Merlene Ottey
Merlene Ottey in 1997 in Cologne
Merlene Ottey ( Merlene Ottey Joyce, during their marriage Ottey - Page, born May 10, 1960 in Cold Spring, Hanover Parish ) is a Jamaican athlete who has adopted in 2002 the Slovenian citizenship and since then competes for Slovenia.
Career
Ottey is one of the most successful sprinters in the history of athletics, although she never became Olympic champion. When she had the victory by less than a nose also missed at the World Championships in Stuttgart in the final of the 100-meter run in 1993, she threatened as " Eternal Second " to go down in sports history. However, over 200 m she won gold then finally, what the audience with a minute-long standing ovation celebrated.
In 1999, she came under suspicion of doping, as a laboratory in a drug test traces of nandrolone discovered. Ottey and their association filed an objection to the recommended by the IAAF ban, which was granted by the IAAF arbitration for alleged shortcomings in the work of the laboratory ..
At the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney Ottey won the 4 x 100 meters relay silver. 2009 her bronze medal was also due to the doping- related disqualification of Marion Jones subsequently awarded over 100 meters. Ottey is 40 years making it the oldest medalist in Olympic running events.
2002, since 1998 living in the Slovenian capital Ljubljana athlete took the citizenship of Slovenia and started for her adopted home in 2004 for the seventh time in a row at the Olympic Games in Athens. About 100 m reached the then 44 -year-old the semi-finals and narrowly failed in fifth on reaching the finals. They also launched over 200 m, reached surprisingly well in this competition, the semi-final, but withdrew immediately after starting an injury. It was her 52nd Olympic race. With its seven participations Ottey is one of the athletes with the most appearances at all.
In mid-July 2006, she ran the 100 meters in Maribor ( Marburg / Slovenia) in 11.45 s order, it achieved a Masters world record in the class over 45 years. In one of the "Austrian Top 4 " scoring track and field event taking place on July 28, 2006 in Wolfsberg (Carinthia, Austria ) was held at regular Ottey improved their conditions Masters world record 11.41 s
Merlene Ottey began on 8 August 2006 at the European Championships in Gothenburg. There, she reached the third in the 100 m forward of the women in 11.41 s as total Twelfth of all precursor ions the semi-finals. The finale on August 9, she missed with 11.44 s almost as tithe of all semi-finalists.
At the 2007 World Championships in Osaka, she started - now aged 47 - again on the 100 - m range. However, it was 11.64 s only fourth in their feed and also was not one of those who could qualify them further over time. 2008 Ottey missed the Slovenian Olympic standard and was not nominated for the Olympic Games in Beijing.
In 2010 she presented in Nove Mesto with 11.67 s to set a new world record in the 100m in the age group Ü50. In 2012 she took another as the oldest participant with the Slovenian 4 x 100 m relay team of ladies at the European Athletics Championships in part, but failed as the sixth in her heat. Next goal it sets itself to participate in the World Championships in Athletics 2013.
Personal
The 1.73 meter tall and 59 kilogram athlete is the fourth of seven siblings. She completed a degree at the University of Nebraska with a Bachelor of Arts. On February 3, 1984, she married the hurdler Nat Page; the marriage was of short duration.
Between 1979 and 1995, Ottey was elected 13 times to Jamaica's female athlete of the year, it is now the record holder for this award.
Bests
Hallenbestleistungen
- 60 m: 6.96 s (. 14.Feb 1992) = former WR
- 200 m: 21.87 s ( 13.Feb 1993. ) = WR