Beverly Weigel

Beverly Dawn Edith Weigel (born 16 August 1940), with her first name commonly misspelled as Beverley and since her marriage known as Beverly Robertson, is a New Zealand athlete. Mainly active as a long jumper, but also as a sprinter, she represented her country at the 1956 Summer Olympics, the 1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games, and the 1960 Summer Olympics.

Beverly Weigel
in 1957
Personal information
Birth nameBeverly Dawn Edith Weigel
Born (1940-08-16) 16 August 1940
Auckland, New Zealand
EducationKelston High School
Height164 cm (5 ft 5 in)
Weight53 kg (117 lb)
Sport
CountryNew Zealand
SportLong jump

Life
NZ sprinter Maurice Rae and Weigel in 1957

Weigel was born in 1940 in Auckland, New Zealand.[1] She received her education at Kelston High School (now Kelston Girls' College, but co-ed at the time).[2] Described as a "phenomenal athlete", she won the New Zealand senior women's long jump title at age 15.[3] This secured her a place on the New Zealand Olympic team for the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne, Australia, and she is listed as New Zealand Olympian number 126.[4] Of the nine track and field athletes who represented the country, she was the youngest at age 16.[5] She competed in long jump and of 19 competitors, she came 7th.[6] In 1957, she set a world junior record with a long jump of 6.23 metres (20.4 ft) in Auckland – a distance that would have won her a silver medal at the 1956 Olympics.[7]

At the 1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games, Weigel competed in three events. In the women's long jump, she placed eights.[4] In the 100 yards women's race, she was eliminated in the heats.[1] With Mary Donaghy, Margaret Stuart, and Marise Chamberlain, she competed in the 4x110 yards relay and they came 4th.[1][4] At the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome, Italy, she was one of New Zealand's fourteen track and field athletes.[8] Again competing in the long jump, she came 10th from 30 competitors.[9]

On 9 February 1957 Beverly beat the 1949 Junior World Best by 11 cm at a meet in Papakura. She was also only 12 cm under the Women's Open World Record. This performance was never officially recognised as a record.[10]

References
  1. Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Beverly Weigel". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 31 August 2017.
  2. Owen, R. E., ed. (1967). Parliamentary Debates (Hansard): House of Representatives, Volume 350. Wellington: Government Printer. p. 424. Retrieved 31 August 2017.
  3. "Athletics: Rule's wacko for Jacko". Herald on Sunday. 18 December 2011. Retrieved 30 August 2017.
  4. "Beverley Robertson". New Zealand Olympic Committee. 9 February 2016. Retrieved 31 August 2017.
  5. Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "New Zealand Athletics at the 1956 Melbourne Summer Games". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 31 August 2017.
  6. Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Athletics at the 1956 Melbourne Summer Games: Women's Long Jump". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 31 August 2017.
  7. "Athletics: Teen pole vault sensation sets junior world record". The New Zealand Herald. 21 December 2015. Retrieved 30 August 2017.
  8. Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "New Zealand Athletics at the 1956 Melbourne Summer Games". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 31 August 2017.
  9. Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Athletics at the 1956 Melbourne Summer Games: Women's Long Jump". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 31 August 2017.
  10. "Athletics New Zealand Almanac 2011" (PDF).
  • Team photo of the New Zealand athletes at the 1956 Summer Olympics
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