World-Record-Holding Bodybuilder Comes Out As A Trans Woman
A world record-holding bodybuilding and powerlifter has come out as a trans woman.
Janae Marie Kroc—who, as Matt Kroczaleski, set the powerlifting world record in the 220-pound class in 2009—disclosed her gender identity on Instagram this week.
(Note: Janae Marie has approved use of her male name, which we only do for clarification purposes.)
Kroc, 42, identifies as both trans and genderfluid, describing herself as an “alpha male/girly girl lesbian in a male body.”
On the site Gymflow100, she wrote that "being a total alpha male and transgender definitely makes me unique even in the transgender community."
Currently Kroc, who has three sons, lives as both a man and a woman. Whether she'll fully transition to female is something she's still deciding.
"Exactly what I need to do to be at peace with myself is something I am still not 100% certain of," she says.
"Transitioning is a very difficult process and even tougher at an older age... I don't think the transitioning will magically solve all of my issues without creating new challenges."
Kroc added that if she did transition, she would cease competing in lifting. “I feel that would be a no-win situation and I would never want to do anything that would reflect negatively on the transgender or powerlifting communities.”
On message boards, bodybuilding fans expressed disbelief Kroc was serious, leading her to post a response. (The overall reaction, however, seems to be positive.)
“First, yes this is really me and yes I am transgender," she wrote. "Second, one does not 'become' transgender, you are or you aren’t. I have known this since I was five years old and it has been a very heavy burden to carry."
#trans #transgender #mtf #m2f #nonbinary #genderfluid #beyou #beyourself #girlslikeus A photo posted by Janae Marie (@janaemariekroc) on
h/t: Outsports
