American sprinter Isabella Whittaker placed sixth in her 400-meter at the U.S. Olympic Trials and finished the line in 50.68 seconds. Graduated from Mount de Sales in 2020 and also joined the University of Pennsylvania in 2024. Isabella was also qualified for the 4×400 relay pool squad for the Paris Olympics. Apart from this Olympic trial, Isabella earned first-team All-America honors. Position? She finished fifth at the NCAA Outdoor Championships in the 400 m event.

A standout at Penn, she set four individual records and was a member of four record-breaking relay teams. She also broke Ivy League indoor and outdoor 400m records that dated back to 1990 and was a co-recipient of the university’s highly regarded Association of Alumnae Fathers’ Trophy. In March 2025, she clinched the NCAA Indoor 400m title with a blazing 49.24 seconds, setting new American and collegiate records and positioning herself as the second-fastest woman ever indoors, just behind Femke Bol of the Netherlands.

Isabella Whittaker’s stellar performance also earned her the 2025 NCAA Division I Women’s Indoor National Track Athlete of the Year honor.​ But behind this swimmer-turned-sprinter are two people who have stood by her all the while. They are none other than Isabella Whittaker’s parents. Let’s know more about them.

Who is Isabella Whittaker’s father?

Isabella Whittaker’s father is Paul Whittaker, and he is a former Georgetown runner. And now? Papa Whittaker is an indoor track and field coach at Mount de Sales Academy. Being a coach and runner himself, Paul has seen so many races, but watching his own daughters on the track is something every father is proud of. He stated he almost fainted when he saw both of his daughters qualify for the Games while he was in Eugene, Oregon, for the Olympic trials.

“Literally, I got up and was light-headed. We were screaming so much. ‘Wow, they just made it to the Olympic team.’ Everybody else was running to congratulate them and I just had to sit down,” Paul said. “I almost passed out at the trials.” The daily caravan travels to neighboring Mount Saint Joseph High School for practice and is supervised by Paul, the track coach of Mount de Sales. Though Isabella is not the only daughter to be proud of. Another Olympian, Julliette Whittaker, is the one Paul is proud of. Sure, Paul deserves the credit for instilling sportsmanship in his daughters, but Isabella’s mother is no less.

Who is Isabella Whittaker’s mother?

Isabella Whittaker’s mother is Jill Pellicoro, and she was a hurdler at Georgetown University, where her husband, Paul Whittaker, ran the 800m; she was a hard, disciplined 400-meter specialist. She understood what it was like to persevere through discomfort and locate that additional gear when fatigue struck. She was also aware of the potential consequences of the activity if one was not careful.

When Juliette and Isabella Whittaker started showing signs of athletic talent, their parents, Jill and Paul, took a thoughtful approach. Rather than pushing them onto the track right away, they let the girls swim. Seven years in the pool helped build their endurance, discipline, and love for competition, without the early burnout that so many young runners face.

Jill, a former hurdler herself, has always stayed out of the spotlight, but her quiet influence is unmistakable. Before the Olympic Trials, she gave Juliette a butterfly keychain—a simple, meaningful gesture. When Juliette arrived, she placed her bag next to her sister Bella’s, which had a bee keychain on it. A butterfly and a bee—sound familiar?

It’s a subtle nod to Muhammad Ali’s iconic phrase: “Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee.” And in that moment, it all came full circle. Juliette, the reigning NCAA 800m champion, and Isabella, fresh off a 400m performance that earned her a spot in the U.S. relay pool, had both made it to the big stage. Behind their success was their mom, who had taught them not just how to compete but how to float and how to sting. One quotation that might come up here is about Isabella Whittaker’s parents’ nationality.

What is Isabella Whittaker’s parents’ nationality?

Isabella Whittaker was born to Paul and Jill Whittaker, both American nationals, who built their family life in Laurel, Maryland. In a household that emphasized discipline and dedication, they raised four children with strong values. Among them is Juliette’s older brother, Alex Whittaker, who attended Yale University. While he competed in track and cross country, his focus leaned more toward academics than athletics.