Mark Weston (athlete)

Mark Weston (born Mary 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 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.[1] 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.[2]

Weston had a genital abnormality and was assigned as female at birth and raised as a girl.[3] In April and May 1936, Weston underwent a series of sex reassignment surgeries at the Charing Cross Hospital.[4][5]

After transitioning, Weston changed his first name to Mark, retired from competitions, and later worked as a masseur.[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]

Weston died in the Freedom Fields Hospital in Plymouth in 1978.[3]

References

  1. ↑ BRITISH ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS 1919–1939. gbrathletics.com
  2. ↑ FSFI WOMEN'S WORLD GAMES. gbrathletics.com
  3. 1 2 3 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.
  4. 1 2 "Girl Who Became Man Tells of Metamorphosis". Reading Eagle. 28 May 1936
  5. 1 2 3 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.
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