Merlene Joyce Ottey born May 10, 1960 in Hanover, Jamaica. She is a Jamaican-born, Slovenian track athlete. Ottey began her career representing Jamaica, but since 2002, has represented Slovenia, where she now resides.
Fifty-year-old Merlene Ottey could become the oldest athlete to compete at the European Championships after Slovenia named the sprinter to its 4x100 relay team.
Ottey, a naturalized Slovenian of Jamaican origin, would make her Barcelona debut in the July 31 heats.
Ottey has won 29 medals at major competitions, including seven Olympics starting with Moscow in 1980.
Ottey, who first raced for Slovenia in the championships four years ago, has already clocked 11.84 seconds over 100 meters this season. She was second in the Slovenian championships.