Fatima Whitbread
Renowned as Fatima Whitbread, the former British javelin thrower, Fatima Vedad, rose to prominence by securing victory at the 1986 European Athletics Championships in Stuttgart. During the event, she shattered the world record from the previous day’s qualifying round with an impressive throw of 77.44 meters.
Quick Facts of Fatima Vedad
- Celebrated Name: Fatima Whitbread
- Age: 61 Years Old
- Nick Name: Fatima
- Birth Name: Fatima Vedad
- Birth Date: 1961-03-03
- Gender: Female
- Profession: Athlete
- Place Of Birth: Stoke Newington, London
- Birth Nation: London
- Ethnicity: Mixed
- Nationality: British
- Religion: Christian
- Race: Black
- Horoscope: Pisces
- School: Torells School
- Marital Status: Married
- Children: 1
- Sexual Orientation: Straight
- Spouse: Andrew Norman
- Net Worth: $1 million to $5 million
- Source of Wealth: Javelin thrower career
- Height: 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m)
- Weight: 10 st 10 lb (68 kg)
- Body Type: Athletic
- Hair Color: Dark brown
- Eye Color: Dark brown
- Links: Wikipedia, Twitter
At the age of 11, Fatima Whitbread embarked on her journey in javelin throwing. In 1986, she made history by breaking the javelin throw record, and the subsequent year, she clinched the gold medal at the World Championships. In both 1986 and 1987, Fatima received the Sportswoman of the Year award from the Sports Writers’ Association, and she was honored with the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award.
Her success extended to the Seoul Olympics in 1988, where she secured the silver medal, finishing second to Petra Felke. Beyond athletics, Fatima has made notable appearances on television shows, including the 2011 season of “I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!” In 2020, she participated in the TV show “Pilgrimage: Road to Istanbul.”
Fatima Whitbread
Former British javelin thrower Fatima Vedad is well known as Fatima Whitbread. She gained notoriety when she won the competition at the 1986 European Athletics Championships in Stuttgart, breaking the previous day’s qualifying round world record with a throw of 77.44 meters.
At age 11, she started javelin throwing. In 1986, she broke the record for the javelin throw, and the following year, she took home the gold medal at the World Championships. In 1986 and 1987, Fatima received the Sportswoman of the Year award from the Sports Writers’ Association. She received the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award.
She also had a lot of success at the Seoul Olympics in 1988, where she finished second to Petra Felke and took home the silver medal. In addition, she has been in a number of television shows, including the 2011 season of “I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!” She appeared in the TV show “Pilgrimage: Road to Istanbul” in 2020.
What is the wealth of Fatima Whitbread?
In 2022, Fatima Whitbread’s net worth fluctuated between $1 million and $5 million. Her substantial annual salary, totaling about a thousand dollars, contributes to her affluent lifestyle. Benefiting from her substantial net worth, Fatima leads a prosperous and opulent life, distinguishing herself as one of the select individuals with a diverse range of experiences while remaining committed to her goals. Primarily, her career as a javelin thrower serves as her main source of income.
Famous For: Fatima Whitbread
She previously represented Great Britain as a javelin thrower. At the 1986 European Athletics Championships in Stuttgart, she claimed the top spot in the competition.
What race does Fatima Whitbread belong to?
Born as Fatima Vedad, known professionally as Fatima Whitbread, she came into the world on March 3, 1961, in Stoke Newington, London. Her parents were a Turkish Cypriot mother and a Greek Cypriot father, granting her British citizenship and placing her within a mixed-race family. Identifying as a black individual, Fatima follows Christianity.
As of 2022, Fatima celebrated her 61st birthday, aligning with her Pisces zodiac sign. Her early years were marked by occasional care under her turbulent biological mother, leading to periods in various orphanages. Despite the challenges, her love for sports provided solace. Eventually, Margaret Whitbread and her family adopted Fatima.
For her education, Fatima attended the nearby Grays Torells School.
Career of Fatima Whitbread (British athlete)
Fatima Whitbread initiated her career triumphantly, securing the intermediate division title at the English Schools’ Athletics Championships in 1977 with a remarkable distance of 142 feet, nine inches (43.51 m). The subsequent month, she not only clinched victory in the women’s championship of the Amateur Athletic Association (AAA) but also established a new national intermediate record of 158 feet, five inches (48.28 m).
In the javelin throw at the 1978 Commonwealth Games, Fatima achieved a distance of 49.16 meters (161 feet 3+1/4 inches), earning her a sixth-place overall ranking.
The following year, she claimed the gold medal in the javelin competition at the 1979 European Athletics Junior Championships by launching the javelin an impressive 58.20 meters (190 feet, 11 inches). Despite being selected for the 1980 Summer Olympics, her performance of 49.74 meters (163 feet, 2 inches) prevented her from advancing to the final.
In the 1982 Commonwealth Games, Fatima secured the gold medal with a throw of 58.86 meters (193 feet 1+1/4 inches). Her achievements continued in 1983, where she earned the silver medal at the inaugural World Championships after making it to the final.
Fatima’s dominance reached new heights in July 1986 at the Commonwealth Games, where she set a record with an impressive throw of 68.54 meters (224 feet 10 inches). Qualifying for the 1987 World Championships final in second place, she further cemented her legacy by breaking the world record for the javelin with a throw of 77.44 meters in the 1986 European Championship qualifying round.
However, leading up to the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, Fatima encountered a series of serious illnesses, including a shoulder injury, boils, glandular fever, and gum issues.
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A persistent shoulder issue, believed to be linked to her 1986 world record throw, significantly impacted Fatima Whitbread’s later career. Her final competitive appearance was at the 1990 UK Athletics Championships, where she once again grappled with a shoulder injury, leading to her formal retirement from competition in 1992.
Despite her challenges, Whitbread’s athletic achievements include winning an Olympic gold, three Commonwealth gold medals, one global championship, and one European title. In head-to-head competitions with fellow athlete Sanderson, Fatima outperformed her in 27 out of the 45 contests they participated in together.
Beyond her sporting career, Fatima has co-authored two autobiographies with Adrianne Blue: “Survivor: The Shocking and Inspiring Story of a True Champion” in 2012 and “Fatima: The Autobiography of Fatima Whitbread” in 1988.
Her television appearances include shows like “A Question of Sport” (debuting in 1984), “The Little and Large Show” (aired in 1987 and 1988), and “The Wright Stuff” (2012). In 1989, she took part in ITV’s “Find a Family,” sharing her experiences with adoption or foster care.
Fatima entered the reality TV realm with her participation in “I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!” in November 2011. Additionally, she appeared as a “masked celebrity” on “Celebrity Wrestling” in 2005. Serving as a fitness advisor on “This Morning” in 2012, she showcased her adventurous side in 2020 by hiking the Sultans Trail for BBC Two’s “Pilgrimage: Road to Istanbul.”
Notably, Whitbread has been an advocate for banning transgender female athletes from participating in women’s sports. She has supported activists, including Olympic swimmer Sharron Davies, and called for the creation of a new category for athletes who identify as transgender.
Awards and Successes
At the 1986 BBC Sports Personality of the Year Awards, Fatima secured the second position, trailing behind Nigel Mansell, but went on to claim the honor the subsequent year. Recognizing her exceptional contributions to athletics, she received the Sportswoman of the Year award from the Sports Writers’ Association in both 1986 and 1987.
Further acknowledging her achievements, Fatima was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 1987 Birthday Honours. The pinnacle of her recognition came in 1987 when she was chosen as the BBC Sports Personality of the Year winner.
Is Fatima Whitbread Married?
Fatima Whitbread entered into marriage in 1997, tying the knot with her then-husband Andrew Norman in Copthorne, West Sussex. The couple welcomed a child named Ryan. However, the marriage was short-lived as Whitbread discovered Norman’s infidelity, leading to the end of their relationship. In 2006, they officially divorced.
Tragically, Norman passed away in 2007 due to a heart attack. Presently, Fatima finds contentment in her single status, identifying as heterosexual.
Additionally, Fatima was involved in controversy when she accused Cliff Temple, an athletics journalist, of harassing Shireen Bailey, an athlete coached by Temple. Sadly, Temple took his own life in January 1994. The inquest into Temple’s death revealed that a call from Norman was a contributing factor that “pushed Temple over the edge,” according to the jury’s findings.
What is Fatima Whitbread’s height?
Fatima Whitbread has a height of approximately 5 feet 6 inches (1.68 meters) and a weight of around 10 stone 10 pounds (68 kg). With attractive short, dark brown hair and eyes, she exudes a sporty vibe. Her physique is well-proportioned, featuring toned biceps that showcase her athletic build. Numerous pictures circulating on the internet highlight her fit and appealing body, emphasizing her confident and alluring presence.
Have You Heard?
In 1986, she set a world record in javelin throw, and the subsequent year, she secured the gold medal at the World Championships. Additionally, she earned two Olympic medals, a bronze in 1984 and a silver in 1988. Her zodiac sign is Pisces.
During her early years, her javelin coach adopted her. Notably, she has made appearances on various television shows, including the 2011 season of “I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!”