Road to Munich is open to Merlene Ottey
It is virtually certain that Merlene Ottey will be able to represent Slovenia at the European Championships in Munich (6 to 11 August). As confirmed by the World Association IAAF, the Jamaican Association (JAAA) has given its approval.
Merlene Ottey
"Merlene Ottey last represented Jamaica at the Olympic Games in Sydney and is therefore entitled to take part according to the rules laid down by Slovenia ", confirmed IAAF General Secretary Istvan Gyulai. The statutes dictate that in the event that both nations involved reach a consensus the athlete must only take a one year break as opposed to the normal three years before being able to slip into a different national shirt.Merlene Ottey has been living in Ljubljana since 1998 and has found a new sports domicile there. At 42, she is starting once again for a new national flag. She has won a total of seven Olympic medals and fourteen world championship medals for Jamaica and polarised the mass of athletic fans for many years. She now has the opportunity in August to add a European Championship medal to her collection.
