Sprinter Ottey makes history at 50
Ottey, a naturalized Slovenian of Jamaican origin, surpassed the record previously held by 47-year-old French marathon runner Nicole Brakebusch-Leveque.
By The Associated PressBARCELONA, Spain - Fifty-year-old Merlene Ottey became the oldest athlete to compete at the European Championships after anchoring Slovenia's 4x100 women's relay team yesterday.
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Merlene Ottey |
| Photo by: Reuters |
Ottey, a naturalized Slovenian of Jamaican origin, surpassed the record previously held by 47-year-old French marathon runner Nicole Brakebusch-Leveque.
Ottey said competing at 50 meant as much as any of the 29 medals she's won at major competitions since her debut in 1979.
"It's right up there with all the medals I have won," Ottey said. "I don't know if there's any athlete over 40 competing out here in sprinting, so to be competing at 50 is great."
Slovenia failed to reach today's final at Barcelona's Olympic stadium after it finished seventh with a time of 44.30 seconds. Ukraine won the heat in 43.24 seconds.
"My leg was difficult because I had the anchor leg," Ottey said. "Normally I catch people, but this time I couldn't catch anybody so it was difficult."
Ottey has competed at seven Olympic Games, starting with Moscow in 1980. She won bronze in the 200 in the 1992 Barcelona Games, when she was 32.
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