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.

Life

Weigel was born in 1940 in Auckland, New Zealand. She received her education at Kelston High School (now Kelston Girls' College, but co-ed at the time). Described as a "phenomenal athlete", she won the New Zealand senior women's long jump title at age 15. 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. She competed in long jump and of 19 competitors, she came 7th. In 1957, she set a world junior record with a long jump of in Auckland – a distance that would have won her a silver medal at the 1956 Olympics.

At the 1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games, Weigel competed in three events. In the women's long jump, she placed eighth. In the 100 yards women's race, she was eliminated in the heats. Again competing in the long jump, she came 10th from 30 competitors.

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.