Are Juliette and Isabella Whittaker twins? Everything You Should Know About the Star Sprinter Sisters

​They’ve shared bedrooms, training sessions, and now—an Olympic dream. Juliette and Isabella Whittaker are two of the most exciting names in American track and field, captivating fans with their synchronized rise to the global stage. Their connection is undeniable, their ability unmistakable, but are they twins? It’s something people wonder about, and the answer may just surprise you. Before we explore their incredible journey from Maryland to Paris, let’s take a look at the special dynamic that makes the Whittaker sisters’ tale one to follow.

How Juliette and Isabella Whittaker rose to track stardom together

From backyard races to Olympic lanes, Juliette and Isabella Whittaker’s journey is the kind of sibling story that inspires headlines and heartstrings alike. Both sisters began their athletic journey as competitive swimmers. However, during their high school years, both of them transitioned to track and field. This shift marked their remarkable sprinting careers.

Juliette attended Mount de Sales Academy in Catonsville, Maryland, where she quickly made a name for herself in middle-distance running. She made remarkable achievements, such as becoming the first 2-minute 800-meter runner in her high school junior year. Juliette selected Stanford University, where she continued to reign supreme in the 800 meters. She made history in 2024 by capturing the NCAA Indoor and Outdoor 800m championships in the same year.

Meanwhile, Isabella graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 2024. She received first-team All-America honors with a fifth-place finish in the 400 meters at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships.

During the 2024 Olympics, Juliette Whittaker said, “It was a comforting feeling to know she was right there with me through it all. We had each other to lean on.” Bella, 22, qualified for the women’s relay pool after placing sixth in the 400 meters in 50.68 with even more family support in the grandstand. Juliette, who qualified for Team USA in the 800 meters, finished third with a personal best time of 1:58.45.

Juliette Whittaker said, “Now, after every workout, we have a recovery day where we just have to run a few miles easy. We never got that in swimming.” However, running was always in the background, and early talent glimmers were evident. Juliette participated in Girls on the Run in fifth grade, which culminated in a 5K, and she managed to win her first official race by a significant margin.

The margin? Nearly twenty-one minutes, paced by her elder brother Alex, who was competing in high school track and cross-country and would later compete at Yale.

The truth behind their age difference and sibling bond

The bond between two siblings is bitter and sweet, but they always stand up for each other. In the same way, Whittaker’s sister shares a strong bond and always supports each other, whether in personal life or professional life. Their fans might doubt their age difference and sometimes be confused if they are twins. So, what’s the real age difference between Isabella and Juliette?

Well, these two track and field siblings have an age difference of two long years. Yes, that’s correct. Isabella is 23 years old and was born on February 15, 2002, whereas Juliette is the younger one and was born on December 1, 2003.

Their bond grows stronger with a shared interest in sports, as the sisters admitted, “In my household, when it’s Olympic time, we don’t turn the TV off.” But do they compete in the same distance events? Actually, they both belong to different universities and specialize in different events.

Bella was transferred from Penn to Arkansas and is a part of the American 4×400 mixed relay team. Meanwhile, Juliette competes for Stanford and competes in the 800-meter event. But their bond and happiness reached a new level when they discovered that both of them were going to the Paris Olympics together. As per the Washington Post, Juliette said, “It gives me so much comfort knowing that [Bella is] going to be there.”

Julliette further added, “If she wasn’t coming, I’d just be so much more nervous … It’s nice to have this one thing that’s just been a constant in my life.” Juliette and Isabella Whittaker’s coach also has something to say about them. Coach Paul Whittaker said, “Very satisfying; I mean, we have seen them put the work in. They have worked super hard for a long time, and not just running; they did it in everything they have done.”

Both of them were very excited to attend the Olympics, as this is a significant opportunity. However, the most exciting part is that they’ll get to share a room and spend time together at the Olympic Village.

As Juliette Whitaker put it, “We kind of always kind of said it. I feel like it never sunk in that, like, we could do it together at the same time, and, like, I feel like it’s not until recently that, like, making the Olympics is so cool, but, like, it can get better, and getting better is like making it with your sister.” Being so excited for the Olympics and spending time together, how were the Olympics for them?

Inside their journey to the Olympic stage and beyond

Their sisterly closeness remained their greatest strength, even though they competed in different events. They encouraged one another to succeed, from high school state titles to NCAA supremacy, demonstrating that sisterly love is about more than support; it’s also about a shared goal, tenacity, and an unbreakable bond.

Juliette maintained her impressive performance on the biggest platform at the Olympics in Paris. Though she finished seventh in the final, she recorded a personal best time of 1:57.76 in the semi-final. This was an amazing feat, considering it was her first time competing at the Olympics.

On the other hand, Isabella’s journey took a slightly different path. At the U.S. Olympic Trials, Whittaker delivered a strong performance in the 400m, clocking 51.18 in the opening round and stepping it up with an impressive 50.48 in the semifinals. She ultimately finished sixth in the final with a time of 50.68—just shy of an individual spot, but still enough to earn her a well-deserved place in Team USA’s 4x400m relay pool for the Paris Olympics.

Whittaker’s sister’s story isn’t just about medals and records; it’s more about the sisterhood and the support that siblings have for each other. As Julliette said before going to the Olympics, “The thing I’ll tell her, and also remind myself, is just how much we belong there.”

Their story is a beautiful reminder that behind every success are the voices that believed in us, the hands that lifted us, and the hearts that celebrated our victories as if they were their own.