Editing Fatima Whitbread

{{Short description|British javelin thrower (born 1961)}}
{{Featured article}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2023}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2023}}
{{Infobox sportsperson
|name           = Fatima Whitbread |honorific_suffix={{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|MBE}}
|image          = Fatima Whitbread 2.jpg
|caption        = Whitbread in 2012
|alt = Fatima Whitbread smiles into the camera
|birth_name    = Fatima Vedad
|birth_date     = {{Birth date and age|1961|03|3|df=y}}
|birth_place    = London, England<!-- DO NOT LINK, see [[MOS:GEOLINK]] for further guidance -->
|height = {{T&Fcalc|1.68}}<ref name="TEAMGB">{{cite web |title=Fatima Whitbread |url=https://www.teamgb.com/athlete/fatima-whitbread/4mjlvuzBwm5IW68MJyEpHJ |website=Team GB |access-date=8 June 2022 |archive-date=7 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220507181938/https://www.teamgb.com/athlete/fatima-whitbread/4mjlvuzBwm5IW68MJyEpHJ |url-status=live }}</ref>
|weight = {{convert|68|kg|lb|abbr=on}}<ref name="TEAMGB" />
|headercolor=lightsteelblue
|hometown       =
|sport = [[Sport of athletics|Athletics]]
|event = [[Javelin throw]]
|country=Great Britain
|pb = {{T&Fcalc|77.44}} (1986)
|medaltemplates = <!-- see [[Template:MedalRelatedTemplates]] -->
{{MedalSport | [[Women's athletics]]}}
{{Medal|Country | {{Flagu|Great Britain}} }}
{{MedalOlympics}}
{{Medal|Silver|[[1988 Summer Olympics|1988 Seoul]]|[[Athletics at the 1988 Summer Olympics – Women's javelin throw|Javelin]]}}
{{Medal|Bronze|[[1984 Summer Olympics|1984 Los Angeles]]|[[Athletics at the 1984 Summer Olympics – Women's javelin throw|Javelin]]}}
{{MedalWorldChampionships}}
{{Medal|Gold|[[1987 World Championships in Athletics|1987 Rome]]|[[1987 World Championships in Athletics – Women's javelin throw|Javelin]]}}
{{Medal|Silver | [[1983 World Championships in Athletics|1983 Helsinki]] | [[1983 World Championships in Athletics – Women's javelin throw|Javelin]]}}
{{MedalEuropeanChampionships}}
{{Medal|Gold|[[1986 European Athletics Championships|1986 Stuttgart]]|[[1986 European Athletics Championships - Women's javelin throw|Javelin]]}}
{{MedalCountry| {{Flagu|England}} }}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Commonwealth Games]]}}
{{MedalSilver|[[1986 Commonwealth Games|1986 Edinburgh]]|[[Athletics at the 1986 Commonwealth Games – Women's javelin throw|Javelin]]}}
{{MedalBronze|[[1982 Commonwealth Games|1982 Brisbane]]|[[Athletics at the 1982 Commonwealth Games – Women's javelin throw|Javelin]]}}
| mother = [[Margaret Callender|Margaret Whitbread]]
| spouse = {{marriage|Andy Norman|1997|2006|reason=divorce}}
| children = 1
}}

'''Fatima Whitbread''', {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|MBE}} (''{{née}}'' '''Vedad'''; born 3 March 1961) is a British retired [[javelin throw|javelin]] thrower. She broke the [[Women's javelin throw world record progression|world record]] with a throw of {{T&Fcalc|77.44}} in the qualifying round of the [[1986 European Athletics Championships – Women's javelin throw|1986 European Athletics Championships]] in [[Stuttgart]], and became the first British athlete to set a world record in a throwing event. Whitbread went on to win the European title that year, and took the gold medal at the [[1987 World Championships in Athletics – Women's javelin throw|1987 World Championships]]. She is also a two-time Olympic medallist, winning bronze at the [[1984 Summer Olympics]] and silver at the [[1988 Summer Olympics]].  She won the same medals, respectively, in the Commonwealth Games of 1982 and 1986.

After a difficult early childhood, Fatima Vedad was adopted by the family of [[Margaret Callender|Margaret Whitbread]], a javelin coach. Whitbread won the 1977 [[English Schools' Athletics Championships]] intermediate title, and was selected for the [[Athletics at the 1978 Commonwealth Games – Women's javelin throw|1978 Commonwealth Games]], where she finished sixth. The following year, she took gold at the [[1979 European Athletics Junior Championships]]. During her career, she had a well-publicised rivalry with another British javelin athlete, [[Tessa Sanderson]]. Whitbread's later career was affected by a long-term shoulder injury, which she believed dated back to her world record throw in 1986. The [[1990 UK Athletics Championships]] was the last event in which she participated, sustaining a further shoulder injury there. In 1992 she formally retired from competition.

She was named the [[Sports Journalists' Association|Sports Writers' Association]] Sportswoman of the Year in 1986 and 1987. She was appointed a [[Member of the Order of the British Empire]] (MBE) in the [[1987 Birthday Honours]], for services to athletics. She was voted [[BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award|BBC Sports Personality of the Year]] in 1987 and received the [[BBC Sports Personality of the Year Helen Rollason Award]] in 2023 in recognition of her triumph over the adversity of her childhood, and her continued work on behalf of other children in care environments.

In later years, Whitbread has appeared on several television programmes, including ''[[I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! (British TV series)|I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!]]'' in 2011 and 2023, in which she finished in third place both times.

==Early life==
Fatima Vedad was born on 3 March 1961 in [[Stoke Newington]], London,<ref name="ADIE">{{cite book |last=Adie |first=Kate |title=Nobody's Child |chapter=2. What is your mother's name? |year=2005 |edition=Digital |publisher=Hodder & Stoughton |location=London |isbn=978-1848943605 |via=Google Books |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=e1Co-gt-FDIC |access-date=24 October 2022 |archive-date=3 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230203132354/https://books.google.com/books?id=e1Co-gt-FDIC |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |publisher=United Kingdom Athletics |title=Fatima Whitbread |url=http://www.uka.org.uk/e-inspire/hall-of-fame-athletes/fatima-whitbread |access-date=18 April 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111012172640/http://uka.org.uk/e-inspire/hall-of-fame-athletes/fatima-whitbread/ |archive-date=12 October 2011 }}</ref> to an unmarried [[Turkish Cypriot]] mother and [[Greek Cypriot]] father.<ref name="observer.guardian.co.uk">{{cite web |last=Jackson |first=Jamie |url=http://observer.guardian.co.uk/osm/story/0,,904199,00.html |title=Triumph and despair: Fatima Whitbread | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120925184935/http://observer.guardian.co.uk/osm/story/0,,904199,00.html |date=2 March 2003 |work=The Observer |archive-date=25 September 2012 }}</ref> She said "I was abandoned as a baby and left to die in our flat." After being rescued, severely malnourished, "I spent the next 14 years living in institutions, among other traumatised children",<ref>{{cite news| last=Myers | first=Hayley | title=Fatima Whitbread: 'I was abandoned as a baby, but I'm one of the lucky ones'| newspaper=The Guardian | date=5 October 2024 | url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2024/oct/05/fatima-whitbread-i-was-abandoned-as-a-baby-but-im-one-of-the-lucky-ones}}</ref> occasionally being left in the care of her abusive biological mother.<ref name="ADIE"/> In a 2003 interview with ''[[The Observer]]'', she said, "it was a nightmare of a childhood and it was only because I loved sport so much that I got through it and met my true [adoptive] mother."<ref name="observer.guardian.co.uk"/>

{{Quote box
 |quote  = Some credit for my choice of sport must go to the javelin itself. It is not only a magical event, it is a beautiful one. The flight of the javelin is a glorious sight, and, as I very soon discovered, letting go was a fantastic feeling.
 |author = from ''Fatima: The Autobiography of Fatima Whitbread'' |source =(1988)<ref name="FWAUTO"/>{{rp|98}}|width=25%|align=left}}
Vedad started throwing the [[javelin]] aged 11.<ref name="TEAMGB"/> According to her account, she had taken up an interest in track and field events after being inspired by the myth of [[Atalanta]], "whom no man could outrun except by cheating, and whose javelin killed a terrible monster"; and by [[Mary Peters (athlete)|Mary Peters]], who won the gold medal at the [[Athletics at the 1972 Summer Olympics – Women's pentathlon|1972 Summer Olympics' women's pentathlon]].<ref name="FWAUTO">{{cite book |last1=Whitbread |first1=Fatima |last2=Blue |first2=Adrianne |title=Fatima: The Autobiography of Fatima Whitbread |publisher=Pelham |location=London |year=1988 |isbn=978-0720718560 }}</ref>{{rp|96}} Vedad met javelin thrower [[David Ottley]] at a stadium and asked him if she could use his javelin. He asked her to wait until the [[coach (sport)|coach]] arrived. The coach was [[Margaret Callender|Margaret Whitbread]], a physical education teacher at a local school, whom Vedad had previously met when Whitbread refereed a [[netball]] match that she played in. After discovering that Vedad stayed at a children's home, Margaret Whitbread passed on some boots and a javelin from a girl who had retired from the event.<ref name="ADIE"/> Three years later, Vedad was [[adoption|adopted]] by Margaret Whitbread and her family.<ref name="observer.guardian.co.uk"/> She spent her teenage years in [[Chadwell St Mary]], Essex, where she attended the [[Torells School]] in nearby [[Grays, Essex|Grays]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Read|first=Julian|date=9 May 2016|title=Joe Pasquale: Essex boy at heart|url=https://www.greatbritishlife.co.uk/people/joe-pasquale-essex-boy-at-heart-6986078|access-date=28 November 2021|website=Great British Life|language=en-UK|archive-date=28 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211128184750/https://www.greatbritishlife.co.uk/people/joe-pasquale-essex-boy-at-heart-6986078|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="SURV"/>{{rp|152}}

==Career==
===Early career===
Whitbread won the [[English Schools' Athletics Championships]] intermediate title in 1977,<ref name="SCHOOLS"/> and set a national intermediate record of {{T&Fcalc2|158|5}} in winning the [[Amateur Athletic Association of England|Amateur Athletic Association]] (AAA) women's championship the following month.<ref>{{cite news |last=Temple |first=Cliff |title=A welcome British selection in Clover |newspaper=The Times |date=23 August 1977 |page=8}}</ref> She placed sixth in the [[javelin throw]] at the [[Athletics at the 1978 Commonwealth Games – Women's javelin throw|1978 Commonwealth Games]], throwing {{T&Fcalc|49.16}}.<ref name="CG"/> Whitbread won gold in the javelin event at the [[1979 European Athletics Junior Championships]], throwing {{T&Fcalc|58.20}}.<ref name="WAH" /> She was selected for the [[Athletics at the 1980 Summer Olympics – Women's javelin throw|1980 Summer Olympics event]],<ref name="TEAMGB"/> but, achieving only
{{T&Fcalc|49.74}}, she failed to qualify for the final.<ref name="SR80" /> At the [[Athletics at the 1982 Commonwealth Games – Women's javelin throw|1982 Commonwealth Games]], Whitbread took the bronze medal, throwing {{T&Fcalc|58.86}}, which was {{T&Fcalc|5.6}} behind champion [[Sue Howland]], from Australia.<ref name="CG"/><ref>{{cite news |title=Today's medals |newspaper=Reading Evening Post |date=7 October 1982 |page=18 }}</ref>
[[File:Bundesarchiv Bild 183-1984-0506-029, Petra Felke.jpg|thumb|alt=A light-skinned woman, with her right arm extended backwards, holding a javelin|left|upright|[[Petra Felke]] (pictured in 1984), who won gold ahead of Whitbread at the [[Athletics at the 1988 Summer Olympics – Women's javelin throw|1988 Summer Olympics]]<ref name="HEND"/>]]

Having finished behind fellow British competitor [[Tessa Sanderson]] in a run of 18 competitions, Whitbread finally defeated her rival with a throw of {{T&Fcalc|62.14}} to win the [[1983 UK Athletics Championships|UK Athletics Championship in 1983]],<ref name="HEND">{{cite web |last=Henderson |first=Jason |title=Fatima Whitbread at 60 |url=https://athleticsweekly.com/exclusive/fatima-whitbread-at-60-1039941120/ |work=Athletics Weekly |date=2 March 2021 |access-date=7 May 2022 |archive-date=9 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220509002729/https://athleticsweekly.com/exclusive/fatima-whitbread-at-60-1039941120/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Athletics |newspaper=Sandwell Evening Mail |date=30 May 1983 |page=23}}</ref> Whitbread won the silver medal at the inaugural [[1983 World Championships in Athletics|World Championships]] in 1983, having narrowly qualified for the final.<ref name="HEND"/> She led throughout the final until [[Tiina Lillak]] bettered her mark with her last throw of the contest.<ref name="TEAMGB"/> A few days before the [[Athletics at the 1984 Summer Olympics – Women's javelin throw|1984 Summer Olympics]], Whitbread had a stomach operation but was still able to travel to the Games and compete.<ref name="MAYS">{{cite news |last=Mays |first=Ken |title=How Sanderson buried Moscow miseries |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |date=8 August 1984 |page=22 }}</ref> She finished in the bronze medal position, with {{T&Fcalc|67.14}}, and Sanderson ({{T&Fcalc|69.56}}) won gold.<ref name="WAH"/><ref name="HEND"/><ref>{{cite web |title=Theresa Sanderson |url=https://www.european-athletics.com/historical-data/athletes/great-britain-ni/theresa-sanderson-014276273 |publisher=European Athletics |access-date=30 April 2022 |archive-date=30 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220430165746/https://www.european-athletics.com/historical-data/athletes/great-britain-ni/theresa-sanderson-014276273 |url-status=live }}</ref> Lillak, who had a stress fracture in her right foot, won the silver medal. After the result, Whitbread commented that "I am so disappointed{{nbsp}}... I was not right on the night."<ref name="MAYS"/>

At the [[Athletics at the 1986 Commonwealth Games – Women's javelin throw|1986 Commonwealth Games]] in July, Whitbread broke the Games record twice during her first three throws, and led with a distance of {{T&Fcalc|68.54}}, before Sanderson achieved {{T&Fcalc|69.80}} and won.<ref>{{cite news |title=Whitbread still bitter |newspaper=Burton Mail |date=1 August 1986 |page=28}}</ref> Whitbread sat down crying on the field after the result for around 30 minutes. After the medal ceremony, she commented, while still visibly upset: "12 years of hard work. Still no [gold] medal{{nbsp}}... I've waited two long years since [the 1984 Summer Olympics]. And now I'm humiliated."<ref>{{cite news |last=Keating |first=Frank |title=Whitbread's bitterness overflows |newspaper=The Guardian |date=1 August 1986 |page=22 }}</ref> Sanderson, who had placed behind Whitbread in all of their seven post-1984 Olympics meetings before the Games, said "I don't mind losing to Fatima in the smaller competitions, but not in the big ones."<ref>{{cite news |title=Canadian wins 200 metres |newspaper=The Daily Oklahoman |date=1 August 1986 |page=28}}</ref>

===World record, and European and World championship wins===
The following month, Whitbread broke the [[javelin world record]] with a throw of {{T&Fcalc|77.44}} in the qualifying round of the [[1986 European Athletics Championships – Women's javelin throw|1986 European Championships]], more than 2 m further than the record set by [[Petra Felke]] of [[East Germany]] the previous year. She was the first British athlete to set a world record in a throwing event.<ref>{{cite news |last=Rodda |first=John |title=Whitbread's world record earns morning glory |newspaper=The Guardian |date=29 August 1986 |page=20 }}</ref> Felke led for the first three rounds, before Whitbread produced a throw of {{T&Fcalc|72.68}} in the fourth round, and {{T&Fcalc|73.68}} in the fifth round to win her first major championship gold.<ref>{{cite news |last=Mays |first=Ken |title=Whitbread finds her touch for first gold medal |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph| date=30 August 1986 |page=29}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Another golden day |newspaper=Western Daily Herald | date=30 August 1986 |page=28}}</ref> Whitbread later wrote that "All the years of training had finally come to something{{nbsp}}... I went on my lap of honour{{nbsp}}... Spontaneously, I wiggled my hips in happiness, a victory wiggle."<ref name="FWAUTO"/>{{rp|168}} The record was beaten by Felke in July 1987 with a throw of {{T&Fcalc|79.80}}.<ref>{{cite news |last=Butcher |first=Pat |title=Felke throws out a new challenge |newspaper=The Times |date=31 July 1987 |page=30}}</ref>

Whitbread qualified for the final of the [[1987 World Championships in Athletics – Women's javelin throw|1987 World Championships]] in second place behind Felke.<ref>{{cite news |title=Javelin duo lift GB hopes |newspaper=Cambridge Evening News |date=5 September 1987 |page=4 }}</ref> Her throw of {{T&Fcalc|76.64}} was, at the time, the third-longest ever, and won her the title ahead of Felke. Sanderson was fourth.<ref>{{cite news |last=Keating |first=Frank |title=Fatima spearheads British victories |newspaper=The Guardian |date=7 September 1987 |page=1}}</ref> Her celebratory wiggles after defeating Felke in the World and European event became well known in the UK. She was voted winner of the [[BBC Sports Personality of the Year]] award in 1987.<ref name="BBCa">{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/shared/spl/hi/tv_and_radio/02/sport_personality/past_winners/html/1984.stm|title=Sports Personality of the Year – Past Winners|work=BBC Sport|access-date=23 November 2007|archive-date=22 July 2004|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040722114921/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/shared/spl/hi/tv_and_radio/02/sport_personality/past_winners/html/1984.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> David Powell wrote in ''[[The Times]]'', that "To that practiced smile, she has added the 'Whitbread wiggle'. She is succeeding in bringing personality to her event in the same way that [[Willie Banks]] did to the triple jump."<ref name="POWELL">{{cite news| last=Powell |first=David |newspaper=The Times |title= Whitbread's winter work |date=10 September 1987 |page=42}}</ref>

===Later career===
In the months leading up to the [[Athletics at the 1988 Summer Olympics – Women's javelin throw|1988 Summer Olympics]] in [[Seoul]], Whitbread suffered from several ailments: a shoulder injury, [[boils]], [[glandular fever]] and problems with her [[gums]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Mays |first=Ken |title=Whitbread has happy return |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |date=15 August 1988 |page=30 }}</ref> Whitbread won the silver medal behind Felke,<ref name="HEND"/> with a throw that, although her best of the season, was some four metres less than her rival.<ref name="TEAMGB"/><ref name="MAYS88" /> Whitbread commented "If I had to be beaten, I am glad it was by Petra."<ref name="MAYS88">{{cite news |last=Mays |first=Ken |title=Whitbread and Jackson forced to settle for second best |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |date=27 September 1988 |page=36 }}</ref>

Whitbread's later career was affected by a long-term shoulder injury, which she believed dated back to her world record throw in 1986. The [[1990 UK Athletics Championships]] was the last event that she participated in, and she sustained a further shoulder injury there. In 1992 she formally retired from competition.<ref name="TEAMGB"/><ref>{{cite news |last=Taylor |first=Louise |title= Javelin stalwart admits defeat |newspaper=The Times |date=14 January 1992 |page=36}}</ref>

===Rivalry with Tessa Sanderson===
Alan Hubbard wrote in a 1990 article in ''The Observer'' about Whitbread and Sanderson that "their hate-hate relationship has been one of the most enduring in British sport," lasting almost a decade.<ref name="HUBBARD"/> In 2009, Tom Lamont commented in ''[[The Guardian]]'' that "Whitbread and Sanderson were always uneasy rivals and the enmity that developed during their overlapping careers became as famous as their achievements, and seems to survive in their retirement."<ref name="FROZEN">{{cite news |last=Lamont |first=Tom |date=26 July 2009 |title=Frozen in time |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2009/jul/26/whitbread-sanderson-paish-javelin-la-olympics |work=The Guardian  |access-date=13 July 2020 |archive-date=13 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200713234958/https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2009/jul/26/whitbread-sanderson-paish-javelin-la-olympics |url-status=live }}</ref> Hubbard cited Sanderson's perception that Whitbread received preferential treatment from the British Amateur Athletic Board. The Board's promotions officer, Andy Norman, who had a role in setting British athletes' fees, was a family friend of Whitbread and her mother.<ref>{{cite news |last=Mays |first=Ken|title=Whitbread & Sanderson fall out |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |date =1 July 1985 |page=22 }}</ref><ref name="HUBBARD">{{cite news |last=Hubbard |first=Alan|date=28 October 1990|title=Feuds corner: Sanderson v Whitbread |work=The Observer |page=23}}</ref> In 1985, Whitbread often participated in international events but Sanderson took part in only one in the season ending in June 1985. Sanderson claimed that this was because she lacked supporters in the meetings where representatives were determined; she said that "Fatima has Andy Norman looking after her in meetings ... and, of course, her mother, Margaret, is the national event coach".<ref>{{cite news |last=Brasher |first=Christopher |title=Cram shunted aside by flying Scotsman |newspaper=The Observer |date=30 June 1985 |page=39}}</ref> In 1987, Sanderson threatened to boycott six official athletics events, for which she was to be paid £1,000 each by British Athletics compared to Whitbread's £10,000.<ref>{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=29 May 1987 |title=Sport in Brief: Sanderson pay bid – Athletics |work=The Times |page=42  }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=3 June 1987 |title=Athletics: Sanderson offered improved pay deal |work=The Times |page=54 |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=AWNB&docref=news%2F0F90F07D6B4A5570 |via=NewsBank |access-date=14 July 2020 |url-access=subscription |archive-date=29 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201029215530/https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/user/login?destination=document-view%3Fp%3DAWNB%26docref%3Dnews%2F0F90F07D6B4A5570 |url-status=live }}</ref> Sanderson also objected to the Whitbreads' endorsement of Howland, who competed at the 1990 Commonwealth Games after a two-year doping suspension, since Howland was Australian, and Sanderson felt they should have supported British athletes instead.<ref name="HUBBARD" /><ref name="ENGEL90">{{cite news |last=Engel |first=Matthew|date=2 February 1990|title=Coe saves deposit as Sanderson loses her cool |work=The Guardian  |page=20}}</ref>

During their respective careers, Whitbread gained one world and one European title; Sanderson won an Olympic and three Commonwealth golds.<ref name="FIELD">{{cite news |title=Tessa Sanderson on race, rivalry and modelling – Exclusive interview |first=Pippa |last=Field |date=16 August 2019 | newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |pages=6–7}}</ref> In all, Sanderson placed higher in 27 of the 45 times that they faced each other in competition, although Whitbread had the better results of the pair from 1984 to 1987.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.uka.org.uk/ba-home-straight/hall-of-fame-athletes/tessa-sanderson/ |title=Tessa Sanderson |author=<!--Not stated--> |work=UK Athletics |access-date=13 July 2020 |archive-date=12 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200812090039/https://www.uka.org.uk/ba-home-straight/hall-of-fame-athletes/tessa-sanderson/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In 1993, coach Peter Lawler favourably compared Whitbread's technique to Sanderson's, writing in ''IAAF New Studies in Athletics'' that "the alignments of Whitbread and [Mick] Hill are as straight as a cricket text book's bat. Whitbread perfected the turning on to the shaft while Sanderson often sagged through the delivery."<ref>{{cite journal |last=Lawler |first=Peter |title=Javelin: Developments in the Technique |journal=Modern Athlete & Coach |year=2016 |orig-date=1996 |volume=54 |issue=2 |pages=18–21}}</ref><!--Originally published in IAAF New Studies in Athletics 1993 No. 3, and later in Modern Athlete & Coach Vol. 34 Number 2 (April 1996)-->

==Personal life==
Whitbread wrote in her 2012 autobiography that she began a personal relationship with Andy Norman shortly after his divorce in 1986.<ref name=SURV/>{{rp|242–244}} In 1997, Whitbread married Norman in [[Copthorne, West Sussex]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Fatima fails in bid to be queen of jungle |url=http://www.eastgrinsteadcourier.co.uk/Fatima-fails-bid-queen-jungle/story-14079566-detail/story.html |website=East Grinstead Courier and Observer |access-date=4 August 2012 |date=8 December 2011 |archive-date=23 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140323104609/http://www.eastgrinsteadcourier.co.uk/Fatima-fails-bid-queen-jungle/story-14079566-detail/story.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The couple, who had a son together, divorced in 2006. Norman died of a heart attack in 2007.<ref>{{cite news |title=Former Olympian Fatima Whitbread: I'd love to dress up and do Strictly Come Dancing |url=https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/former-olympian-fatima-whitbread-id-3340624 |website=Liverpool Echo |date=7 May 2013 |access-date=12 June 2022 |archive-date=30 November 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141130041113/http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/former-olympian-fatima-whitbread-id-3340624 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Rodda |first=John |title=Andy Norman |url=https://www.theguardian.com/news/2007/sep/28/guardianobituaries.obituaries |website=The Guardian |date=28 September 2007 |access-date=12 June 2022 |archive-date=5 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220105144643/https://www.theguardian.com/news/2007/sep/28/guardianobituaries.obituaries |url-status=live }}</ref>

Whitbread has published two autobiographies written with Adrianne Blue, ''Fatima: The Autobiography of Fatima Whitbread'' in 1988, and ''Survivor: The Shocking and Inspiring Story of a True Champion'' in 2012.<ref name="FWAUTO"/><ref name=SURV>{{cite book |last1=Whitbread |first1=Fatima |first2=Adrianne |last2=Blue |title=Survivor: The Shocking and Inspiring Story of a True Champion|year=2012|publisher=Virgin Books |location=London |isbn= 978-0753540961}}</ref>

Whitbread is a Christian but, in her own words, "not devout."<ref>{{cite web|title='It just made me realise that faith can in fact bring people together'|author=Dunn, Gemma|date=March 21, 2020|url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/life/weekend/it-just-made-me-realise-that-faith-can-in-fact-bring-people-together/39058788.html|work=[[Belfast Telegraph]]|access-date=11 February 2023|archive-date=11 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230211124926/https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/life/weekend/it-just-made-me-realise-that-faith-can-in-fact-bring-people-together/39058788.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Honours and awards==
Whitbread was runner-up to [[Nigel Mansell]] in the 1986 [[BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award]]s,<ref>{{cite news |title=Consolation prize for Nigel |newspaper=Liverpool Echo |date=15 December 1986 |page=30}}</ref> and won the title the following year.<ref>{{cite news |title=Whitbread wins trophy |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |date=14 December 1987 |page=26}}</ref> She was named the [[Sports Journalists' Association|Sports Writers' Association]] Sportswoman of the Year in 1986 and 1987.<ref>{{cite news |title=Sport in brief: Awards |newspaper=The Guardian |date=14 November 1986 |page=28}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Sport in brief: Awards |newspaper=The Guardian |date=11 December 1987 |page=28}}</ref> She was appointed a [[Member of the Order of the British Empire]] (MBE) in the [[1987 Birthday Honours]], for services to athletics.<ref>{{cite news |last=Sapsted |first=David |title=Life peerage for former Midlands chief constable |newspaper=The Times |date=13 June 1987 |page=4}}</ref><ref>{{London Gazette |date=13 June 1987 |supp=y |issue=50948 |page=15 |nolink=y }}</ref> Whitbread received the 2023 [[BBC Sports Personality of the Year Helen Rollason Award]], for "outstanding achievement in the face of adversity".<ref>{{cite web |title=Sports Personality of the Year 2023: Fatima Whitbread wins Helen Rollason Award |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/sports-personality/67726237 |work=BBC Sport |date=19 December 2023}}</ref>

==In media==
Whitbread has been a guest on television programmes including ''[[A Question of Sport]]'' (on which she first appeared in 1984),<ref name="QS84"/> ''[[The Little and Large Show]]'' (1987 and 1988)<ref name="LL1">{{cite news |title=BBC1  |newspaper=Nottingham Evening Post |date=21 February 1987 |page=34}}</ref><ref name="LL2">{{cite news |title=BBC1 |newspaper=Gloucester News |date=3 March 1988 |page=12}}</ref> and ''[[The Wright Stuff]]'' (2012).<ref name="BFI">{{cite web |title=Fatima Whitbread |url=https://www2.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2ba85a95af |publisher=British Film Institute |access-date=9 June 2022 |archive-date=13 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220613205610/https://www2.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2ba85a95af |url-status=dead }}</ref> In 1989, she was one of the celebrities with experience of fostering or adoption who took part in ''[[Find a Family]]'' on [[ITV (TV channel)|ITV]]. The series featured the celebrities' own reflections, and also highlighted specific children, inviting viewers to contact the programme if they were interesting in fostering or adopting them.<ref name="FAF"/>

In January 1995 Whitbread was interviewed by [[Andrew Neil]], on his one-on-one show ''[[Is This Your Life?]]'' on [[Channel&nbsp;4]] which included discussion of Cliff Temple's suicide.<ref name="NBS"/> Writing in ''The Guardian'', [[Nancy Banks-Smith]] described how Whitbread had "stonewalled with stoicism and without sweating" and been unclear in her answers about this. Whitbread also spoke about her unhappiness at how [[Ben Johnson (Canadian sprinter)|Ben Johnson]] had been treated after being found [[doping (sport)|doping]] with [[steroids]].<ref name="NBS">{{cite news |last=Banks-Smith |first=Nancy |title=Television: Cheap thrill |newspaper=The Guardian |date=30 January 1995 |page=10}}</ref> Neil's treatment of Whitbread attracted viewer complaints.<ref>{{cite news |title=Rocky meeting |newspaper=The Times |date=11 February 1995 |page=16}}</ref>

She was a featured "masked celebrity" on ''[[Celebrity Wrestling]]'' in 2005, and lost her bout against [[Victoria Silvstedt]].<ref name="CELW">{{cite news |last=Smith |first=Giles |title=Talent pool that has you wrestling for the remote – Sport on television |newspaper=The Times |date=25 April 2005 |page=64}}</ref>

In November 2011, Whitbread took part in the ITV show ''[[I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! (British series 11)|I'm a Celebrity{{nbsp}}... Get Me Out of Here!]]'' Whitbread and fellow campmate [[Antony Cotton]] left on 2 December 2011, placing her third.<ref name="IAC">{{cite news |title=Cotton and Whitbread voted off Celebrity |url=https://www.rte.ie/entertainment/2011/1203/434062-whitbreadf/ |publisher=Raidió Teilifís Éireann |date=3 December 2011 |access-date=13 June 2022 |archive-date=13 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220613205614/https://www.rte.ie/entertainment/2011/1203/434062-whitbreadf/ |url-status=live }}</ref> One of the challenges on the show involved her wearing a helmet containing about 7,500 cockroaches. The segment was halted after one of the insects crawled up her nose. It was removed by flushing it out through her mouth with water.<ref>{{cite news |last=Smith |first=Giles |title=A question of snort after Whitbread smells danger |newspaper=The Times|date=29 November 2011 |page=59}}</ref>

In 2012, she was a regular fitness expert appearing on ''[[This Morning (TV series)|This Morning]]''.<ref name="THISM" /> Later that year, the stand-alone documentary ''Fatima Whitbread: Growing Up in Care'' featured Whitbread's reflections on her own troubled childhood, and her conversations with others who had experienced serious problems from their parent and problems with the UK care system. In ''The Guardian'', David Stubbs wrote "More emotional than forensic, this is compulsory viewing nonetheless."<ref name="GROWC"/><ref>{{cite news |last=Warman |first=Matt |title=The Daily Telegraph: Painful reality behind the life of a sporting star |date=9 August 2012 |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |page=30}}</ref> In 2020, she trekked the [[Sultans Trail]] for BBC Two's ''[[Pilgrimage (TV series)|Pilgrimage: Road to Istanbul]]''.<ref name="R2I">{{cite news |first=Deepika |last=Rajani |title=Pilgrimage: The Road to Istanbul line-up: cast, when it's on BBC One tonight and the route they take |url=https://inews.co.uk/culture/pilgrimage-the-road-to-istanbul-line-up-cast-when-time-tonight-bbc-one-route-411154 |work=i (newspaper) |date=10 April 2020 |language=en |access-date=4 April 2022 |archive-date=4 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220404061830/https://inews.co.uk/culture/pilgrimage-the-road-to-istanbul-line-up-cast-when-time-tonight-bbc-one-route-411154 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Emily |last=Baker |title=Pilgrimage: Road to Istanbul, BBC2, review: More Duke of Edinburgh than religious education |url=https://inews.co.uk/culture/pilgrimage-road-to-istanbul-bbc2-review-413133 |work=i (newspaper) |date=27 March 2020 |language=en |access-date=4 April 2022 |archive-date=4 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220404061818/https://inews.co.uk/culture/pilgrimage-road-to-istanbul-bbc2-review-413133 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2023, she appeared in ''[[I'm a Celebrity... South Africa]]'', placing third again after losing the penultimate trial to camp mates [[Jordan Banjo]] and [[Myleene Klass]].<ref name="huffingtonpost.co.uk">{{Cite web |date=2023-03-26 |title=I'm A Celebrity Unveils Line-Up For Upcoming All Stars Series In South Africa |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/im-a-celebrity-south-africa-all-stars-series-unveils-line-up_uk_641feb28e4b03793a8b004ec |access-date=2023-03-26 |website=HuffPost UK}}</ref>

==Career statistics==

===International competitions===
The table shows Whitbread's performances representing Great Britain and England in international competitions. (q) Indicates overall position in qualifying round.
{| class=wikitable sortable style="text-align:center"
|+Fatima Whitbread's javelin throw record
! scope="col" | Year
! scope="col" | Competition
! scope="col" | Venue
! scope="col" | Position
! scope="col" | Distance
! scope="col" | {{abbr|Ref.|Reference(s)}}
|-
|[[Athletics at the 1978 Commonwealth Games – Women's javelin throw|1978]]
|[[Athletics at the 1978 Commonwealth Games|Commonwealth Games]]
|[[Edmonton]], Canada
|6th
|49.16 m
|<ref name="CG">{{cite web |title=Fatima Whitbread |url=https://www.thecgf.com/results/athletes/41313 |website=The Commonwealth Games Federation |access-date=7 May 2022 |archive-date=28 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220228064500/https://thecgf.com/results/athletes/41313 |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
|[[1979 European Athletics Junior Championships|1979]]
|[[1979 European Athletics Junior Championships|European Junior Championships]]
|[[Bydgoszcz]], Poland
|bgcolor=gold|1st
|58.20 m
|<ref name="WAH">{{cite web |title=Fatima Whitbread: Honours Summary |url=https://worldathletics.org/athletes/great-britain-ni/fatima-whitbread-14351668 |website=World Athletics |access-date=7 May 2022 |archive-date=17 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210717123720/https://worldathletics.org/athletes/great-britain-ni/fatima-whitbread-14351668 |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
|[[Athletics at the 1980 Summer Olympics – Women's javelin throw|1980]]
|[[Athletics at the 1980 Summer Olympics|Olympic Games]]
|Moscow, Soviet Union
|18th (q)
|49.74 m
|<ref name="SR80">{{cite web |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/summer/1980/ATH/womens-javelin-throw.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200417174929/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/summer/1980/ATH/womens-javelin-throw.html |archive-date=17 April 2020 |title=Athletics at the 1980 Moscow Summer Games: Women's Javelin Throw  |website=Sports Reference}}</ref>
|-
|[[1982 European Athletics Championships – Women's javelin throw|1982]]
|[[1982 European Athletics Championships|European Championships]]
|[[Athens]], Greece
|8th
|65.10 m
|<ref name="WAH"/>
|-
|[[Athletics at the 1982 Commonwealth Games – Women's javelin throw|1982]]
|[[Athletics at the 1982 Commonwealth Games|Commonwealth Games]]
|[[Brisbane]], Australia
|bgcolor=cc9966|3rd
|58.86 m
|<ref name="CG"/>
|-
|[[1983 World Championships in Athletics – Women's javelin throw|1983]]
|[[1983 World Championships in Athletics|World Championships]]
|[[Helsinki]], Finland
|bgcolor=silver|2nd
|69.14 m
|<ref name="WAH"/>
|-
|[[Athletics at the 1984 Summer Olympics – Women's javelin throw|1984]]
|[[Athletics at the 1984 Summer Olympics|Olympic Games]]
|Los Angeles, United States
|bgcolor=cc9966|3rd
|67.14 m
|<ref name="WAH"/>
|-
|[[1985 IAAF World Cup|1985]]
|[[1985 IAAF World Cup|IAAF World Cup]]
|[[Canberra]], Australia
|bgcolor=cc9966|3rd
|65.12 m
|<ref name="WAH"/>
|-
|[[Athletics at the 1986 Commonwealth Games – Women's javelin throw|1986]]
|[[Athletics at the 1986 Commonwealth Games|Commonwealth Games]]
|[[Edinburgh]], United Kingdom
|bgcolor=silver|2nd
|68.54 m
|<ref name="CG"/>
|-
|[[1986 European Athletics Championships – Women's javelin throw|1986]]
|[[1986 European Athletics Championships|European Championships]]
|[[Stuttgart]], West Germany
|bgcolor=gold|1st
|76.32 m
|<ref name="WAH"/>
|-
|[[1986 IAAF Grand Prix Final|1986]]
|[[1986 IAAF Grand Prix Final|Grand Prix Final]]
|[[Rome]], Italy
|bgcolor=silver|2nd
|69.40 m
|<ref>{{cite web |title=IAAF Grand Prix Final |url=http://www2.iaaf.org/GPF02/History/indexd84e.html?imgh=History |work=GBR Athletics | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120816192656/http://www2.iaaf.org/GPF02/History/indexd84e.html?imgh=History |access-date=7 May 2022 | archive-date=16 August 2012 }}</ref>
|-
|[[1987 World Championships in Athletics – Women's javelin throw|1987]]
|[[1987 World Championships in Athletics|World Championships]]
|[[Rome]], Italy
|bgcolor=gold|1st
|76.64 m
|<ref name="WAH"/>
|-
|[[Athletics at the 1988 Summer Olympics – Women's javelin throw|1988]]
|[[Athletics at the 1988 Summer Olympics|Olympic Games]]
|[[Seoul]], South Korea
|bgcolor=silver|2nd
|70.32 m
|<ref name="WAH"/>
|-
|}

===National titles===
* 1977 [[English Schools' Athletics Championships]] (intermediate)<ref name="SCHOOLS">{{cite web |title=English schools championship (girls) |url=http://www.gbrathletics.com/bc/esg.htm |work=Athletics Weekly |access-date=26 October 2022 |archive-date=20 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220920172404/http://www.gbrathletics.com/bc/esg.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>
* AAA Junior Championships (under 17): 1977<ref>{{cite web |title=AAA Junior Championships (women) |url=http://www.gbrathletics.com/bc/waaaj.htm |work=Athletics Weekly |access-date=12 June 2022 |archive-date=30 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181030222908/http://www.gbrathletics.com/bc/waaaj.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>
* 6 times [[AAA Championships|AAA champion]]: [[1981 AAA Championships|1981]], [[1982 AAA Championships|1982]], [[1983 AAA Championships|1983]], [[1984 AAA Championships|1984]], [[1986 AAA Championships|1986]], [[1987 AAA Championships|1987]]<ref>{{cite web|title=AAA Championships (women)|url=http://www.gbrathletics.com/bc/waaa.htm |work=Athletics Weekly |access-date=12 June 2022|archive-date=4 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181004105233/http://www.gbrathletics.com/bc/waaa.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>
* 8 times [[UK Athletics Championships|UK Athletics Champion]]: [[1981 UK Athletics Championships|1981]], [[1982 UK Athletics Championships|1982]], [[1983 UK Athletics Championships|1983]], [[1984 UK Athletics Championships|1984]], [[1985 UK Athletics Championships|1985]], [[1986 UK Athletics Championships|1986]], [[1987 UK Athletics Championships|1987]], [[1988 UK Athletics Championships|1988]]<ref>{{cite web |title=UK Championships |url=http://www.gbrathletics.com/bc/uk.htm |work=Athletics Weekly |access-date=12 June 2022 |archive-date=2 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181002171009/http://www.gbrathletics.com/bc/uk.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Publications==
* {{cite book |last1=Whitbread |first1=Fatima |last2=Blue |first2=Adrianne |title=Fatima: The Autobiography of Fatima Whitbread |publisher=Pelham |location=London |year=1988 |isbn=978-0720718560 |ref=no}}
* {{cite book |last1=Whitbread |first1=Fatima |first2=Adrianne |last2=Blue |title=Survivor: The Shocking and Inspiring Story of a True Champion|year=2012|publisher=Virgin Books |location=London |isbn= 978-0753540961 |ref=no}}

==Television and radio==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+Television and radio appearances by Fatima Whitbread
! scope="col" | Year
! scope="col" |Programme
! scope="col" | Role
!scope=col class="unsortable"|{{abbr|2=Reference|Ref}}
|-
| 1984, 1986
!scope=row style="text-align:left" data-sort-value=Question of Sport | ''[[A Question of Sport]]''
| guest ||<ref name="QS84">{{cite news |title=BBC1 |newspaper=Aberdeen Evening Express |date=31 January 1984 |page=2}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=BBC1 |newspaper=Aberdeen Press and Journal |date=9 January 1986 |page=4}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=BBC1 |newspaper=Coventry Evening Telegraph |date=11 December 1986 |page=24}}</ref>
|-
| 1985
!scope=row style="text-align:left" | ''Cockney Darts Classic''
| guest ||<ref name="BFI"/>
|-
| 1987, 1988
!scope=row style="text-align:left" data-sort-value=Little and Large Show| ''[[The Little and Large Show]]'' 
| guest ||<ref name="LL1"/><ref name="LL2"/>
|-
| 1987
!scope=row style="text-align:left" | ''[[Wogan]]''
| guest ||<ref>{{cite news |title=BBC1 |newspaper=Cambridge Daily News |date=9 September 1987 |page=2}}</ref>
|-
| 1989
!scope=row style="text-align:left" | ''[[Find a Family]]''
| participant ||<ref name="FAF">{{cite news |last=Holt |first=John |title=Star search for a family |newspaper=Nottingham Evening Post |date=11 February 1989 |page=43 }}</ref>
|-
| 1995
!scope=row style="text-align:left" | ''[[Is This Your Life?]]''
| guest ||<ref name="NBS"/>
|-
| 2005
!scope=row style="text-align:left"| ''[[Celebrity Wrestling]]''
| masked celebrity ||<ref name="CELW"/>
|-
| 2009
!scope=row style="text-align:left" | ''[[Total Wipeout]] Celebrity Special'' 
| contestant ||<ref name="WIPEO">{{Cite web|title=BBC – Press Office – Total Wipeout celebrity special press pack: introduction|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2009/10_october/28/wipeout.shtml|access-date=5 January 2022|publisher=BBC|archive-date=5 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220105222629/https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2009/10_october/28/wipeout.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| 2011
!scope=row style="text-align:left"| ''[[I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! (British series 11)|I'm a Celebrity{{nbsp}}... Get Me Out of Here!]]''
| contestant ||<ref name="IAC"/>
|-
| 2011
!scope=row style="text-align:left"| ''[[Come Dine with Me|Celebrity Come Dine with Me]]''
| participant ||<ref name="CDWM">{{cite web |url=http://www.channel4.com/4food/on-tv/come-dine-with-me/come-dine-with-me-extras/come-dine-with-me-athletics-special |publisher=Channel 4 |title=''Come Dine With Me'' Athletics Special |access-date=3 September 2011 |archive-date=30 November 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111130012747/http://www.channel4.com/4food/on-tv/come-dine-with-me/come-dine-with-me-extras/come-dine-with-me-athletics-special |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
| 2011
!scope=row style="text-align:left" |''[[Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? (UK game show)|Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?]]''{{efn|Partnered with [[Russell Watson]].}}
| contestant ||<ref>{{cite web |title=McFly duo set for ''Who Wants to Be a Millionaire'' special |url=https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/tv-radio/mcfly-duo-set-for-who-wants-to-be-a-millionaire-special-26803530.html |website=Irish Independent |date=19 December 2011 |access-date=13 June 2022 |archive-date=27 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220527231646/https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/tv-radio/mcfly-duo-set-for-who-wants-to-be-a-millionaire-special-26803530.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
| 2012
!scope=row style="text-align:left" | ''[[This Morning (TV series)|This Morning]]''
| fitness expert ||<ref name="THISM">{{cite news |last=Jefferies |first=Mark |title=This Morning recruit I'm A Celebrity star Fatima Whitbread to be fat-fighter |url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/entertainment/tv-radio/this-morning-recruit-im-a-celebrity-star-1090922 |website=Daily Record |date=31 December 2011 |access-date=13 June 2022 |archive-date=13 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220613205618/https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/entertainment/tv-radio/this-morning-recruit-im-a-celebrity-star-1090922 |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
| 2012
!scope=row style="text-align:left" data-sort-value=Wright Stuff | ''[[The Wright Stuff]]''
| guest ||<ref name="BFI"/>
|-
| 2012
!scope=row style="text-align:left"| ''[[Question of Sport]]''
| guest ||<ref>{{cite web |title=Question of Sport |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01gkmw2 |publisher=BBC |access-date=13 June 2022 |archive-date=24 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220424205540/https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01gkmw2 |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
| 2012
!scope=row style="text-align:left"| ''[[Pointless Celebrities]]'' 
| guest ||<ref>{{cite web | title=Pointless Celebrities | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01j8m40 | publisher=BBC | access-date=13 June 2022 | archive-date=2 June 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130602062705/http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01j8m40 | url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
| 2012
!scope=row | ''Fatima Whitbread: Growing Up in Care''
| herself ||<ref name="GROWC">{{cite news |last=Stubbs |first=David |title=TV highlights 08/08/2012: Fatima Whitbread: Growing Up In Care |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2012/aug/07/vexed-secrets-of-the-pickpockets |newspaper=The Guardian |date=7 August 2012 |access-date=13 June 2022}}</ref>
|-
| 2015
!scope=row style="text-align:left"| ''Eternal Glory''
| participant ||<ref>{{cite news |last=Seale |first=Jack |title=Tuesday's best TV: Eternal Glory; New Tricks; Alan Johnson: The Post Office and Me; Empire |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2015/oct/06/tuesdays-best-tv-eternal-glory-new-tricks-alan-johnson-the-post-office-and-me-empire |date=6 October 2015 |newspaper=The Guardian |access-date=13 June 2022 |archive-date=19 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200319032908/https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2015/oct/06/tuesdays-best-tv-eternal-glory-new-tricks-alan-johnson-the-post-office-and-me-empire |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
| 2017
!scope=row style="text-align:left" | ''[[Pointless Celebrities]]'' {{efn|Sports Personality of the Year edition, partnered with [[Robin Cousins]]}}
| guest ||<ref>{{cite web |title=Pointless Celebrities |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b086xqv5 |publisher=BBC |access-date=13 June 2022 |archive-date=29 April 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170429012327/http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b086xqv5 |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
| 2019
!scope=row style="text-align:left" | ''[[Holiday of My Lifetime]]''
| guest ||<ref>{{cite web |title=Holiday of My Lifetime with Len Goodman |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b04mphxw |publisher=BBC |access-date=13 June 2022 |archive-date=20 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171220014231/http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b04mphxw |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
| 2019
!scope=row style="text-align:left"| ''[[Pointless Celebrities]]'' {{efn|1980s edition, partnered with [[Robin Cousins]]}}
| guest ||<ref>{{cite web |title=Pointless Celebrities |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b09m676d |publisher=BBC |access-date=13 June 2022 |archive-date=13 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220613205611/https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b09m676d |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
| 2020
!scope=row style="text-align:left"| ''[[Pilgrimage (TV series)|Pilgrimage: Road to Istanbul]]''
| participant ||<ref name="R2I"/>
|-
|2022
!scope=row style="text-align:left" | ''Celebrity [[SAS: Who Dares Wins]]''
| participant ||<ref>{{cite news |last=Earle |first=Toby |title=Critic's choice: Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins, Channel 4, 9pm |newspaper=The Times |date=3 September 2022 |page=28}}</ref>
|-
|2023
!''[[I'm a Celebrity... South Africa]]''
|participant
|<ref name="huffingtonpost.co.uk"/>
|}

== Explanatory notes ==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* {{Sports links}}
* [https://www.teamgb.com/athlete/fatima-whitbread/4mjlvuzBwm5IW68MJyEpHJ Team GB profile]

{{s-start}}
{{s-sports}}
{{s-bef |before={{flagicon|GDR}} [[Petra Felke]] }}
{{s-ttl |title=[[Javelin throw#Best year performance|Women's Javelin Best Year Performance]] |years=1984–1985 }}
{{s-aft |after={{flagicon|GDR}} [[Petra Felke]] }}
{{s-end}}
{{Footer World Champions Javelin Throw Women}}
{{Footer European Champions Javelin Throw Women}}
{{Footer UK NC Javelin Women}}
{{BBC Sports Personality of the Year winners}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Whitbread, Fatima}}
[[Category:1961 births]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1980 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1982 Commonwealth Games]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1986 Commonwealth Games]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1984 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1988 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:BBC Sports Personality of the Year winners]]
[[Category:Commonwealth Games silver medallists for England]]
[[Category:Commonwealth Games bronze medallists for England]]
[[Category:English female javelin throwers]]
[[Category:British female javelin throwers]]
[[Category:English adoptees]]
[[Category:English autobiographers]]
[[Category:English people of Greek Cypriot descent]]
[[Category:English people of Turkish Cypriot descent]]
[[Category:European Athletics Championships medalists]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Members of the Order of the British Empire]]
[[Category:Olympic athletes for Great Britain]]
[[Category:Olympic bronze medallists for Great Britain]]
[[Category:Olympic silver medallists for Great Britain]]
[[Category:World Athletics Championships medalists]]
[[Category:People educated at Torells School]]
[[Category:People from Chadwell St Mary]]
[[Category:People from Stoke Newington]]
[[Category:Athletes from the London Borough of Hackney]]
[[Category:Sportspeople of Turkish Cypriot descent]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1988 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1984 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Olympic silver medalists in athletics (track and field)]]
[[Category:Olympic bronze medalists in athletics (track and field)]]
[[Category:Commonwealth Games medallists in athletics]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Essex]]
[[Category:British women autobiographers]]
[[Category:World Athletics Championships winners]]
[[Category:Medallists at the 1982 Commonwealth Games]]
[[Category:Medallists at the 1986 Commonwealth Games]]
[[Category:20th-century English sportswomen]]