}</ref>
*Ottey is the first from the [[Western Hemisphere]] (outside the USA) to win two individual medals at the same Olympic Games.
*At the [[1995 World Championships in Athletics|1995 World Championships]], Ottey became the oldest ever female gold medallist when she won the 200 m at age 35 years 92 days. At the [[1997 World Championships in Athletics|1997 World Championships]] in Athens, she became the oldest female medallist ever at 37 years 90 days, when she won the bronze medal. In the [[Athletics at the 2000 Summer Olympics|2000 Olympics]], at age 40, Ottey became the oldest female track and field medalist when she anchored the Jamaican women's 4 × 100 metres to a silver medal. With the disqualification of [[Marion Jones]], she was awarded the bronze medal in the 100 metres, making her the oldest individual medallist.
*Ottey, along with [[Carl Lewis]], [[Usain Bolt]] and [[Allyson Felix]], is one of four athletes to win twenty or more medals at the Olympic Games and the World Championships (combined).
*Ottey holds the record for running the fastest women's Indoor [[200 metres]] in 21.87 seconds. This record has stood since 1993 and remains (as of 2016) the only sub-22sec clocking by a woman indoors.<ref name=":2" />
*In six World Championships competing for Jamaica, Ottey has won fourteen medals: three gold, four silver, and seven bronze medals, while at the Olympics, she has earned three silver and six bronze medals.<ref name=":3" />
*Ottey was the first female [[Caribbean]] athlete to win an Olympic medal.
*Ottey has won the most career Olympic medals (9 medals: 3 silver and 6 bronze) in women's track and field, a record now shared with American sprinter [[Allyson Felix]] (6 gold and 3 silver).
*Ottey has the quickest 200 m performance ever into a headwind (-1.0 m/sec or more ) achieved when clocking 21.66 (-1.0) in Zurich, 1990.
*Ottey has won the [[Jamaican Sportsperson of the Year]] (sportswoman) a record 13 times, first winning in 1979 and last winning in 1995. No man or woman has won the award more.<ref name=":3" />

==International competitions==
{| {{AchievementTable|Event=yes|Time=yes|NotesOff=yes}}
|-
!colspan="6"|Representing {{JAM}}
|-
|rowspan = "3"|1978
|rowspan = "3"|[[1978 Central American and Caribbean Junior Championships in Athletics#Female Junior A (under 20)|CAC Junior Championships (U-20)]]
|rowspan = "3"|[[Xalapa]], Mexico
| style="background:#c96;"|3rd
|200 m
|25.34s '''A'''
|-
|bgcolor=gold|1st
|4 × 100 m relay
|47.12s '''A'''
|-
| style="background:silver;"|2nd
|4 × 400 m relay
|3:58.8 '''A'''
|-
|rowspan = "4"|1979
|rowspan = "3"|[[1979 CARIFTA Games#Girls under 20 (Junior)|CARIFTA Games (U-20)]]
|rowspan = "3"|[[Kingston, Jamaica|Kingston]], Jamaica
| style="background:silver;"|2nd
|100 m
|11.87s
|-
| style="background:silver;"|2nd
|200 m
|24.05s
|-
| style="background:silver;"|2nd
|4 × 100 m relay
|46.47s
|-
|[[Athletics at the 1979 Pan American Games#Women's events|Pan American Games]]
|[[San Juan, Puerto Rico|San Juan]], [[Puerto Rico]]
| style="background:#c96;"|3rd
|200 m
|22.79{{AthAbbr|w}}
|-
|rowspan=3|1980
|rowspan=3|[[Athletics at the 1980 Summer Olympics|Olympic Games]]
|rowspan=3|[[Moscow]], [[Soviet Union]]
| style="background:#c96;"| 3rd
|200 m
|[[Athletics at the 1980 Summer Olympics - Women's 200 metres|22.20]]
|-
|6th
|4 × 100 m
|[[Athletics at the 1980 Summer Olympics - Women's 4 × 100 metres relay|43.19]]
|-
|heats
|4 × 400 m
|[[Athletics at the 1980 Summer Olympics – Women's 4 × 400 metres relay|3.31.5]]
|-
|rowspan=3|1982
|rowspan=3|[[Athletics at the 1982 Commonwealth Games|Commonwealth Games]]
|rowspan=3|[[Brisbane]], Australia
| style="background:silver;"| 2nd
|100 m
|11.03
|-
|bgcolor=gold | 1st
|200 m
|22.19w
|-
| style="background:#c96;"| 3rd
|4 × 100 m
|43.69
|-
|rowspan=3|1983
|rowspan=3|[[1983 World Championships in Athletics|World Championships]]
|rowspan=3|[[Helsinki]], Finland
|4th
|100 m
|[[1983 World Championships in Athletics - Women's 100 metres|11.19]]
|-
| style="background:silver;"| 2nd
|200 m
|[[1983 World Championships in Athletics - Women's 200 metres|22.19]]
|-
| style="background:#c96;"| 3rd
|4 × 100 m
|[[1983 World Championships in Athletics – Women's 4 × 100 metres relay|42.73]]
|-
|rowspan=3|1984
|rowspan=3|[[Athletics at the 1984 Summer Olympics|Olympic Games]]
|rowspan=3|[[Los Angeles]], United States
| style="background:#c96;"| 3rd
|100 m
|[[Athletics at the 1984 Summer Olympics - Women's 100 metres|11.16]]
|-
| style="background:#c96;"| 3rd
|200 m
|[[Athletics at the 1984 Summer Olympics - Women's 200 metres|22.09]]
|-
|8th
|4 × 100 m
|[[Athletics at the 1984 Summer Olympics – Women's 4 × 100 metres relay|53.54]]
|-
|rowspan=4|1987
|rowspan=2|[[1987 IAAF World Indoor Championships|World Indoor Championships]]
|rowspan=2|[[Indianapolis]], United States
||4th
|60 m
|7.13
|-
| style="background:silver;"| 2nd
|200 m
|22.66
|-
|rowspan=2|[[1987 World Championships in Athletics|World Championships]]
|rowspan=2|[[Rome]], Italy
| style="background:#c96;"| 3rd
|100 m
|11.04
|-
| style="background:#c96;"| 3rd
|200 m
|22.06
|-
|rowspan=3|1988
|rowspan=3|[[Athletics at the 1988 Summer Olympics|Olympic Games]]
|rowspan=3|[[Seoul]], South Korea
|DNS (sf)
|100 m
|[[Athletics at the 1988 Summer Olympics - Women's 100 metres|11.03 (qf)]]
|-
|4th
|200 m
|[[Athletics at the 1988 Summer Olympics - Women's 200 metres|21.99]]
|-
|DNS (f)
|4 × 100 m
|[[Athletics at the 1988 Summer Olympics – Women's 4 × 100 metres relay|43.30 (sf)]]
|-
|rowspan=2|1989
|rowspan=2|[[1989 IAAF World Indoor Championships|World Indoor Championships]]
|rowspan=2|[[Budapest]], Hungary
| style="background:#c96;"| 3rd
|60 m
|7.10
|-
|bgcolor=gold | 1st
|200 m
|22.34
|-
|rowspan=2|1990
|rowspan=2|[[Athletics at the 1990 Commonwealth Games|Commonwealth Games]]
|rowspan=2|[[Auckland]], New Zealand
|bgcolor=gold | 1st
|100 m
|11.02w
|-
|bgcolor=gold | 1st
|200 m
|22.76
|-
|rowspan=5|1991
|rowspan=2|[[1991 IAAF World Indoor Championships|World Indoor Championships]]
|rowspan=2|[[Seville]], Spain
| style="background:silver;"| 2nd
|60 m
|7.08
|-
|bgcolor=gold | 1st
|200 m
|22.24
|-
|rowspan=3|[[1991 World Championships in Athletics|World Championships]]
|rowspan=3|[[Tokyo]], Japan
| style="background:#c96;"| 3rd
|100 m
|[[1991 World Championships in Athletics - Women's 100 metres|11.06]]
|-
| style="background:#c96;"| 3rd
|200 m
|[[1991 World Championships in Athletics – Women's 200 metres|22.21]]
|-
|bgcolor=gold | 1st
|4 × 100 m
|[[1991 World Championships in Athletics – Women's 4 × 100 metres relay|41.94]]
|-
|rowspan=3|1992
|rowspan=3|[[Athletics at the 1992 Summer Olympics|Olympic Games]]
|rowspan=3|[[Barcelona]], Spain
|5th
|100 m
|[[Athletics at the 1992 Summer Olympics - Women's 100 metres|10.88]]
|-
| style="background:#c96;"| 3rd
|200 m
|[[Athletics at the 1992 Summer Olympics - Women's 200 metres|22.09]]
|-
|
|4 × 100 m
|[[Athletics at the 1992 Summer Olympics – Women's 4 × 100 metres relay|DNF]]
|-
|rowspan=3|1993
|rowspan=3|[[1993 World Championships in Athletics|World Championships]]
|rowspan=3|[[Stuttgart]], Germany
| style="background:silver;"| 2nd
|100 m
|[[1993 World Championships in Athletics – Women's 100 metres|10.82]]
|-
|bgcolor=gold | 1st
|200 m
|[[1993 World Championships in Athletics - Women's 200 metres|21.98]]
|-
| style="background:#c96;"| 3rd
|4 × 100 m
|[[1993 World Championships in Athletics - Women's 4 × 100 metres relay|41.94]]
|-
|1994
|[[1994 IAAF World Cup|World Cup]]
|[[London]], United Kingdom
|bgcolor=gold | 1st
|200 m
|22.23
|-
|rowspan=4|1995
|[[1995 IAAF World Indoor Championships|World Indoor Championships]]
|[[Barcelona]], Spain
|bgcolor=gold | 1st
|60 m
|6.97
|-
|rowspan=3|[[1995 World Championships in Athletics|World Championships]]
|rowspan=3|[[Gothenburg]], Sweden
| style="background:silver;"| 2nd
|100 m
|[[1995 World Championships in Athletics - Women's 100 metres|10.94]]
|-
|bgcolor=gold | 1st
|200 m
|[[1995 World Championships in Athletics - Women's 200 metres|22.12]]
|-
| style="background:silver;"| 2nd
|4 × 100 m
|[[1995 World Championships in Athletics - Women's 4 × 100 metres relay|42.25]]
|-
|rowspan=3|1996
|rowspan=3|[[Athletics at the 1996 Summer Olympics|Olympic Games]]
|rowspan=3|[[Atlanta]], United States
| style="background:silver;"| 2nd
|100 m
|[[Athletics at the 1996 Summer Olympics - Women's 100 metres|10.94]]
|-
| style="background:silver;"| 2nd
|200 m
|[[Athletics at the 1996 Summer Olympics - Women's 200 metres|22.24]]
|-
| style="background:#c96;"| 3rd
|4 × 100 m
|[[Athletics at the 1996 Summer Olympics – Women's 4 × 100 metres relay|42.24]]
|-
|rowspan=2|1997
|rowspan=2|[[1997 World Championships in Athletics|World Championships]]
|rowspan=2|[[Athens]], Greece
|7th
|100 m
|[[1997 World Championships in Athletics - Women's 100 metres|11.29]]
|-
| style="background:#c96;"| 3rd
|200 m
|[[1997 World Championships in Athletics - Women's 200 metres|22.40]]
|-
|1998
|[[Athletics at the 1998 Goodwill Games|Goodwill Games]]
|[[New York City]], United States
|4th
|100 m
|11.21
|-
|rowspan=2|2000
|rowspan=2|[[Athletics at the 2000 Summer Olympics|Olympic Games]]
|rowspan=2|[[Sydney]], Australia
| style="background:#c96;"| 3rd
|100 m
|[[Athletics at the 2000 Summer Olympics - Women's 100 metres|11.19]]
|-
| style="background:silver;"| 2nd
|4 × 100 m
|[[Athletics at the 2000 Summer Olympics – Women's 4 × 100 metres relay|42.13]]
|-
!colspan="6" |Representing {{SLO}}
|-
|rowspan=4|2003
|[[2003 IAAF World Indoor Championships|World Indoor Championships]]
|[[Birmingham]], United Kingdom
| style="background:#c96;"| 3rd
|60 m
|[[2003 IAAF World Indoor Championships - Women's 60 metres|7.20]]
|-
|rowspan=3|[[2003 World Championships in Athletics|World Championships]]
|rowspan=3|[[Paris]], France
|11th (sf)
|100 m
|[[2003 World Championships in Athletics - Women's 100 metres|11.26]]
|-
|16th (qf)
|200 m
|[[2003 World Championships in Athletics - Women's 200 metres|23.22]]
|-
|heats
|4 × 100 m
|[[2003 World Championships in Athletics – Women's 4 × 100 metres relay|DISQ]]
|-
|rowspan=3|2004
|[[2004 IAAF World Indoor Championships|World Indoor Championships]]
|[[Budapest]], Hungary
|9th (sf)
|60 m
|[[2004 IAAF World Indoor Championships - Women's 60 metres|7.21]]
|-
|rowspan=2|[[Athletics at the 2004 Summer Olympics|Olympic Games]]
|rowspan=2|[[Athens]], Greece
|10th (sf)
|100 m
|[[Athletics at the 2004 Summer Olympics – Women's 100 metres|11.21]]
|-
|DNF (sf)
|200 m
|[[Athletics at the 2004 Summer Olympics – Women's 200 metres|22.72]] (h)
|-
|2006
|[[2006 European Athletics Championships|European Championships]]
|[[Gothenburg]], Sweden
|10th (sf)
|100 m
|[[2006 European Athletics Championships - Women's 100 metres|11.44]]
|-
|rowspan=2|2007
|[[2007 European Athletics Indoor Championships|European Indoor Championships]]
|[[Birmingham]], United Kingdom
|19th (h)
|60 m
|[[2007 European Athletics Indoor Championships - Women's 60 metres|7.33]]
|-
|[[2007 World Championships in Athletics|World Championships]]
|[[Osaka]], Japan
|38th (h)
|100 m
|[[2007 World Championships in Athletics - Women's 100 metres|11.64]]
|-
|2010
|[[2010 European Athletics Championships|European Championships]]
|[[Barcelona]], Spain
|13th (h)
|4 × 100 m
|[[2010 European Athletics Championships - Women's 4 × 100 metres relay|44.30]]
|-
|2012
|[[2012 European Athletics Championships|European Championships]]
|[[Helsinki]], Finland
|11th (h)
|4 × 100 m
|[[2012 European Athletics Championships – Women's 4 × 100 metres relay|44.28]]
|-
!colspan=6|<small>''' (#) Indicates overall position in qualifying heats (h) quarterfinals (qf) or semifinals (sf). DNF = did not finish''' DNS = did not start</small>
|}

==See also==
*[[List of athletes with the most appearances at Olympic Games]]
*[[List of multiple Summer Olympic medalists]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Merlene Ottey}}
*{{World Athletics}}
*{{Olympics.com}}
*{{Olympedia}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20160107005402/http://www.olympic.org.nz/Article.aspx?ID=685 Merlene Ottey & the advance of women]
*[http://www.jakobweb.dk/ottey/ The Merlene Ottey Tribute]

{{Navboxes
| title=Related
| list1=
{{s-start}}
{{s-ach|rec}}
{{succession box|before=[[Heike Drechsler]]|title=[[Women's 200 metres world record progression|Women's 200 m Indoor World Record Holder]]|years=13 February 1993&nbsp;– present|after=''Incumbent''}}
{{s-ach}}
{{succession box|title=[[Track & Field Athlete of the Year|Women's Track & Field Athlete of the Year]]|before=[[Ana Fidelia Quirot]]|after=[[Heike Henkel]]|years=1990}}
{{succession box
| before=[[Steffi Graf]]
| title=[[United Press International Athlete of the Year Award#Female winners|United Press International<br>Athlete of the Year]]
| after=[[Monica Seles]]
| years=1991}}
{{s-sports}}
{{succession box|before=[[Dawn Sowell]]|before2=[[Gwen Torrence]]|title=[[200 metres#Women's Seasons Best|Women's 200 m Best Year Performance]]|years=1990–1991<br>1993|after=[[Gwen Torrence]]}}
{{s-sports|oly}}
{{succession box
| before = [[Dudley Stokes]]
| title = [[List of flag bearers for Jamaica at the Olympics|Flagbearer]] for {{JAM}}
| years = [[1988 Summer Olympics|Seoul 1988]]
| after = [[Dudley Stokes]]
}}
{{succession box
| before = [[Dudley Stokes]]
| title = [[List of flag bearers for Jamaica at the Olympics|Flagbearer]] for {{JAM}}
| years = [[1992 Summer Olympics|Barcelona 1992]]
| after = [[Chris Stokes (bobsledder)|Chris Stokes]]
}}
{{s-end}}
{{Jamaican Sportswoman of the Year}}
{{IAAF World Athlete of the Year (women)}}
{{Footer World Champions 200 m Women}}
{{Footer World Champions 4 x 100 m Women}}
{{Footer World Indoor Champions 60m Women}}
{{Footer World Indoor Champions 200m Women}}
{{Footer Commonwealth Champions 100 metres Women}}
{{Footer Commonwealth Champions 200m Women}}
{{Footer IAAF World Cup Champions 200m Women}}
{{Footer US NC 100m Women}}
{{Footer US NC 200m Women}}
{{Footer Collegiate Track Field Cross Country Athlete Hall of Fame}}
}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ottey, Merlene}}
[[Category:1960 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Hanover Parish]]
[[Category:Jamaican female sprinters]]
[[Category:Slovenian female sprinters]]
[[Category:Slovenian masters athletes]]
[[Category:Jamaican masters athletes]]
[[Category:Olympic athletes for Jamaica]]
[[Category:Olympic silver medalists for Jamaica]]
[[Category:Olympic bronze medalists for Jamaica]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1980 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1984 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1988 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1992 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1996 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2000 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Olympic athletes for Slovenia]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2004 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Commonwealth Games gold medallists for Jamaica]]
[[Category:Commonwealth Games athletes for Jamaica]]
[[Category:Commonwealth Games silver medallists for Jamaica]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1982 Commonwealth Games]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1990 Commonwealth Games]]
[[Category:Pan American Games silver medalists in athletics (track and field)]]
[[Category:Pan American Games bronze medalists in athletics (track and field)]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1979 Pan American Games]]
[[Category:World Athletics Championships athletes for Jamaica]]
[[Category:World Athletics Championships athletes for Slovenia]]
[[Category:World Athletics Championships medalists]]
[[Category:World Athletics Indoor Championships winners]]
[[Category:World Athletics Indoor Championships medalists]]
[[Category:World record holders in masters athletics]]
[[Category:Fenerbahçe athletes]]
[[Category:Nebraska Cornhuskers women's track and field athletes]]
[[Category:Members of the Order of Jamaica]]
[[Category:Officers of the Order of Distinction]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Order of the Nation]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 2000 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Jamaican emigrants to Slovenia]]
[[Category:Slovenian people of Jamaican descent]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1996 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1992 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1984 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1980 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Commonwealth Games bronze medallists for Jamaica]]
[[Category:Pan American Games silver medalists for Jamaica]]
[[Category:Pan American Games bronze medalists for Jamaica]]
[[Category:Olympic silver medalists in athletics (track and field)]]
[[Category:Olympic bronze medalists in athletics (track and field)]]
[[Category:World Athletics indoor record holders]]
[[Category:Track & Field News Athlete of the Year winners]]
[[Category:IAAF World Athlete of the Year]]
[[Category:USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships winners]]
[[Category:World Athletics Championships winners]]
[[Category:Competitors at the 1998 Goodwill Games]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1979 Pan American Games]]
[[Category:Olympic female sprinters]]
[[Category:Medallists at the 1982 Commonwealth Games]]
[[Category:Medallists at the 1990 Commonwealth Games]]
[[Category:Jamaican Athletics Championships winners]]
[[Category:United States collegiate record holders in athletics (track and field)]]
[[Category:NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships winners]]
[[Category:NCAA Division I Indoor Track and Field Championships winners]]
[[Category:Commonwealth Games gold medallists in athletics]]
[[Category:Commonwealth Games silver medallists in athletics]]
[[Category:Commonwealth Games bronze medallists in athletics]]