Jump to content

Mark Weston (athlete)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from Mary Weston)

Mark Weston
Medal record
Women's Athletics
Representing  England
Women's World Games

Mark Edward Louis Weston[1] (born Mary Edith Louise Weston, 30 March 1905 – 29 January 1978), nicknamed "the Devonshire Wonder", was a British field athlete in women's competitions who participated during the 1920s. Many people considered him one of the best female British athletes in athletic competitions. He was a national champion in the women's javelin throw and discus throw in 1929 and won the women's shot put title in 1925, 1928 and 1929.[2] At the 1926 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.[3] Weston was born with atypical genitals due to a disorder of sex development (DSD), was assigned female at birth and raised as a girl.[4] In April and May 1936, Weston underwent a series of corrective surgeries at the Charing Cross Hospital.[5][6]

Born in Oreston, Weston worked in a clothing factory after leaving school and then as a nurse, which lead to him pursuing a career in massage and 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.[7][8]

After surgery, Weston changed his first name to Mark, retired from competitions, and returned to work as a masseur.[5][6] In July 1936, Weston married Alberta Matilda Bray, and they had three children.[4]

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.[6][failed verification]

Weston died in the Freedom Fields Hospital in Plymouth in 1978.[4]

[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 to Mark Weston.
  1. ^ Bronner, Milton (19 August 1936). "The "Girl-Who-Became-a-Bridegroom" Tells How It Feels to Change". Lancaster New Era.
  2. ^ BRITISH ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS 1919–1939. gbrathletics.com
  3. ^ FSFI WOMEN'S WORLD GAMES. gbrathletics.com
  4. ^ a b c Watman, Mel. "Women athletes between the world wars (act. 1919–1939)." Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Online ed. Ed. Lawrence Goldman. Oxford: OUP, May 2012.
  5. ^ a b "Girl Who Became Man Tells of Metamorphosis". Reading Eagle. 28 May 1936
  6. ^ a b c Heggie, 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. PMC 3007680. PMID 20980057.
  7. ^ 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.
  8. ^ Bronner, Milton (7 September 1936). "The Girl Who Became a Bridgegroom". Athens Banner-Herald. Newspaper Enterprise Association. p. 8 – via Georgia Historic Newspapers. Earlier published in The Owozzo Argus-Press according to Erikainen.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mark_Weston_(athlete)&oldid=1277610916"