Veteran Ottey claims comeback win

Sprinter Merlene Ottey aims to run at August’s European Championships after making a winning return to the track at Spain’s Rivas International.
The 46-year-old, who has not competed since the 200m semi-final at the Athens Olympics, battled a strong headwind to win the 100m in 11.94 seconds.

“It was slow so forget the time,” said Jamaican-born Ottey, who now represents Slovenia. "But the legs feel fine.

“If I’m running well in July then I’d like to go to Gothenburg.”

Ottey has never won an Olympic gold despite collecting eight medals from the Games, the first - a bronze - coming in 1980 in Moscow.

Her run in Athens was ended by a hamstring injury, which almost led her to quit.

“After I was injured at the Olympics, I wanted to stop,” she said.

“I actually did stop competing but decided I didn’t like sitting at home, so I decided to get the required surgery and just started training again.”

Ottey has also won 14 World Championship medals, including two 200m golds, and became the oldest track and field athlete to win an Olympic medal when she won silver in the 4x100m relay in Sydney.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/athletics/5063086.stm

It’s always nice to see comebacks. I’m sure the group will be impressed.

Nice post

Rupert
CharlieFrancis.com

PS

Did everything work out Nick? Get in touch via PM

"Bettina Weiss of Austria won a fiercely fought women’s short dash, clocking 11.43, just ahead of Pia Tajnikar (11.44) and Merlene Ottey (11.45). For the 46-year-old Ottey, it was a season’s best, and most importantly, a qualifier for next month’s European Championships.

“The first part of my season didn’t go as I wanted it to,” said Ottey, whose performance was yet another world age-group record. “It’s not until now that that my form is getting better from race to race.” Ottey said her season’s first half was slowed by an achilles problem and allergies. “I have two weeks until the European championships and enough time in order to improve even more,” Ottey added, indicating that she might make the trip to Gothenburg next month."

http://www.atletska-zveza.si/files/granprix/rezultati/porocilo7eng.htm

amazing!!!

Former Jamaican sprinter Ottey has passion for track and field.
Published on Thursday, August 2, 2007 Email To Friend Print Version

By Gary Smith
Caribbean Net News Sports Correspondent
Email: gary@caribbeannetnews.com

FLORIDA, USA: Jamaican-born veteran sprinter, Merlene Ottey has not ruled out the possibilities of running at this month’s IAAF World Championships in Osaka, Japan, though her current season’s best is nothing to write home about.

Ottey, who now competes for Slovenia, after switching from her Caribbean Island citizenship in 2002, became the oldest Slovenian national champion, at age 47, after she captured the women’s 100-metre title in seasonal best of 11.69 seconds.

The former Jamaican multi-championships medallist believes her current year best certainly will not trouble the top sprinters in Osaka, but she is hoping to step up the sessions in an attempt to improve on her performances.

“This isn’t nearly fast enough to compete at the World championships,” Ottey was quoted as saying with some disappointment about her time.

“I’m feeling better, so I expect to run faster by the end of the week,” Ottey added.

Ottey, who made her debut at the1980 Olympics Games in Moscow, Russia, and has won a record eight individual medals at the Games, and six in the World Championships, said after her prime days that she was not necessarily running to win, but rather for the passion she has for the sport.

“I have this passion for the sport and I am not necessarily looking to win but to just enjoy myself,” she recalled.

http://www.caribbeannetnews.com/news-2844--8-8--.html

How easy is it to switch citizenship? If someone runs like 10.20, can they escape their USA citizenship easily and make the Olympics?

yep.{must have 10 characters}

Provided the federation of your current country accepts, I think it can be done quickly, yes. Otherwise, is it 2 years out? B. Lagat is an example, I think.