CHANGE OF SEX

Evening Post, Issue 126, 29 May 1936, Page 9

CHANGE OF SEX

MARY TRANSMOGRIFIED

TO CONTINUE LIFE AS MARK

(Received May 29, 10 a.m.) _ ' LONDON, May 28. The "Sun-Herald" news agency sayi that after living for 30 years as a woman, Mary Weston, who was the British woman shot-put champion for six years from 1924, javelin champion in 1927, and international shot-put champy>n in 1934, has 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 lie was com- . peting in the world's championships at Prague in 1928 did he realise he might not be a woman. "I 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.