Jump to content

Mark Weston (athlete)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Mark Weston
Medal record
Women'sAthletics
RepresentingEngland
Women's World Games

Mark Weston(bornMary Louise Edith Weston,30 March 1905 – 29 January 1978), nicknamed "the Devonshire Wonder", was one of the best British field athletes of the 1920s. He was anational championin the women'sjavelin throwanddiscus throwin 1929 and won the women'sshot puttitle in 1925, 1928 and 1929.[1]At the1926 Women's World Games,he finished sixth in the two-handed shot put, where the final result was a sum of two best throws with the right hand and with the left hand.[2] Weston was born with atypical genitals due to adisorder of sex development (DSD),wasassigned female at birthand raised as a girl.[3]In April and May 1936, Weston underwent a series of corrective surgeries at theCharing Cross Hospital.[4][5]

Born inOreston,Weston worked in a clothing factory after leaving school and then as a nurse, which lead to him pursuing a career inmassageand earning a diploma. He became interested in amateur athletics in 1924, taking part until 1930. Weston explained in an interview that his studies into anatomy led to him questioning his gender in 1930.[6][7]

After surgery, Weston changed his first name to Mark, retired from competitions, and returned to work as amasseur.[4][5]In July 1936, Weston married Alberta Matilda Bray, and they had three children.[3]

Following his example, his elder sibling Harry (previously known as Hilda) also changed his gender presentation and name in the 1930s. Harry died by suicide by hanging while suffering from depression in 1942.[5][failed verification]

Weston died in theFreedom Fields HospitalinPlymouthin 1978.[3]

[edit]
  • Weston in 1936 (colorized)
    Weston in 1936 (colorized)
  • Weston with his wife Alberta Matilda Bray in 1936 (colorized)
    Weston with his wife Alberta Matilda Bray in 1936 (colorized)
  • Weston with his wife and a friend in 1936 (colorized)
    Weston with his wife and a friend in 1936 (colorized)

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related toMark Weston.
  1. ^BRITISH ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS 1919–1939.gbrathletics
  2. ^FSFI WOMEN'S WORLD GAMES.gbrathletics
  3. ^abcWatman, Mel."Women athletes between the world wars (act. 1919–1939)."Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Online ed. Ed. Lawrence Goldman. Oxford: OUP, May 2012.
  4. ^ab"Girl Who Became Man Tells of Metamorphosis".Reading Eagle. 28 May 1936
  5. ^abcHeggie, V. (2010)."Testing sex and gender in sports; reinventing, reimagining and reconstructing histories".Endeavour.34(4): 157–63.doi:10.1016/j.endeavour.2010.09.005.PMC3007680.PMID20980057.
  6. ^Erikainen, Sonja (2020)."The Story of Mark Weston: Re-centring Histories and Conceptualising Gender Variance in 1930s International Sport"(PDF).Gender & History.32(2): 304–319.doi:10.1111/1468-0424.12474.
  7. ^Bronner, Milton (7 September 1936)."The Girl Who Became a Bridgegroom".Athens Banner-Herald.Newspaper Enterprise Association. p. 8 – via Georgia Historic Newspapers.{{cite news}}:CS1 maint: url-status (link)Earlier published in The OwozzoArgus-Pressaccording to Erikainen.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mark_Weston_(athlete)&oldid=1231088528"