Merlene Ottey, 50, set to break European record

[Tilla]

Slovenian Ottey is the oldest-ever Olympic medallist

Merlene Ottey could become the oldest ever athlete to compete at the European championships, at the age of 50.

The three-time world champion is one of five to be picked for the Slovenia women's 4x100m relay squad who begin their Barcelona campaign on 31 July.

The sprinter, who became a naturalised Slovenian in 2002, won nine Olympic medals in seven Games for Jamaica.

France's Nicole Brakebusch-Leveque is the oldest athlete to compete in the European games, aged 47.

Ottey, who was second in the Slovenian championship, has won 29 medals at major competitions, including 14 at world championships - more than any other athlete.
At the 1995 championships, Ottey became the oldest-ever female gold medallist when at the age of 35 she won the 200m.
And at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, she became the oldest-ever athletics medallist when she anchored the Jamaican women's 4x100m