.jpg) Weigel in 1957 | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Beverly Dawn Edith Weigel |
| Born | (1940-08-16)16 August 1940 (age 84) Auckland, New Zealand |
| Education | Kelston High School |
| Height | 164 cm (5 ft 5 in) |
| Weight | 53 kg (117 lb) |
| Sport | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Sport | Long jump |
Beverly Dawn Edith Weigel (born 16 August 1940), with her first name commonly misspelled asBeverley and since her marriage known asBeverly Robertson, is a New Zealand athlete. Mainly active as a long jumper, but also as a sprinter, she represented her country at the1956 Summer Olympics, the1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games, and the1960 Summer Olympics.
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Weigel was born in 1940 inAuckland, New Zealand.[1] She received her education at Kelston High School (nowKelston Girls' College, butco-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 theNew Zealand Olympic team for the1956 Summer Olympics inMelbourne, 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 inlong 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) inAuckland – 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] WithMary Donaghy,Margaret Stuart, andMarise Chamberlain, she competed in the 4x110 yards relay and they came 4th.[1][4] At the1960 Summer Olympics inRome, Italy, she was one of New Zealand's fourteen track and field athletes.[8] Again competing in thelong 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]