Dayna Berghan-Whyman is a medieval fighter from New Zealand. She has represented New Zealand at the International Medieval Combat Federation World Championships in 2017, 2018 and 2019.

Medieval combat

Berghan-Whyman became involved in medieval combat after joining a medieval re-enactment society, having studied

Old English literature Old English literature refers to poetry (alliterative verse) and prose written in Old English in early medieval England, from the 7th century to the decades after the Norman Conquest of 1066, a period often termed Anglo-Saxon England. The 7th- ...

Victoria University of Wellington Victoria University of Wellington (), also known by its shorter names "VUW" or "Vic", is a public university, public research university in Wellington, New Zealand. It was established in 1897 by Act of New Zealand Parliament, Parliament, and w ...

. She started fighting competitively in 2001. Berghan-Whyman has represented New Zealand at the International Medieval Combat Federation World Championships in 2017, 2018 and 2019, competing in the women's

poleaxe The poleaxe (also poleax, pollaxe and other similar spellings) is a European polearm that was used by medieval infantry. Etymology Most etymological authorities consider the ''poll''- prefix historically unrelated to "pole", instead meaning " ...

longsword A longsword (also spelled as long sword or long-sword) is a type of European sword characterized as having a cruciform hilt with a grip for primarily two-handed use (around ), a straight double-edged blade of around , and weighing approximatel ...

and sword and shield divisions. She placed ninth in 2017, fifth in 2018, and sixth in 2019. She also participated in the Battle of Nations tournament near

Rome Rome (Italian language, Italian and , ) is the capital city and most populated (municipality) of Italy. It is also the administrative centre of the Lazio Regions of Italy, region and of the Metropolitan City of Rome. A special named with 2, ...

in 2018, as a solo fighter and as part of a five-person melee team. While fighting in the Battle of Nations, she was briefly hospitalised with a migraine and temporary partial loss of sight. She also suffered a hand injury after using borrowed gauntlets after her own were stolen. In 2019 Berghan-Whyman fought in the Battle of Nations in

Serbia , image_flag = Flag of Serbia.svg , national_motto = , image_coat = Coat of arms of Serbia.svg , national_anthem = () , image_map = , map_caption = Location of Serbia (gree ...

. In New Zealand, Berghan-Whyman frequently fights male opponents, as there are few women in medieval combat - in 2020 it was estimated that there were only eight female fighters in New Zealand. Berghan-Whyman qualified to represent New Zealand by fighting two male opponents at the New Zealand Full Contact Medieval Combat Pacific Cup. As a melee fighter she takes the '

tank A tank is an armoured fighting vehicle intended as a primary offensive weapon in front-line ground combat. Tank designs are a balance of heavy firepower, strong armour, and battlefield mobility provided by tracks and a powerful engine; ...

' position, soaking up damage and distracting opponents while more lightly-armoured teammates attempt to score hits. Berghan-Whyman is Treasurer of the New Zealand National Historical Medieval Battle Federation.

Career and personal life

Berghan-Whyman was Women's Rights Officer of the

Victoria University of Wellington Students' Association The Victoria University of Wellington Students' Association (), also known as VUWSA, is the official student association at Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand. VUWSA was established in 1899 as the Victoria University College Student ...

in 2000, and National Women's Rights Officer of the

New Zealand Union of Students' Associations The New Zealand Union of Students' Associations (NZUSA) was a representative body that advocated for the interests of tertiary students in New Zealand. Between 1935 and 2006, it was known as the New Zealand University Students' Association, until ...

in 2001. She is married and has a daughter. She has written about her daughter's medical conditions: the rare genetic disorder Alfi's syndrome, and

Asperger syndrome Asperger syndrome (AS), also known as Asperger's syndrome or Asperger's, is a diagnostic label that has historically been used to describe a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by significant difficulties in social interaction and no ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Berghan-Whyman, Dayna Living people Victoria University of Wellington alumni Ngāti Kahu people Medieval reenactment Sportspeople from Upper Hutt 1978 births People from Kaitaia