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Rena MacDonald

1907 – 1958

American athletics competitor

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About Rena MacDonald

Lived 1907 – 1958 (aged 51). Rena MacDonald was an American athletics competitor.

Margaret Catherine "Rena" MacDonald (April 3, 1907 – November 16, 1958) was an American athlete. She was born in Nova Scotia, Canada. Her family moved to Massachusetts in 1910 and lived in Dedham. MacDonald became a naturalized US citizen in 1925. She joined the Boston Swimming Association. A versatile athlete, MacDonald competed in swimming and track and field events.

MacDonald first competed at the AAU women's national outdoor track and field championships in 1926, finishing second in the 8lb shot put to Lillian Copeland. She won the national outdoor title three times: in 1929–30 and in 1935. In 1929, MacDonald also won the national outdoor discus title. She won AAU indoor shot put titles in 1927 and 1929–34. It was the first time women competed in track and field events at the Olympics. There was no shot put event. MacDonald finished fifteenth and Copeland won the silver medal. The 1932 women's national track and field championships held on 16 July in Evanston, Illinois, were the trials for the 1932 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. MacDonald was second in the 8lb shot put to Mildred Didrikson but was not selected as the shot put was not one of the women's events at the 1932 Olympic Games. The only throwing events for women were discus and javelin.

MacDonald set a world record in winning the shot put at the 1934 USA Indoor Track and Field Championships.

Later in life, MacDonald moved to Pittsfield, Massachusetts, where she was a swimming teacher at the Girls Club. She was employed by the Elmvale Worsted Co.

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Important facts

People in Rena MacDonald's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Rena MacDonald's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Rena MacDonald?

American athletics competitor

When was Rena MacDonald born?

Rena MacDonald was born on 3 April 1907 in Reserve Mines.

When did Rena MacDonald die?

Rena MacDonald died on 16 November 1958.

What was Rena MacDonald's occupation?

Rena MacDonald was an athletics competitor.

What nationality was Rena MacDonald?

Rena MacDonald was American.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Rena MacDonald

· Wikidata: Q47168934

· DBpedia: Rena MacDonald

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Rena MacDonald. https://biography.guide/rena-macdonald/

MLA: "Rena MacDonald." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/rena-macdonald/.

Chicago: "Rena MacDonald." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/rena-macdonald/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

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