Merlene Ottey is a former track and field sprinter from Jamaica and Slovenia. Merlene Ottey holds the current world indoor record for 200 meters with a time of 21.87 seconds set in 1993.
Quick Facts
| Full Name: | Merlene Ottey |
|---|---|
| Born Date: | 10 May 1960 |
| Age: | 64 years |
| Horoscope: | Taurus |
| Gender: | Female |
| Profession: | Former sprinter |
| Country: | Jamaica |
| Height: | 5 feet 9 inches (1.75m) |
| Marital Status: | divorce |
| Divorce | Nathaniel Page |
| Net Worth | $110 million |
| Eye Color | Black |
| Hair Color | Black |
| Birth Place | Hanover |
| Nationality | Jamaican |
| Education | Gurneys Mount and Pondside Schools, University of Nebraska |
| Father | Hubert Ottey |
| Mother | Joan Ottey |
| Siblings | (Six) Ruthven Ottey, Hugh Ottey, Beverley Ottey, Janet Ottey, Desmond Ottey, and Yvonne Ottey |
Merlene Ottey Biography
Merlene Ottey was born in Cold Spring, Hanover, Jamaica on May 10, 1960. Her zodiac sign is Taurus, and she is 64 years old as of her birth date. When it comes to her nationality, she is Jamaican, but her ethnicity is unknown.
In terms of her family history, she is the daughter of Hubert Ottey (Father) and Joan Ottey (Mother). Her father works as a farmer, and her mother works as a midwife. She has six siblings, who are Ruthven Ottey, Hugh Ottey, Beverley Ottey, Janet Ottey, Desmond Ottey, and Yvonne Ottey. Apart from that, no additional information about her relatives, grandparents, cousins, or other family members is available in the media.
Merlene Ottey Education
In terms of education, she went to Gurneys Mount and Pondside Schools before graduating from Rusea and Vere Technical High Schools. She then moved to the United States, where she graduated from the University of Nebraska in 1979.
Merlene Ottey Height, Weight
Merlene Ottey is undeniably attractive and attractive. She stands tall and has a perfect height of about 5 feet 9 inches (175cm/1.75m) and weighs about 62 kg (137 lb). In addition, she has beautiful black eyes and black hair.
Career
In terms of her career, Ottey began representing Jamaica in 1978 and continued to do so for the next 24 years. She has also won 14 individual national titles and 24 All-America honors. Moreover, she won multiple NCAA championships in each of her five seasons, including five indoor and outdoor titles in 1982 and four in 1981.
She was also a member of the 1982, 1983, and 1984 Nebraska indoor national championship teams. Ottey, on the other hand, still holds Nebraska’s top indoor and outdoor marks in the 55- and 200-meter dashes, as well as the program’s top outdoor marks in the 100- and 200-meter dashes.
Ottey also competed for Jamaica in the 1979 Pan American Games, winning a bronze medal in the 200 m. She was also the first female English-speaking Caribbean athlete to win an Olympic medal in Moscow in 1980. Furthermore, she won a gold medal in the 200 m and a silver medal in the 100 m at the 1982 Commonwealth Games.
She won gold in both events in the 1990 Commonwealth Games about a decade later. Ottey has won nine Olympic medals in her career, tying her with Allyson Felix for the most by a woman in track and field history. Three silver and six bronze medals are included. She has, however, never won an Olympic gold medal.
Furthermore, she still holds the record for the most World Championship medals in individual events, with 10, earning her the nickname “the Bronze Queen” in racing circles. The Jamaican government appointed Ottey as an Ambassador at Large in 1993. She was also inducted into Nebraska’s first Athletics Hall of Fame Class in 2015.
Merlene Ottey Awards
In terms of awards and accomplishments, Ottey was named World Athlete of the Year and Track & Field News Athlete of the Year in 1990. She is also the first female athlete to run 60 meters in less than seven seconds (6.96 in 1992).
She holds the official World Masters Athletics world record in the 100 m and 200 m for the W35, W40, and W45 age groups. Similarly, Ottey became the oldest female gold medalist in history when she won the 200 m at the 1995 World Championships at the age of 35.
She also holds the record for the fastest women’s indoor 200 meters, running it in 21.87 seconds. In women’s track and field, Ottey has the most career Olympic medals (9 gold, 3 silver, and 6 bronze). She has also been named Jamaican Sportswoman of the Year 13 times.
Merlene Ottey Net Worth
When it comes to her net worth, Ottey has amassed a sizable fortune through her hard work and brilliance. Ottey has a net worth of $110 million as of February 2024.
Merlene Ottey Husband, Marriage
Ottey was previously married to Nathaniel Page, an American high jumper and 400 m hurdler, and was also known as Merlene Ottey-Page during the mid-1980s.
Their relationship, however, did not last long and ended in divorce. Nonetheless, there is no definitive information regarding their divorce.
