WOMAN CHANGES SEX

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 208, 30 May 1936, Page 15

WOMAN CHANGES SEX

Former Shot-put Champion MARY WESTON NOW MARK Dy Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright. London, May 28. The “.Sun-Herald” news agency says that after living for 30 years as tt woman, Mary Weston, who was the British woman shot-put champion for six years from 1924, javelin champion in 1927, and International shot-put champion in 1934. lias changed her sex and become a man. She consulted a specialist early this year and underwent two operations. The doctor yesterday issued a certificate as follows: —Mr, Mark Weston, who was brought up as a female, is a male and should continue life as such." Weston, who belongs to Plymouth, explains that not until he was competing in * the world championships at Prague in 1928 did he realise he might not be a woman. ”1 powdered my face, but never used lipstick, and was placed in the men’s ward at Charing Cross Hospital, and after seven weeks’ mingling with males I began to get the correct atmosphere. It now seems natural that I am a man.” Last December the “Daily Telegraph’s” Prague correspondent reported that Miss Zdenka Koubkowa, aged 24 years, the women’s world track champion, would shortly undergo an operation to change her into a man. It was recalled that she refused to be examined in 1934 by a medical board in London which was testifying to the effects of athletics on women's constitution. She resigned in the spring from the Czech Women’s Athletic Federation, and did not participate in events in 1935 for an unrevealed reason. Subsequently it was reported from Prague that “Miss” Koubkowa successfully underwent an operation to change her into a man, and resumed work as a bookmaker's clerk.