Fatima Whitbread and mother given freedom of borough in Thurrock

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Mariam Issimdar

BBC News, Essex

Getty Images Margaret Whitbread, Great Britain national javelin coach with Fatima Whitbread during training in 1977 at Crystal Palace, London. Getty Images

Fatima Whitbread and her coach and mother Margaret during training in 1977 at Crystal Palace, London

Javelin world champion Fatima Whitbread said it was the “highest honour” to receive a freedom of the borough award.

She and her mother Margaret Whitbread, who was also her coach, have been recognised by Thurrock Council in Essex for their contributions to sport and community, and for advocating for children in care.

Fatima was abandoned by her biological mother as a baby and spent much of her early life in care before being fostered by Margaret, who was then a Great Britain team javelin coach.

Posting on Instagram, the world record holder and two-time Olympic medallist described the award as “one of the proudest moments” of her life.

“My incredible mum, Maggie Whitbread, and I have been awarded the Freedom of the Borough of Thurrock,” she continued.

“She took me in at 16, changed my life and helped me reach the world stage. This honour is hers. My hero, always.”

Thurrock Council Four woman, one seated, alongside each other in a room with a picture of a sailing ship on the wall. Fatima Whitbread stands behind her mother Margaret who is in a wheelchair. Thurrock Council

Fatima Whitbread and her mother Margaret (seated) receive their Freedom of the Borough award from Mayor Sue Shinnick (left) and Lynn Worrall, Thurrock Council leader

The pair were presented with their awards by the town’s mayor and council leader.

Mayor Sue Shinnick said: “It is a real honour to present these awards to two of the borough’s sporting and Olympic heroes.

“It honours not only their incredible athletic achievements but also the community work they have done promoting sport and advocating for children in care.”

Leader Lynn Worrall added: “It is especially poignant for me because Margaret was my PE teacher at school.

“I might not have reached the heights of international athletic achievement that Fatima has but I have happy and exhausting memories of school sports thanks to Margaret.”

Freedom of the Borough is the highest award Thurrock Council can give.

Getty Images Fatima Whitbread poised with a javelin which she is about to throw. She is in a stadium. Getty Images

Fatima Whitbread of Great Britain during the Women’s Javelin event at the Summer Olympic Games 1988 in Seoul, South Korea

The road to success for Fatima Whitbread has not been easy.

Abandoned by her parents as a baby, she spent her childhood in a children’s home, suffering abuse during time spent with her biological mother during school holidays.

Sport was her “saviour” and it was at Blackshots Athletics Stadium in Grays, Essex where she first picked up a javelin and met her coach and later her foster mother, Margaret Whitbread.

The former Great Britain thrower, who competed at the Commonwealth Games, taught the 13-year-old all she needed to know about the sport.

Getty Images Fatima Whitbread stands on an athletics track holding her bronze medal up for the stadium audience to view. She has the Union Jack flag draped around her shoulders and is smiling.Getty Images

Fatima Whitbread won a bronze medal for Team GB in the women’s javelin at the Los Angeles Olympics in 1984

Fatima Whitbread’s achievements

  • 1982 Commonwealth Games – Bronze medal
  • 1983 World Championships – Silver medal
  • 1984 Summer Olympics – Bronze medal
  • 1986 Commonwealth Games – Silver medal
  • 1986 European Athletics Championships in Stuttgart – Breaks world record with a throw of 77.4m (254ft) during qualifying round
  • 1987 World Championships – Gold medal
  • 1988 Summer Olympics – Silver medal

In 1987 the javelin champion was awarded MBE for services to athletics and in that same year was made BBC Sports Personality of the Year.

She officially retired from competition in 1992 due to a long-term shoulder injury and received the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Helen Rollason Award in 2023.

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