Above: Cyprus famous athlete, Fatima Whitbread

Name: Fatima Whitbread

Ethnicity: British Turkish-Cypriot

Occupation: Olympic Medalist Athlete

Medal Record

Women’s Athletics Competitor for United Kingdom Olympic Games

Silver – 1988 Seoul, Javelin

Bronze – 1984n Los Angeles Javelin World

Gold – 1987 Rome, Javelin

Silver – 1983 Helsinki, Javelin

Fatima Whitbread is a former English javelin thrower. She is also an accomplished multi medal-winner. Fatima was born in London on March 3, 1961.

Early Beginnings

As a baby, Fatima’s Turkish Cypriot mother abandoned her at a north London flat. As a result of this, she spent countless years of feeling unloved. Fatima also had the misfortune of going in and out of children’s home till the time she found herself seeing her mother once again. It was revealed that her mother had given birth to her as a consequence of having an affair with a Greek Cypriot. This was the cause that made her mom’s friends reject her. This also forced her place the name of her son as the father on Fatima’s birth certificate.

Fatima’s mother was vicious directly to her – from the moment they first met. The mother terrorized her by saying that she would cut her throat if she did not take care of her two siblings; a brother and a sister. Her mom on the other hand when out to meet up with different men. One of these men was drunk and raped Fatima. As a result of this, her mother yet again threatens to cut her throat.

Fatima was taken in and eventually adopted by the Whitebread family at the age of thirteen. It was in Chadwell St. Mary in Essex that she was able to spend her teenage years in. This was because her mother requested the family to get her child since it was apparent that her daughter was with sports coach Margaret most of the time.

Fatima’s Career

Fatima was able to break the World Record with the 77.44m throw. This enabled her to qualify for the next round of the 1986 European Championships in Athletics. It was in this same sport that she won the finals and garnered the World Championship title in 1987. Fatima was soon established as a famous athlete in the UK. This was due to her triumphant wiggle right after she had beaten her opponent Petra-Felke during competitions. Her talent and skills lead her to win many events and in 1987, she was selected as the title holder of the highly- esteemed BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award.

In 1983, Fatima had in the past, succeeded in getting a silver medal at the World Championships inaugural. Her rivalry with fellow English javelin thrower Tessa Sanderson was quite known by many. Sanderson was able to get the gold medal during the 1984 Summer Olympics held in Los Angeles. Fatima on the other hand finished off with a bronze medal in tow. In Seoul, during the 1988 Olympics, Fatima garnered the silver medal position right after Felke. Felke was the one that broke the world record during the interim.

Fatima also became a governor of King Edward VI Grammar School in Chelmsford. This was in close proximity to Brentwood where she resided during that time.

Fatima soon wed to Andrew Norman in 1997 at the Copthrone Wests Sussex. They were blessed with a beautiful baby boy who was born in South Africa. Their son’s name is Ryan.

Muzzy Izzet

Name: Mustafa Kemal Izzet

Ethnicity: British Turkish-Cypriot

Occupation: Premeier League Football (Soccer) player in England

Birth date: October 31, 1974

Birth place: Mile End, London Englad

Height: 5 feet 10 inches (1.78m)

Playing Position: Midfielder

Seniors Club

Years Club App (Gls)

1993 – 1996 Chelsea 0 (0)

1996 – 2004 Leicester City 269 (38)

2004 – 2006 Birmingham City 26 (1)

Total 295 (39)

National Team

Years Club App (Gls)

2000 – 2006 Turkey 8 (0)

Muzzy Izzet is British but is considered to be Turkish Cypriot because of his father. He was previously a footballer who use to play for Chelsea, Leicester City, Birmingham City and last, but not the least, the Turkish National Team. Muzzy is an outstanding affiliate of Britain’s Turkish community. He is also the older brother of Kemal Izzet. Kemal too followed in his brother’s career path and became a footballer.

Muzzy’s History

From the name Mustafa, Izzet legally changed his name to Muzzy when he reached nineteen (19) years of age. In Chelsea, he signed as a schoolboy but eventually transferred to Leicester City. This transpired in the summer of 1996. This happen because Izzet sought being with a first-team football. It was at this place that his skills as well as his career path were vastly honed. This allowed him over 300 appearances in all of the competitions for Leicester. Izzet was able to conjure a brilliant partnership with Neil Lennon. This was before Lennon decided to shift teams after the previous manager of Leicester, Martin O’Neill switched to Celtic. Izzet remained with the Leicester team and was considered as one of major players in being a part of the club’s most triumphant period. Leicester was able to win two League Cups. This assisted the team in completing the top part of the Premier League on four different occasions. Izzet is viewed by a lot of Leicester supporters as one of the best players in that club’s history.

There came news that Izzet got homesick. That happened around the summer of 2001. He then got connected to a club that he supported as young boy. This was the West Ham United. This was in close proximity, geographically speaking, to where his younger sibling – Kemal Izzet was situated in. Kemal was playing with the Charlton Athletic. Izzet then decided not to make the move. Motives that was related top family then blurred especially when Colchester United took Kemal Izzet in the close-season.

During the summer of 2002, Izzet was able to showcase his devotion once more by playing with the Leicester. This was in spite of the team’s demotion to Division One; and a rising interest from the Middlesbrough. Izzet was able to head Leicester to promotion in the next season.

In 2004, Leicester found itself in a downgrade spiral. It was in Division One (presently a Football League Championship). Since Izzet’s contract with Leicester had already expired, he was available to take the Bosman free transfer. It was his desire to carry on and play in the Premiership and the Turkish National Team which directed him to sign for the Premiership side of the Birmingham City back in 2004 of June. Unfortunately though, Izzet’s two seasons were ruined due to an injury. Because of this, he was hardly a part in the club’s downgrading in 2005 / 2006. Izzet had to retire to his first love since his unrelenting injury struggles were forbidding him to play. He retired at the age of 31; that was in 2006 of June.

Even though Izzet was initially a midfielder, he was also used as an emergency striker especially during crucial periods. Muzzy Izzet had the capacity to score amazing goals and through it all, it was his devotion to the sport that truly earned him the respect and admiration by many – both those who played the games and those who watched them.

Accomplishments

• Was a League Cup winner twice at Leicester
• Was Leicester’s main top scorer from 2000-2001 with 11 goals
• Was a part of Turkey’s 2002 FIFA World Cup squad that garnered the 3^rd spot. He also got to play in the semi-finals against Brazil and was capped 8 times in total.
• He was the Premier League’s top assister during the 2003 – 2004 seasons.