Athletics: Fatima looks to the future

She's a successful businesswoman who drives a smart car (complete with personalised registration plate), she works from a smart office, and she's an adoring mother to her 15-month-old son - yes, Fatima Whitbread, MBE, has discovered there is life outside international athletics.

Fatima won the hearts of the nation with her exploits as she proudly represented Great Britain in javelin events over a 16-year period, earning Olympic and world record glory along the way.

It's all a far cry from her humble beginnings - Fatima was abandoned as a baby 38 years ago - quite obviously, a painful period of her life that she has no particular desire to talk about to this day.

Suffice to say Fatima was raised in homes in Hertfordshire before moving to Essex. She was adopted when she was 14 years old, and was then transferred to a school in Grays.

"Academically I was not stupid," she recalled, "but I didn't have the support a lot of other kids had at school so I turned my hand to sport, and it was always there for me.

"Sport was my saviour - my outlet. It gave me a lot of self-esteem and confidence.

"I played all sports. I was in most of the school teams, and was captain of the netball and hockey teams. I was 13 when I decided to specialise with the javelin, firstly because it was more of an individualistic sport; because I enjoyed it; and it was more of a challenge.

"I could eventually, however, have played international hockey.

"Motivation and the need to be self-financing, that's what got me out there - out of what, I thought, was a pretty tough childhood. It had long been my ambition to be successful in sport, and my adoptive mother Margaret became my guiding mentor."

And succeed she did. Over the coming years, Fatima's dedication to her sport earned her world-wide recognition, and a host of memories.

A bronze medal in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics was just one of her major achievements, (a throw of 67.14m) but it was in Stuttgart in August 1986 that Fatima realised her ambitions.

"I beat Petra Felke in the European Championships," said Fatima. "I broke the world record in the qualifying round (77.44m) and, the next day in the final, I went back and won it. I broke her record and took her title.

"That was what I had been working towards. It was very pleasing for me, and so disappointing for Petra. She was a lovely person, but she was also an arch rival and I was there to win.

"We had competed against each other around the world, but when you put your boots on and pick up your javelin, that's it - it's war!"

Remarkably, that incredible throw remains a British and Commonwealth record to this day. "I can't see it going in my lifetime, but you never know, do you?" said Fatima.

And it was certainly not a fluke: "My throw the next day became the second longest throw in the history of the event. Had I not won the world record the day before, I would still have won it the next day."

I asked her to recall her feelings when she pulled on a Great Britain vest for the very first time.

"I had 16 years of that, and every time I was just as proud as I was the first time. I don't think I'll ever forget the feeling of hearing the National Anthem being played when I broke the world record."

I put it to Fatima that, because some athletes have in the past been exposed as drug cheats, some world record achievements these days may be viewed by some with suspicion - however unjustifiable that view may be.

Had there ever any hint of that cynicism when she broke the world record?

"I think we've all been aware of such comments," she replied. "It's the kind of comment you'd expect from journalists, but not from athletes themselves.

"Athletes work so hard to get to the top, but I don't think, in this day and age, you're going to get a sport that is clean and drug-free. It's just the same in society, isn't it? Sport reflects the ills of society on occasions."

Looking back to her competitive days, I asked Fatima how she remembered the cameradie between the athletes - particularly at the Olympics. "Each of us is different," she said. "Some athletes like to hang around in groups because they feel more secure that way.

"Others like to be more independent, and stay away from it all. I was very much an individualist. I enjoyed being with my friends but, at the same time, we were all there competing in the expectation of satisfying the media and the public, plus we had the expectations of our friends and our families, and ourselves.

"Daley Thompson liked to be in a group, whereas Steve Ovett and Sebastian Coe liked to stay out of it. It worked for Thompson, and it worked for Ovett, Coe and me. Sally Gunnell, I feel, was a bit between the two but, towards the end of her career - when she became a 400m hurdler - she was very much an individualist, and she did very well."

Presumably, I suggested, her world record was the highlight of her career?

"Well, there were so many good things about being an international athlete," she said.

"You can never say when you've had a level of success that one event outshines all the others. There were lots of special occasions, but they were all special for different reasons. I felt very privileged to take part in so many events and to have been able to travel the world."

However, 1987 was, undoubtedly, THE year Fatima has the most reason to look back on with pride.

Not only did she win a gold medal in the Seoul World Championships (Great Britain's only gold ), she scooped a host of awards - the BBC Sports Personality of the Year; The Athletic Writers' Award; The Sports Writers' Award; The ITV Panasonic Award and last, but by no means least - an MBE!

"I was so proud to bring a gold medal back from Seoul. Although we only won one gold medal, I was so pleased to think it was mine!

"Winning the BBC Sports Personality of the Year was a spectacular occasion for me because it was open to ALL sports - not just track and field. I was up against Grand Prix driver Nigel Mansell and snooker player Steve Davis when he was at his best."

During her competitive years, Fatima's progress was often mirrored by another Great Britain javelin thrower, Tessa Sanderson.

"We had a good, healthy rivalry," said Fatima. "You have to accept there is rivalry in all sports - ours was no different really. We both achieved everything one could achieve in the event."

Sadly, injury was to cut short Fatima's career but, surprisingly, she is very matter-of-fact about it.

"Back in 1989 I tore a shoulder muscle which meant I had an enforced retirement. There was no difficult decision to make. I had no option other than to get on with my life.

"I went to work in sports marketing, which was something I really wanted to do. I would have retired from the sport anyway. In the early days I missed the sport terribly, but not now. At one time I did try a comeback but, because of the injury it just wasn't possible.

"I must admit that for the first five years after giving up, I had twinges - it was sheer hell just going to meetings and watching, knowing I could be out there, winning. I missed out on the opportunity of competing in the Atlanta Olympics in 1996, and I believe I could have won more major championships.

"When I started in sports marketing I worked alongside agents and met managing directors and marketing directors of different companies, looking for sports sponsorships. Naturally, I took up on sports marketing and track and field on the development side, and that, basically, is what I am still doing now.

"At the moment my business, Chafford Hundred Athletic Club, is looking after 24 athletes including Jonathan Edwards, Linford Christie, Kelly Holmes, Steve Backley and Iwan Thomas, so I'm still very involved. I help to look out for sponsorships. It's tough out there, but having said that, it's what life's all about."

Photographs adorn the walls of Fatima's office - images of athletes she has worked with over the last few years - Linford Christie, Colin Jackson, Sally Gunnell to name but a few.

"CHAC was launched in 1991. We work together for different companies and, each year, we fund-raise for 10 development courses for youngsters from 11 to 17 years old. We also work within the schools system.

"My advice to any youngsters with ambitions to progress in track and field events would be to join an official club like Thurrock Harriers at King George's Playing Fields."

I asked Fatima how sport in general had changed since her days as a top competitor.

"It's become more money-orientated," she rued. "I think the 1980s were the best, because there was a sudden influx of money, but it wasn't too much to make people change their whole perspective.

"They put championships first. Nowadays, some seem to be looking for as much as they can make, without being proud about representing their country which, very much, I was. A lot of my generation were so proud to stand on that rostrum to the National Anthem, and to see the British flag go up."

As we spoke, we had a tiny visitor - Fatima's 15-month-old son Ryan. Obviously, he is the apple of his mother's eye, and she is keen to spend as much time as possible with him.

"He's not a bit like me, is he?," she said as she picked him up for a cuddle. "He's got lovely blond hair and lovely brown eyes."

Ryan's father Andrew Norman, and Fatima married two years ago. They live in Brentwood. Although Fatima has achieved so much in her life, she sees Ryan as her future.

"I don't tend to look back so much any more," she said. "You really have to keep looking forward. I had a wonderful career, and I have no regrets at all. My retirement from the sport has made room in my life to have Ryan.

"Andrew and I were together for 14 years before we decided to get married. A year after we married, Ryan was born.

To me, he's worth more than any world record or gold medal I have ever achieved. I'd give them all up for him. What counts is his future and providing for him. I've had my life to a certain extent. It began humbly, but now I live a privileged life.

"For me, it's just a question of enjoying what I do. I'm lucky to be one of the few people who can do a job they really enjoy, and I am able to have Ryan with me. Some people say I should have a nanny for him but, if I did, I'd lose that contact."

Undoubtedly, little Ryan is experiencing a far happier start in life than his mother but, thankfully, since her early days, Fatima has been able to go on to enjoy what she now describes as a "blessed" life.

"I don't think I would have done much better for myself if I had gone to university. I've travelled the world, and financially I'm fairly secure, and still working" she said. "I've got a lovely husband and a wonderful son - what more could I want?"

Former Olympic javelin ace and world record holder Fatima Whitbread with 15-month-old son Ryan - "To me, he's worth more than any world record or gold medal I have ever achieved. I'd give them all up for him." she says.

Picture: IVAN SAGE

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.