JAMAICA’s most decorated female athlete Merlene Ottey is to be conferred with an honorary doctorate degree by the University of Technology (UTech).

UTech’s Assistant Registrar Charmagne Mortley made the revelation at the recent launch of the Ben Francis Invitational where Ottey is also to be honoured on Saturday.

Ottey, who became the English-speaking Caribbean’s first female Olympic medallist after taking bronze in the 200m in Moscow in 1980, will receive the Doctor of Technology and is only the second person to do so.

Olympian Dennis Johnson, who founded the institution’s sports programme, and contributed to the later development of the Faculty of Science and Sport, was the first.

Ottey, who transferred allegiance to Slovenia in 2001, has the record for most Olympic Games appearances (seven) and most World Championships medals won (14).

The former Vere and Rusea’s athlete, who attended the University of Nebraska, is ranked sixth on the all-time list of 100m and third on the all-time list of 200m sprinters.

She was Jamaica’s Sportswoman of the Year for a record 15 times.

Ottey will be presented with the honour during Saturday’s Ben Francis meet at her alma mater.