1. Overview
Marita Payne-Wiggins (born October 7, 1960) is a Canadian former track and field athlete who specialized in sprint events, particularly the 200 metres and 400 metres. A two-time Olympic silver medalist, she gained prominence for her performances at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, where she earned medals in both the 4 × 100 metres relay and the 4 × 400 metres relay. Payne-Wiggins is a co-Canadian record holder in the 400 metres and previously held the legal Canadian record in the 200 metres. Her distinguished career led to inductions into both the Florida State University Hall of Fame and the Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame. She is married to former NBA player Mitchell Wiggins and is the mother of current NBA player Andrew Wiggins.
2. Early life and education
Marita Payne-Wiggins's early life saw her grow up in Barbados before relocating to Canada, where she developed her athletic prowess through high school and excelled during her collegiate career at Florida State University.
2.1. Childhood and education
Marita Payne-Wiggins was born on October 7, 1960, in Bridgetown, Barbados, spending her early childhood in Christ Church, Barbados. Her parents, Ina and Clarence Payne, moved to New York City for education and work, initially leaving her in Barbados. In 1970, at the age of nine, Payne rejoined her parents, and the family subsequently settled in Toronto, Ontario, before moving to Concord, Ontario. She attended Vaughan Road Collegiate Institute in Toronto, where she developed into a prominent sprinter. Standing at approximately 5.7 ft (1.73 m) and weighing 126 lb (57 kg), her physical attributes complemented her athletic talent. In 1979, she became an Ontario provincial champion in both the senior 100 metres and 200 metres events.
2.2. Collegiate career
In 1980, Payne enrolled at Florida State University (FSU), where she competed for the Florida State Seminoles track and field team until her graduation in 1984. During her collegiate career, she achieved the distinction of being a 21-time NCAA All-American. She secured national championships in the 400 metres in 1982 and 1984. In relay events, she was a national champion in the 4 × 100 metres relay in 1981, 1983, and 1984, an indoor 4 × 200 metres relay national champion in 1981, and a 4 × 400 metres relay national champion in 1983 and 1984. While at FSU, she met Mitchell Wiggins, who played for the Florida State Seminoles men's basketball team and would later become her husband.
3. Athletic career
Marita Payne-Wiggins's athletic career spanned over a decade, marked by numerous international appearances and significant medal achievements across various major competitions.
3.1. Early international competitions
Payne began her international career representing Canada at the 1979 Pan American Games in San Juan, Puerto Rico, where she earned a bronze medal as part of the 4 × 400 metres relay team. In 1981, she was a member of the Americas 4 × 400 metres relay team that secured a bronze medal at the IAAF World Cup in Rome. The following year, at the 1982 Commonwealth Games in Brisbane, Australia, she won a silver medal with the Canadian team in the 4 × 100 metres relay and reached the semi-finals in the individual 400 metres event.
At the 1983 Summer Universiade in Edmonton, Canada, Payne-Wiggins distinguished herself by winning a silver medal in the 200 metres. She further contributed to Canada's success by helping her team secure silver medals in both the 4 × 100 metres relay and the 4 × 400 metres relay. That same year, she also won a silver medal in the 4 × 400 metres relay at the Pan American Games in Caracas, Venezuela.
Two weeks prior to the Pan American Games, she competed in the inaugural World Championships held in Helsinki, Finland. In the 400 metres, she finished fifth with a time of 50.06 seconds, marking the best performance by a non-European athlete in the discipline at that event and breaking the existing Commonwealth record. She also participated in the 4 × 100 metres and 4 × 400 metres relay events with her Canadian teammates, where they finished fifth and fourth in the finals, respectively.
3.2. 1984 Los Angeles Olympics
At the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, United States, Marita Payne-Wiggins achieved significant success. She won a silver medal in the 4 × 400 metres relay alongside her teammates Charmaine Crooks, Jillian Richardson, and Molly Killingbeck. Additionally, she secured a second silver medal in the 4 × 100 metres relay, competing with Angela Bailey, Angella Taylor-Issajenko, and France Gareau. In the individual 400 metres event, she finished fourth, establishing a new Canadian record with a time of 49.91 seconds.
3.3. Later career and retirement
Payne-Wiggins continued her strong performances after the 1984 Olympics. At the 1986 Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh, Scotland, she helped the Canadian 4 × 400 metres relay team win a gold medal and placed fourth in the individual 400 metres race. In 1987, she earned her second silver medal in the 4 × 400 metres relay at the Pan American Games in Indianapolis, United States.
A few weeks later, at the World Championships in Rome, Italy, she reached the semi-finals of the 400 metres. Alongside Crooks, Killingbeck, and Richardson, she guided the Canadian 4 × 400 metres relay team to a fourth-place finish. The team, including Payne-Wiggins, reunited for the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea. While she reached the semi-finals in the individual 400 metres race, the 4 × 400 metres relay team unfortunately did not finish (DNF) in the final, despite recording a time of 3:27.63 in their heat. Shortly after the Seoul Olympics, Marita Payne-Wiggins retired from track and field.
Marita Payne-Wiggins is a co-Canadian record holder in the 400 metres, sharing the record of 49.91 seconds with Jillian Richardson. She also previously held the Canadian record in the 200 metres with a time of 22.62 seconds. This record became her legal best after Angella Taylor-Issajenko's previously faster time of 22.25 seconds was annulled due to doping violations.
4. Post-career and recognition
Following her retirement from competitive athletics, Marita Payne-Wiggins has received significant recognition for her achievements, including inductions into various halls of fame and other tributes.
4.1. Hall of Fame inductions
Marita Payne-Wiggins was inducted into the Florida State University Hall of Fame in 1991. A decade later, in 2001, she received another significant honor by being inducted into the Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame.
4.2. Other tributes
The City of Vaughan, Ontario, has named a park in her honor. Marita Payne Park, situated in Concord, the area where she was raised, is also conveniently located within walking distance of her family's current residence in Vaughan.
5. Personal life
Marita Payne-Wiggins is married to Mitchell Wiggins, a former player in the NBA. They have six children: three sons and three daughters. Their son, Andrew Wiggins, was the first overall selection in the 2014 NBA draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers before being traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves. He currently plays for the Golden State Warriors. Another son, Nick, played basketball for the Wichita State Shockers, and their third son is Mitchell II. Their daughters are named Stephanie, Angelica, and Taya. Since 2002, the family has resided in Vaughan, Ontario.
6. Major competitive results
Marita Payne-Wiggins's significant competitive results throughout her athletic career are detailed below.
| Year | Competition | Venue | Event | Result | Time/Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | Pan American Games | San Juan, Puerto Rico | 4 × 400 m | 3rd | 3:37.60 |
| World Cup | Montreal, Canada | 400 m | 4th | 53.01 | |
| 4 × 400 m | 5th | 3:28.50 | |||
| 1981 | World Cup | Rome, Italy | 4 × 400 m | 3rd | 3:26.42 |
| 1982 | Commonwealth Games | Brisbane, Australia | 400 m | semi-final | 54.06 |
| 4 × 100 m | 2nd | 43.66 | |||
| 1983 | Universiade (World Student Games) | Edmonton, Canada | 200 m | 2nd | 22.62 |
| 4 × 100 m | 2nd | 43.21 | |||
| 4 × 400 m | 2nd | 3:25.26 | |||
| World Championships | Helsinki, Finland | 400 m | 5th | 50.06 | |
| 4 × 100 m | 5th | 43.05 | |||
| 4 × 400 m | 4th | 3:27.57 | |||
| Pan American Games | Caracas, Venezuela | 4 × 400 m | 2nd | 3:30.24 | |
| 1984 | Olympic Games | Los Angeles, United States | 400 m | 4th | 49.91 (Canadian Record) |
| 4 × 100 m | 2nd | 42.77 | |||
| 4 × 400 m | 2nd | 3:21.21 | |||
| 1986 | Commonwealth Games | Edinburgh, Scotland | 400 m | 4th | 52.00 |
| 4 × 400 m | 1st | 3:28.92 | |||
| 1987 | Pan American Games | Indianapolis, United States | 4 × 400 m | 2nd | 3:29.18 |
| World Championships | Rome, Italy | 400 m | semi-final | 51.75 | |
| 4 × 400 m | 4th | 3:24.11 | |||
| 1988 | Olympic Games | Seoul, South Korea | 400 m | semi-final | 50.29 |
| 4 × 400 m | DNF | 3:27.63 (in heat) |