Angela Littlewood

{{Short description|English shot putter (born 1949)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2025}} {{Use British English|date=March 2025}} {{Infobox sportsperson | headercolor = | name = Angela Littlewood | image = | image_size =  | caption = | fullname = Angela Mary Littlewood | nationality = British (English) | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1949|09|24|df=yes}} | birth_place = Nottingham, England | death_date = | death_place = | sport = Athletics | event = Shot put / discus throw | height = 173 cm | weight = 83 kg | club = Cambridge Harriers | pb = }}

'''Angela Mary Littlewood''' (born 24 September 1949 in Nottingham, Nottinghamshire) is a female retired English shot putter.

== Biography == Littlewood attended Clifton Hall Girls' Grammar School.<ref>''Nottingham Evening Post'' Tuesday 11 July 1967, page 14</ref> She played at left inner for Sherwood Juniors hockey team and was the all-England school champion at shot put.<ref>''Nottingham Evening Post'' Saturday 26 August 1967</ref> She lived on Bramhall Road in Bilborough, the daughter of Betty Littlewood, a Labour councillor on Nottingham City Council. She wanted to become a PE teacher or go to physiotherapy college.<ref>''Nottingham Guardian'' Saturday 24 August 1968, page 5</ref>

Littlewood went to Nonington College of Physical Education in Nonington, Kent, to be a PE teacher and was elected as the college's first ever Sabbatical officer in 1972.<ref>''Nottingham Evening Post'' Wednesday 18 October 1972, page 1</ref>

In 1974 she played netball for the county, with Sue Campbell, Baroness Campbell of Loughborough.<ref>''Nottingham Evening Post'' Friday 25 October 1974, page 43</ref> In 1975 she returned to competition, after injury. She moved from Nottingham in 1976 to teach in London.

== Athletics career == Littlewood became the British shot put champion after winning the British WAAA Championships title at the 1978 WAAA Championships.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nuts.org.uk/Champs/AAA/index.htm |title=AAA, WAAA and National Championships Medallists |website=National Union of Track Statisticians |access-date=8 March 2025}}</ref>

Shortly afterwards Littlewood represented England in the shot put event, at the 1978 Commonwealth Games in Edmonton, Canada.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://teamengland.org/commonwealth-games-history/edmonton-1978/athletes |title=1978 Athletes |website=Team England}}</ref>

At the 1980 Olympics Games in Moscow, she represented Great Britain and set a personal best of 17.53 metres.<ref>{{cite Sports-Reference |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/li/angela-littlewood-1.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200418040659/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/li/angela-littlewood-1.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=18 April 2020 |title=Angela Littlewood}}</ref> This placed her fifth on the British outdoor all-time list, behind Judy Oakes, Myrtle Augee, Meg Ritchie and Venissa Head. It was the British record at the time.<ref>[http://www.gbrathletics.com/uk/wf99.htm UK All-Time Lists: Women - Throws] - GBR Athletics</ref>

In 1980 she was the first British woman to throw over 17 metres, at shot put<ref>''Lincolnshire Echo'' Monday 23 June 1980, page 10</ref> and in 1981 regained the WAA title at the 1981 WAAA Championships.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gbrathletics.com/bc/waaa.htm |title=AAA Championships (women) |website=GBR Athletics |access-date=8 March 2025 }}</ref>

Four years later she represented England again in the shot put event, at the 1982 Commonwealth Games in Brisbane, Australia.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://teamengland.org/commonwealth-games-history/brisbane-1982/athletes |title=1982 Athletes |website=Team England}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://thecgf.com/results/athletes/41566 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190928112153/https://thecgf.com/results/athletes/41566 |url-status=dead |archive-date=28 September 2019 |title=Athletes and results |website=Commonwealth Games Federation}}</ref>

==International competitions== {| {{AchievementTable}} |- |1978 |Commonwealth Games |Edmonton, Canada | 5th |<ref>[http://www.sporting-heroes.net/athletics-heroes/stats_athletics/commonwealth/1978_w.asp 1978 Commonwealth Games, women's athletics results] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605023649/http://www.sporting-heroes.net/athletics-heroes/stats_athletics/commonwealth/1978_w.asp |date=5 June 2011 }} - Sporting Heroes</ref> |- |1980 |Olympic Games |Moscow, Soviet Union | 13th |17.53 NR<ref>[http://www.todor66.com/olim/1980/Athletics/Women_Shot_Put.html Women Shot Put Olympic Games Moscow 1980]</ref> |- |1982 |Commonwealth Games |Brisbane, Australia |5th | |}

== References == {{Reflist}}

==External links== * {{World Athletics|14550503}} * {{Team GB|7bldXSwRCsbgW30RdJqB5P}} * {{Olympics.com|angela-littlewood}} * {{Olympedia}} * {{CGF profile|41566|Angela Mary Littlewood}}

{{Footer UK NC Shot Put Women}} {{British Indoor Athletics Championships women's shot put champions}} {{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Littlewood, Angela}} Category:1949 births Category:Living people Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1978 Commonwealth Games Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1982 Commonwealth Games Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1980 Summer Olympics Category:Athletes from Nottingham Category:British women shot putters Category:Commonwealth Games athletes for England Category:English women shot putters Category:Olympic athletes for Great Britain Category:Schoolteachers from Nottinghamshire Category:20th-century English sportswomen