I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here South Africa star Fatima Whitbread looks unrecognisable in a throwback snap from her sporting days.
The Olympic legend first rose to fame in 1979 when she was crowned the European Junior Champion – and from there, it was onwards and upwards for the athletic star.
From there she garnered global fame as she became a European and world champion, as well as breaking the world record in javelin with a throw of 77.4m.
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In 1984, Fatima won the women’s javelin competition during the WAAA Championships at the Crystal Palace in London – and looks unrecognisable in a throwback snap from the event.
(Image: Popperfoto via Getty Images)
In the photograph, Fatima smiles for the camera while holding her trophy, with the athlete looking radiant as long brunette curls flowed past her shoulders.
However, she still flashed her signature smiled as she celebrated her victory on the day – with more success to follow.
In the same year, Fatima claimed bronze at the 1984 Olympics and won silver in the 1988 competition too.
(Image: ITV)
Fatima was later voted Britain’s Sports Personality of the Year in 1987 and continued to earn accolades, including a gold medal at the World and European Championships – as well as silver and bronze medals at the Commonwealth games.
However, Fatima retired from the sport in 1992 following a shoulder injury.
More than 19 years later, the athletic icon delighted fans on I’m a Celebrity… 2011 – with Fatima sporting a jaw-dropping look as she flaunted her toned abs in a tiny zebra print bikini in some scenes.
(Image: ITV / Rex Features)
Her long curls have since been replaced with a shorter crop hairstyle in recent years, with Fatima looking as incredible as ever more than four decades since her sporting debut.
I’m A Celebrity… South Africa airs weeknights at 9pm on ITV1.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
