(Jamaica Observer) KINGSTON, Jamaica — Yesterday marked 21 years since Merlene Ottey set a 200m Indoor World Record of 21.87 that still stands.
The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) website confirms that Ottey clocked 21.87 on February 13, 1993 in Liévin, France.
Ottey, Jamaica’s most successful female athlete to date, became known as the ‘Bronze Queen’ because of the number of her third place finishes at major competitions.
Ottey’s career spans more than 30 years having her first Olympics in 1980 in Moscow, Russia, at 20 years old.
She last competed for Jamaica at the Sydney Olympics in 2000 at 40 years old.
IAAF records show that Ottey has won more Olympic medals in track & field history than any other woman, with nine — one behind American Carl Lewis for the most by any gender.
Named Jamaican Sportswoman of the year 13 times, between 1979 and 1995, Ottey became a citizen of Slovenia in 2002 and vowed never to run for Jamaica again following her controversial selection to represent the island at the Sydney Olympics.
