In case You would like to express your feelings or congratulate Merlene:

MERLENE OTTEY - THE ONLY REAL "DIVA" IN ATHENS

Read her recent interviews for an Estonian and a Slovenian Magazine>

Merlene stopped by a sudden injury!

Nobody could have expected, yet it is true: Merlene had suffered a sudden injury at some 60 m after the start of her semi-final race and had to quit!

First medical exams shown her muscle was torn and our national Team Medical Stuff reports:

"Merlene is capable of walking normally, which is typical for this kind of injuries, while she couldn't bear any effort required with sprinting at such a level. Dr. Rastko Stok assures us Merlene will be thoroughly examined today at the Medical Centre in the Olympic Village.

Despite the fact Merlene Ottey unfortunately couldn't repeat the "miracle": (by placing among the best 8 sprinters at the Olympics at 44+ she would have done a "miracle", indeed), something that has never before been achieved and will probably never be done in the future, since Merlene is really unique! And will remain as such!

Here's what Merlene had said just after the race:

"Just after 30 m I suddenly felt a sharp, cutting pain in my left leg and I also heard it, so I said to myself it was better to quit!"

Merlene in semi-finals at 9:05 PM

Merlene is scheduled to run on Tuesday, August, 24. at 9:05 PM (GMT +2) in the semi-final group 1:

Semi-final group 2

Lane	Bib	Name	NOC	DOB	PB	SB
1	1737	FELIX  Sylviane	FRA	31   OCT  1977	22.56	22.85
2	1147	GEVAERT  Kim	BEL	05   AUG  1978	22.53	22.55
3	1330	MOTHERSILL  Cydonie	CAY	19   MAR  1978	22.40	22.40
4	1124	FERGUSON  Debbie	BAH	16   JAN  1976	22.19	22.53
5	2223	CAMPBELL  Veronica	JAM	15   MAY  1982	22.18	22.18
6	2213	BAILEY  Aleen	JAM	25   NOV  1980	22.54	22.62
7	1985	KAIDANTZI  Olga	GRE	18   JUL  1979	22.88	22.88
8	3313	MOORE la  Shauntea	USA	31   JUL  1983

Merlene in semi-finals at 200 m!

Merlene ran in a fourth group of heat round 2 and by finishing as fourth  (time: 23.07) qualified into tomorrows semi-finals. Her 50.th run at the Olympic Games was thus very successful.  The winner of Merlene's eat group is Cydonie Mothersill in 22.77.

Merlene in quarter-finals at 8:45 PM

Merlene is scheduled to run at 8:45 PM (GMT +2) in the fourth heat of the evening Round 2. Here is her group:

Lane	Bib	Name	NOC	DOB	PB	SB
1	2892	KONDRATYEVA  Yekaterina	RUS	08   APR  1982	22.64	22.64
2	1065	HEWITT  Lauren	AUS	25   NOV  1978	22.52	22.87
3	1330	MOTHERSILL  Cydonie	CAY	19   MAR  1978	22.40	22.40
4	1285	LALOVA  Ivet	BUL	18   MAY  1984	22.51	22.51
5	2237	McDONALD  Beverly	JAM	15   FEB  1970	22.22	22.83
6	3016	OTTEY  Merlene	SLO	10   MAY  1960	21.64	22.72
7	2687	PACHOLAK  Anna	POL	15   JAN  1980	22.87	23.00
8	1817	MADUAKA  Joice	GBR	30   SEP  1973	22.83	22.98

Merlene set a new National Record at 200 m

Athens - 23.08-2004 - 11:10 AM

Having run 22.72 at 200 m in her first heat Today at 10:40, Merlene qualified into quarter-finals as expected and set a new National record. She now holds both Slovenian National records at 100 and 200 m, and as a member of our Relay Team she also holds the Relay record at 4 x 100 m (43.90). Merlene appeared very fresh and relaxed after the race, and she was very pleased, too. With a good reason we're all very proud of her.

Today morning Merlene started very well and ran an excellent race and finished third in the group. The group winner is  Debbi Ferguson with  22.57, while second place was taken by Christine Aaron (22.60).

Here's what she told us after te race: "It was a very good race for me and I'm very pleased to have qualified into another heat. I'm quite tired and a bit exhausted after my 100 m races, and I only hope I will manage to recover before my evening's race."

Only 5 other Athletes from the first heat groups ran faster than Merlene!

You can check the Official results by clicking here.

Merlene's another "World record" coming up today!

Athens - 23.08-2004 - 01:10

We all know what a unique phenomenon Merlene is in the World of Sports and Track & Field and how many unrepeatable "world records" she holds.

Her brilliant Career started 25 years ago and at the age of 44 she is just about to break another "world record".

Within few hours (around 10:00 AM - GMT +2) she will run her 49.th race at the Olympic Games. Since she will undoubtedly qualify into second heat at 200 m, she will have her 50.th race in the evening somewhere between 7:00 and 7:40 (GMT +2)

Any other Athlete in the World capable of doing it? NO!!! NEVER!!!

Congratulations, Merlene!

Take a closer look at her Olympic Biography at the official Pages of the Athens Olympics, too!

A new challenge for Merlene Ottey

The Queen of athletics, Jamaican born Merlene Ottey, who has been competing for Slovenia for the last two years and will represent Slovenia at a record breaking 7th Olympic Games in Athens, is fulfilling one of her long time aspirations and has become a fashion designer this summer. She has designed a women’s sports and casual wear collection under the label OTTEY by pamp.

“My clothes are intended for people who are a bit different. Different in that they do not want to be like everybody else. They are mostly intended for the young and those young at heart and full of energy. The collection suits perfectly all active sports enthusiasts.”

I chose vivid and glowing colours for my clothes because they reflect life any joy. When I am running and I am getting ready at the start line alongside other competitors, you can notice me right away because of these special colours. You don’t have to zoom in on the camera to notice a difference. Being different is what we are and what makes us special.”

The sprinter’s clothes reflect her character – they combine elegance and relaxedness with graciousness and playfulness. They stress femininity and at the same time determination. Merlene Ottey is convinced that no goal is unattainable, one only has to persist till the end and have trust in oneself. This is exactly what her new collection expresses – female confidence that dares to be different showing creativity and harmony.

Merlene Ottey has studied fashion design at the University of Nebraska and the love for fashion has accompanied her throughout her successful athletics career and she is now looking to the future:

“My passion is to run fast and fashion is my challenge for the future.”

You'll find more about Merlene's newly started career at this Site:

Merlene short just for 0,03 seconds to rich finals.

Merlene placed 10.th at the Athens  Olympic 100 m.

01. Julija Nesterenko (Blr) 10,93
02. Lauryn Williams (ZDA) 10,96
03. Veronica Campbell (Jam) 10,97

"I didn't start the best I can - but still I started better than in previous races - I ran well in the second half of the race, yet I was a bit sort to qualify into finals.

Fifth place was unfortunate enough - if I had managed to finish fourth, I woul be in finals. Bur what can we do! Competition was strong and other girls were simply better than me.

This season I focused more on 100 m (mostly because I sincerely hoped we would be able to have our Relay Team here in Athens).

Despite that I still hope to perform at twice the distance as well as I did at 100 m," said Merlene after finishing fifth with 11.21.

Athens - 21.08.2004 - 19:40

Merlene just finished her semi-final race at 100 m. She started well and ran the best she coul, yet she finished fifth with 11.21 and was 0-03 seconds short to qualify into finals. The winner of the second group was American Lauryn Williams 11.01 andr Jamaicans Sherone Simpson (11,03) and Aleen Bailey (11,13), and another American LaTasha Colander (11,18).

Finalists from the first semi-final group were: Belarus Julija Nesterenko (10,92), Jamaican Veronika Campbell (10,93), Bulgarian Ivet Lalova (11,04) and Debbie Ferguson (11,04) from Bahamas.

Read her most recent interview >

On July 22.2004 Merlene "told" us for the first time in the season she is in a great shape. On that day she ran 11.17 at the Meeting in Tallin, Estonia and became Slovenian National record holder at 100 m for the first time.

When only a few days later at the Liege Meeting in Belgium she improved her record once again to 11.09, she made us think of her as one of the finalists at her seventh Olympic Games in Athens!

Yesterday she confirmed our dreams and her dreams as well! And within a few hours (at 7:20 PM - GMT + 2) she is about to run her semi-final race to qualify into finals at 100 m - she will not only be the oldest Athlete in Track & Field events of the XVIII. Olympiads, but she will be the oldest finalist, too! Anyone in doubt? Be ashamed of yourself!

Can You imagine Merlene like this - all within a few hours? I can!

And somewhere around 10:00 PM we will know what colour is Merlene's first individual Olympic medal ever!

Come back for a History!!!

She did it! At 40 years (and exactly 3 moths) of age she ran her best 100 m of the season - 11.06 was her time and she took third place, just after Marion Jones and Inger Miller!

Can you imagine Olympic finals without Merlene Ottey? No way!
By the way: Can you recall Marion Jones' last defeat in 100 m? Do you remember the athlete that beat Marion Jones about a year ago? Can you think of an athlete that's capable of doing it again?

(The answers are at the above picture)