At her career's end, Merlene Ottey had won more Olympic medals in track & field athletics than any woman, with nine. Further these were won over a remarkably long career, which saw her win her first Olympic medal in 1980 (200 metre bronze) and her final one in 2000 (4×100 relay silver with Jamaica). Through 2004, she competed in seven Olympic Games, consecutively from 1980-2004. Her final appearance in 2004 came representing Slovenia. Ottey's record is marred by her failure to win a gold medal at the Olympics, as she has won three silver and six bronze. Primarily a 200 metre runner, she did win the World Championships at that distance in 1993 and 1995. Ottey adopted Slovene nationality on 27 October 2002, following a dispute with the Jamaican federation over her participation at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

Personal Bests: 100 – 10.74 (1996); 200 – 21.64 (1991); 400 – 51.12 (1983).