News24 Aug 2003


Ottey - grace in motion

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Merlene Ottey in action in the women's 100m heats (© Getty Images)

It has perhaps become cliche to describe Merlene Ottey as a sprinter who is aging gracefully. That descriptor was certainly used in abundance when, at age 37, she raced to a 200m bronze medal at the 1997 World Championships, then again three years later, when she finished fourth in the 100m at the Sydney Olympic Games.

Yet the graceful talent that brought her 14 medals in her previous six appearances at the World Championships is still abundantly evident. Now 43, the Jamaican-born speed queen is the oldest woman competing in these championships. When Ottey won her first bronze medal at the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, Aleen Bailey, who is in Ottey's semi-final today, was four years old. Russian Marina Kislova and Kim Gavaert of Belgium, also in the semi, were six, and American Kelli White seven.

But as she has repeatedly stated, her appearance in Paris is not merely one of novelty. She is here, simply put, to earn a medal.  Slowed by injury most of last year, Ottey has improved steadily on her road to Paris, running 11.23 and 22.89 this summer. But she is fully aware that it will take at least a seasonal best to advance to this evening's final in the 100m.

"Yes, it's getting better," she said of her season's progress, "but I think it will be difficult tomorrow. "But I will go in there and try to get into the finals."

In yesterday's opening rounds, Ottey was relatively consistent on the clock --11.26 and 11.31-- but her performances couldn't have been more different.

In the quarter final, Ottey said, "I started better, but a better start doesn't mean a better finish. I much prefered my race in the morning. It was a bad start but a better finish." Indeed, in her opening round performance, she dislayed her best acceleration of the summer. "With an average start or bad start, I run better, because I'm not a first quarter runner. Everytime I started well [this season], I didn't have a good finish."

Regardless of the outcome, the short dash is only the beginning for Ottey, who will also contest the 200 later in the week. 

"By the time I finish the 100 metres, I'll be sharper for the 200."

And she is just as eager to compete on the 400m relay for her adopted country of Slovenia, which she anchored to a national record 43.91 in late July.

"We have good chances," she believes. "You know, in the relay, a lot really depends on the exchanges so we're not going to count ourselves out. Anything is possible. When you put the baton in my hand, then I'll run very fast.  That," she added, "is what I do best."

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