Before 1986, major championships had not been kind to Fatima Whitbread. Defeated with the final javelin throw of the 1983 World Championships by Tiina Lillak, there was more heartbreak to come at the hand of British rival Tessa Sanderson. Defeats at the 1984 Olympics and 1986 Commonwealth Games led inevitably to the bridesmaid tag being mentioned ad nauseum.
Fortunately, Whitbread broke her duck at the 1986 European Championships, winning gold in Stuttgart with a world record throw (in qualifying) and following this up with the second longest throw of all-time in the final, silencing the doubters and proving to herself that she could do it on the big stage.
Whitbread went from strength to strength as 1987 progressed. Winning in 13 consecutive events during the season, the 26-year-old was seemingly in good shape as the World Championships in Rome neared. Yet with just a fortnight to go, Whitbread’s hopes appeared to be in tatters.
Losing to Sanderson at Crystal Palace was galling enough. But it would be the injury suffered to her shoulder that really raised concerns in the Whitbread camp. “I've been unable to train or even sleep properly, and I feel like an old lady, not an international athlete,” Whitbread admitted, as she received cortisone injections and constant osteopathy on her shoulder.
Whitbread had already seen her world record broken by the East German Petra Felke in July 1987, so the shoulder issue was now adding injury to insult. “Unless I can throw with 100 percent effort in Rome, I don't really want to go,” Whitbread said. “Fortunately, my event isn't until late in the world championships, so I can delay my departure to Rome.”
There was hope, though. “I have confidence that this injection will help, and I'll try my shoulder out by throwing in a couple of small meetings in Britain later this week,” Whitbread announced, before two crunch days in Crawley and Dartford were inked into the diary. Whitbread’s gold medal aspirations were now on the line.
In front of approximately 300 people in Crawley, and with drizzle falling, Whitbread put her initial doubts behind her by throwing 74.74 metres in the third round, and with two other efforts over 70 metres, it was an important stepping stone towards Rome. “That was a good throw tonight and psychologically I feel happy about it. But I would say it’s still 50-50.”
“I hope after tonight there are no repercussions. I have got to see how I am after this. It depends how I feel in the morning, but I can leave the decision as late as possible.” Four days later, Whitbread threw 72.40 metres at Dartford, and the news emerging from the British team was positive.
“She has picked up her confidence with two low-key meets and she is coming out to do the business,” team coach Frank Dick declared, as Whitbread flew out to Rome a few days before qualifying. Having made it to the championships, at least Whitbread could now focus on righting the wrong of the inaugural event in Helsinki in 1983.
The British team needed a boost. With Daley Thompson and Steve Cram unable to win their events, there was a strong possibility that the visit to Rome would see Britain return without any gold medals for the first time in a major championship since 1976. On the final day, Whitbread was really Britain’s last hope.
Qualifying had been comfortable; Felke threw 69.16m, Whitbread 67m, and Sanderson 66.46m, and the final would fast develop into a personal battle between the new world record holder and Whitbread (Sanderson eventually finishing fourth). Felke took an early lead, throwing 70.30m in the opening round, and went further in the next, propelling her javelin to 71.76m.
Whitbread gradually warmed to her task. Moving into second place with a throw of 69.02m in the second round, she upped the pressure on the East German with her next attempt of 71.34m. Taking the lead in the fourth round with a 73.16m effort, Britain’s golden girl was about to seal her victory in emphatic fashion.
Her fifth round throw of 76.64m was the second longest of Whitbread’s career, and sat third on the all-time list. Naturally there was the fear of Felke repeating Lillak’s 1983 heroics in the final round, but this time lightning did not strike twice. Whitbread wiggled in delight as she was confirmed as world champion.
“I can't tell you how happy I am,” a delighted Whitbread revealed. “At the moment it's difficult to take it all in. My shoulder was sore and hurting and this was without doubt the toughest competition of my life. I had to work very hard for it. I was putting oil and freeze spray on all through the competition. Now I stink - but I believe I've proved I'm the greatest javelin thrower in the world.”
The British press, who had previously been critical of the team performance, were naturally pleased of the golden lining Whitbread provided. Ken Mays in the Telegraph reported that Whitbread had “restored some of Britain’s athletics pride”, with Randall Northam noting in the Express: “Fatima Whitbread, with a wink and wiggle, led a late medal surge which did much to polish Britain’s tarnished reputation in Rome.”
Certainly, Whitbread’s gold, along with silvers for Jack Buckner (5000m) and the men’s 4x400m relay, had provided a boost to the British team. With many of the stars of the past decade gradually fading away, some questioned if the next generation could step up to the plate.
For now, Whitbread could bask in her glory, although she did have to refute drug allegations on her return. Appearing on Wogan with her coach and adopted mum Margaret, Britain’s sole world champion talked about her goal of claiming Olympic gold in Seoul the following year. Winning Sports Personality of the Year in December, Whitbread had confirmed her place in the hearts of the British public.
Sadly, Whitbread’s 1988 was disrupted by a bout of glandular fever, and a back operation, but despite this, Whitbread still managed to gain a silver medal behind Felke in Seoul. It would be last major championships she would throw at; a shoulder operation wiped out her 1989 season, and a shoulder fracture in June 1990 finished her career.
At least Whitbread could look back at her achievements with satisfaction. It would have been a major injustice if she had forever been remembered as a championship choker. Fate had played its part in the heartache she suffered between 1983-1986. From 1986 onwards, there were golden memories.
The win in Stuttgart broke her duck, and by 1987 she guaranteed her place in the British athletics hall of fame by winning the team’s only gold in Rome. A fitting reward for someone who must have wondered if she was destined for disappointment. We can even forgive her for that celebratory wiggle of hers. Without it, the 1987 World Championships would have been far from golden for British athletics lovers.
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