{{Short description|British discus thrower, shot putter, and hammer thrower (1931–2020)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}} {{Use British English|date=November 2012}} {{Infobox sportsperson |name = Mark Pharaoh |image = |caption = |birth_date = {{birth date|1931|7|18|df=y}}<ref name="sport"/> |birth_place = Wandsworth, Greater London, England<ref name="sport"/> |death_date = {{death date and age|2020|4|27|1931|7|18|df=y}}<ref>{{cite web |title=Olympedia – Mark Pharaoh |url=http://www.olympedia.org/athletes/69388 |website=Olympedia |access-date=2 January 2021}}</ref> | death_place = Malvern, England | sport= track and field | event = discus throw | club = Manchester University AC<br>Walton AC | height =190 cm | weight = 95 kg |medaltemplates= {{Medal|Sport|Men's athletics}} {{Medal|Country | {{GBR2}} }} {{Medal|Competition|World Student Games}} {{Medal|Gold | 1953 Dortmund | Discus throw}} {{Medal|Silver | 1953 Dortmund | Shot put}} {{Medal|Silver | 1953 Dortmund | Hammer throw}} {{Medal|Country | {{ENG}} }} {{Medal|Competition|Commonwealth Games}} {{Medal|Bronze | 1954 Vancouver | Discus throw}} }}

'''Mark Pharaoh''' (18 July 1931 &ndash; 27 April 2020)<ref name="sport"/> was a track and field athlete, who competed in the discus throw at both the 1952 Helsinki Olympics<ref>[http://www.olympics.org.uk/athleterecord.aspx?at=2488 Profile at British Olympic Association]</ref> and the 1956 Melbourne Olympics where he came fourth. This has been described as by far the finest single achievement in British discus history.<ref name="rank">[http://www.mikewinch.co.uk/Squad%20docs/AW%20SP%20DT%20ranks.pdf UK ALL-TIME RANKINGS ''Top spot for Capes and Tancred'', MEL WATMAN rates the top British shot and discus throwers of all time, according to championship and record performances] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120308065324/http://www.mikewinch.co.uk/Squad%20docs/AW%20SP%20DT%20ranks.pdf |date=8 March 2012 }}</ref> He was also an international shot put and hammer thrower.

== Biography == Pharaoh was born 18 July 1931 and as a youth attended Manchester Grammar School where he excelled at sport and was an active member of the Gannet patrol of Troop 4 of the school's scouts. He went on to study at Manchester University.<ref name="sport">[https://web.archive.org/web/20200418041016/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ph/mark-pharaoh-1.html Profile at sports-reference.com]</ref>

Pharaoh became the British discus throw champion after winning the British AAA Championships title at the 1952 AAA Championships.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000540/19520623/190/0007 |title=Results |work=The Scotsman |date=23 June 1952 |via=British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription |access-date=21 April 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000272/19520621/008/0008 |title=AAA walk record by Hardy |work=Manchester Evening News |date=21 June 1952 |via=British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription |access-date=21 April 2025}}</ref> Shortly afterwards he represented the Great Britain team at the 1952 Olympic Games in Helsinki.<ref name=oly>{{cite web|url=https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/69388 |title=Biographical Information |website=Olympedia |access-date=21 April 2025}}</ref>

Pharaoh successfully retained his title at the 1953 AAA Championships.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nuts.org.uk/Champs/AAA/index.htm |title=AAA, WAAA and National Championships Medallists |website=National Union of Track Statisticians |access-date=21 April 2025}}</ref> He represented the English team at the 1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games held in Vancouver, Canada,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003295/19540622/094/0005 |title=England pick strong team for Empire Games |work=Halifax Evening Courier |date=22 June 1954 |via=British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription |access-date=18 September 2025}}</ref> finishing fifth in the shot put. He finished second in the hammer at the 1953 Summer International University Sports Week.<ref name="worldstudent">[http://www.gbrathletics.com/bm/wsg.htm British Medallists at the WORLD STUDENT GAMES (UNIVERSIADE)]</ref>

At the 1956 Summer Olympics, he came fourth, setting a British record of 54.27 m. in the process and missing the bronze medal by just 13&nbsp;cm.<ref name="rank"/> Pharaoh also represented Walton Athletic Club in Walton-on-Thames.<ref>[http://www.waltonac.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=60&Itemid=3 Walton AC at the Commonwealth Games]</ref>

Pharaoh won two more AAA titles at the 1955 AAA Championships and the 1956 AAA Championships.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gbrathletics.com/bc/aaa.htm |title=AAA Championships (men) |website=GBR Athletics |access-date=21 April 2025}}</ref>

== National titles == *AAA Championships: 1952, 1953, 1955, 1956

== References == {{Reflist}}

{{Footer British NC Discus Men}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Pharaoh, Mark}} Category:1931 births Category:2020 deaths Category:Athletes from Manchester Category:People from Wandsworth Category:Athletes from the London Borough of Wandsworth Category:English men discus throwers Category:British men discus throwers Category:Olympic athletes for Great Britain Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1952 Summer Olympics Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1956 Summer Olympics Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games Category:Alumni of the University of Manchester Category:Commonwealth Games bronze medallists for England Category:Medallists at the 1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games Category:People educated at Manchester Grammar School Category:Commonwealth Games bronze medallists in athletics