Juliette Whittaker was just 20, a Stanford college sophomore, when she stepped into the warm-up area at the U.S. Olympic Trials last year. Around her? Sha’Carri Richardson. Noah Lyles. Stars she had only watched on TV. Intimidating? Absolutely. But fear didn’t stop her. She ran a stunning 1:58.45, punching her ticket to Paris. Then, on the grandest stage, she outdid herself- 1:57.76 in the semis, finishing 7th in the Olympic final. A dream realized, but she didn’t do it alone. Behind every step, every stride, were two people who made the impossible possible. We are referring to her parents! Once we dive into more details about her parents and family, the 21-year-old’s connection to the world of athletics becomes more obvious. So, let’s get into it!
Who is Juliette Whittaker’s Father?
Paul Whittaker nearly passed out. The moment Juliette Whittaker clinched her spot on the U.S. Olympic team, the former Georgetown runner, now a track coach, was overwhelmed. “Literally, I got up and was light-headed,” he recalled last year. “We were screaming so much. ‘Wow, they just made it to the Olympic team.’” The moment should have surely been priceless for Papa Whittaker. After all, for him, track is more than just a sport, and for good reason.
For Paul, track is life’s work. Once a middle-distance runner at Georgetown, he now coaches indoor track at Mount de Sales Academy in Catonsville, Maryland—the very school Juliette attended before heading to Stanford. He’s been there every step of her journey, shaping her into the reigning NCAA 800-meter champion. But Juliette isn’t the only Whittaker with the honor of making it to the Olympics.
Enter Isabella Whittaker, Juliette’s older sister, a 2020 Mount de Sales graduate, also qualified for the U.S. relay pool in the 4×400 after finishing sixth in the 400m event clocking 50.68. Juliette delivered an equally breathtaking performance at the trials, clocking 1:58.45 to finish third in the 800m event, thereby earning a ticket to Paris as a member of Team USA in 800m. Two daughters, two Olympic-level athletes! While Paul Whittaker surely deserves credit, Momma Whittaker has played a huge role in shaping her girls into what they are today!
Who is Juliette Whittaker’s Mother?
Jill Pellicoro Whittaker was a hurdler. A fierce, disciplined 400-meter specialist at the Georgetown University, where her husband, Paul Whittaker, ran the 800m. She knew what it meant to push through pain, to find that extra gear when exhaustion set in. She also knew what the sport could take from you if you weren’t careful.
So when her daughters, Juliette and Isabella, showed talent, she and her husband, Paul, didn’t push them onto the track too soon. Instead, they swam. Seven years in the pool built their endurance, discipline, and love for competition, all without the early burnout that so many young runners face. Jill has never craved the spotlight, but her influence is undeniable. She gave Juliette a butterfly keychain, a simple, quiet gift. When Juliette arrived at the Olympic Trials, she placed her bag next to another, her sister Bella’s. That bag had a bee keychain. A butterfly and a bee? rings a bell?
Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee? Yes? If you go down memory lane, you will realize it was the phrase made famous by legendary boxer Muhammad Ali, and now it had a deeper meaning for the Whittakers. Juliette, the reigning NCAA 800-meter champion, and Bella, fresh off a 400-meter performance that earned her a spot in the U.S. relay pool, had found their way to the biggest stage. And behind them? Their mother, the former hurdler, taught them how to float and how to sting.
What is Juliette Whittaker’s parents’ nationality?
Juliette Whittaker was born to Paul and Jill Whittaker, both American nationals, and built a home in Laurel, Maryland, where they raised four children in a household that valued discipline. Among Juliette’s siblings is her older brother, Alex Whittaker, who attended Yale University. While he pursued track and cross country at the collegiate level, his path was more academic than athletic.
Paul and Jill have been constant figures in their children’s lives, cheering from the sidelines and guiding them through every challenge. Their Maryland home remains the heart of the Whittaker family, which is a place where dreams were nurtured and where Juliette’s Olympic journey first began.
The post Who Are Juliette Whittaker’s Parents? Know All About Paul Whittaker and Jill Whittaker appeared first on EssentiallySports.
