Merlene Ottey (© Getty Images)
Easily one of the most decorated stars of world athletics, Merlene Ottey added another to her massive string of achievements on Tuesday (27 December) when she was immortalised in her native Jamaica with a 2.4m statue of the 45-year-old former World Champion unveiled in Kingston's Independence Park. Jamaican Prime Minister P.J. Patterson did the honours, with Ottey herself on hand to witness her likeness, a cast in bronze and erected at a cost in excess of JA$3 million (US$ 46,500).
A seven-time Olympian, Ottey first represented Jamaica in 1980, at the age of 20, taking 200m bronze. The oldest world athletics track medalist ever, anchoring Jamaica's 400m team to Olympic silver in 2000, Ottey is the most decorated woman in Olympics or World Championships track and field, with eight and 14 medals respectively among her 35 major championship medals. She was a World Champion on three consecutive occasions, with relay gold in 1991, then 200m wins in 1993 and 1995.
Now 45, she appeared in five Olympic 200m finals, taking four medals. She stood on the podium at five consecutive World Championships. Now a resident of Ljubljana and a citizen of Slovenia, the nation she represented at the 2004 Olympics, the veteran sprinter is preparing to compete at next year's European Championships. But Ottey will be best remembered as a Jamaican, and as a legend of Caribbean and world athletics.
Quarrie, Powell also honoured
Independence Park is located in front of Jamaica's National Stadium in the capital city, Kingston. Also situated within the park complex is a statue of 1976 Olympic 200m champion Donald Quarrie. On Wednesday, Quarrie's statue was relocated and rededicated. The occasion was not just a celebration of Jamaica's athletics history, however. Quarrie's and Ottey's contemporary equivalent, men's 100m World Record holder Asafa Powell, was the recipient of an International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) award on Wednesday, for establishing the World Record for 100m earlier this year.
McDonald, Paris-Thymes announce retirement
Meanwhile, Beverley McDonald and Debbie-Ann Parris-Thymes have announced their retirement from athletics. McDonald, 35, is based in Texas. She won an individual silver in the 200m at the 1999 World Championships. She was 1991 400m relay World champion, along with Ottey. Parris-Thymes, a 400m hurdler, helped Jamaica to the 1600m relay World title in 2001. At 32, Parris-Thymes will join the coaching staff at her alma mater, Louisiana State University (LSU) in Baton Rouge.
Terry Finisterre for the IAAF