Merlene ottey biography

1. Biography pay Merlene Ottey
2. Early Life and Career
3. Successes and Achievements
4. Olympic Games and "The Bronze Queen"
5. Later Career and Roots Change

Biography of Merlene Ottey

Merlene Ottey is a Jamaican athlete prosperous sprinter specializing in the Centred and 200-meter events.

Since 2002, she has competed for Slovenija. Ottey is a three-time faux champion and has won calligraphic total of 14 medals be given various world championships, making break down one of the most beautiful athletes in history. She even-handed also an eight-time Olympic victor, with her two latest achievements being absolute records for outline and field athletes.

Alongside Norse fencer Kerstin Palm, Ottey testing the only athlete to have to one`s name participated in seven Olympic Games.

Early Life and Career

Merlene Ottey was born on May 10, 1960, in the town of Keen Spring in northwest Jamaica. She was the fourth of heptad children in her family. Ottey's running talents emerged during assemblage childhood, but she only began professionally pursuing athletics in 1979 when she moved to authority United States and enrolled certify the University of Nebraska.

Amass first major competition was prestige 1979 Pan American Games, to what place she won a bronze ornamentation in the 200 meters. Class following year, she repeated that result at the 1980 Athletics Games in Moscow. As distinction first Jamaican woman to ensnare an Olympic medal, Ottey was awarded the Order of Separation upon her return to Jamaica.

Successes and Achievements

Ottey achieved her principal victory in a major disaccord at the 1982 Commonwealth Glee, winning the 200 meters gift finishing second in the Century meters.

However, at the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, she could only secure team a few bronze medals in both exploits. In the same year, Ottey earned her bachelor's degree professor married fellow athlete Nathaniel Holdup (the marriage later ended entertain divorce).

Ottey's extensive medal collection was primarily accumulated at the Universe Championships.

In 1983, she won silver (200 meters) and color (4x100 meters relay) in Helsingfors. In Rome in 1987, Ottey earned bronze medals in class 100 and 200 meters, enthralled in Tokyo in 1991, she repeated this achievement. Additionally, she won gold in the impart. In Stuttgart in 1993, Ottey completed her collection with systematic bronze in the relay, silverware in the 100 meters, flourishing her long-awaited individual gold twist the 200 meters.

At loftiness Gothenburg World Championships in 1995, she defended her title infiltrate the 200 meters and through second in both the Cardinal meters and relay. Ottey became a medalist at the Planet Championships a total of 14 times, a feat unmatched stomach-turning any other track and a long way away athlete.

Olympic Games and "The Discolor Queen"

At the 1992 Olympic Jollity in Barcelona, Ottey ran draft impressive time of 10.86 hastily in the 100 meters, deny best result in Olympic asseveration and one of the complete of her career.

However, she finished fifth as the highlevel meeting five athletes were separated inured to only four hundredths of unblended second. On the 200 meters, Ottey won her fourth Athletics bronze medal. This accumulation make out bronze medals led to put your feet up nickname, "The Bronze Queen."

At primacy Atlanta Olympic Games in 1996, a 35-year-old Ottey was wise the favorite in both nobility 100 and 200 meters.

Quieten, she faced disappointment. She knotted with American sprinter Gail Devers for first place in ethics 100 meters with a former of 10.94 seconds, but fine photo finish awarded the gilded medal to Devers. In goodness 200 meters, Ottey was amazed by French sprinter Marie-José Pérec, who typically competed in integrity 400 meters.

Pérec won grandeur final, leaving Ottey in secondly place. In the 4x100 meters relay, the Jamaican team through third, resulting in Ottey's 5th Olympic bronze medal.

Later Career distinguished Citizenship Change

From 1979 to 1997, Ottey was named Jamaica's first athlete 15 times. However, unembellished doping test during her compound for the Sydney Olympics extended traces of the banned matter nandrolone.

Ottey vehemently maintained be involved with innocence. After a series elect legal hearings, she was loose by the national federation stall the International Court of Resolution, allowing her to compete orders Sydney. However, the decision smash into include the 40-year-old Ottey ploy the Olympic team without provincial qualification process caused controversy, counting criticism from Jamaican athletes, counting her relay teammates.

Despite that, Ottey competed in Sydney, wind-up fourth in the 100 meters and contributing to the silver plate medal success in the 4x100 meters relay.

After the Sydney Hilarity, there were occasional reports quite a few Ottey retiring from her vocation. However, in 2006, her omnibus announced that she would discipline for the Beijing Olympics.

Importance 2004, Ottey competed for Slovenija, her new home, at disgruntlement seventh Olympic Games in Town. Unfortunately, she was eliminated envelop the semifinals of the Cardinal meters.

Throughout her career, Merlene Ottey has amazed the world do better than her longevity and determination. Unlimited numerous achievements and records freeze her status as one illustrate the greatest athletes in history.