I must confess that you cause a lot of controversy. The sex change - do other women object to wrestling with you? I mean, you were a man once physically.
Some women don't want to arm wrestle with me because they know I was once a man. To be honest, if someone doesn't want to compete with me, I have never pushed it - some men have refused to compete with me too.
When did you start armwrestling? Was it before the sex change ?
I started arm wrestling after I became a woman, my master in teakwondo talked me into it. I didn't even know it existed before 2009.
Do you think it's fair that you wrestle women? Does the man power remain after the change? Are you more physically tough than an average woman ?
In my second tournament I only placed 2nd in women's novice class and 3rd in women's open class. My 3rd event I got 0-2 right handed to national champion Brandy Stark. I must confess I thought, being born a male, I would win all the women's classes easy – well, all the hormones have robbed me of most of my power I once had and I was humbled. I vowed to not lose again, I started training and competing as much as I could. I still lose. I don't wrestle much in the USA now. I competed with world champion Sarah Blackman in January in California, I lost very badly. So at the world level I would say I don't have an advantage.
How are you treated in the armwrestling society? As a man or as a woman ?
In the arm wrestling world I'm treated as a woman . But I would be more correct to say I'm looked at as a hybrid a mix of both a woman and a man.
What are your biggest problems in your sport life?
My biggest problem in my sport life is that mostly I don't realize how much hard training I have done to get where I'm at today.
You are supposed to take part in Nemiroff - what category will you enter ?
I had planned on going to the Nemiroff this year, but due to the fact of the government shut down I'm unable to get my passport in time . I would have competed in women's 65+ class left and right.
What are your achievements in armwrestling ?
My achievements in pro arm wrestling are 11 state titles - 1 in men's amateur class, and 2 national titles.
You look like an open, honest person, you are candid about your sex change. Do you think it makes people feel more at ease or awkward ?
I'm not sure if I could to do it all over, whether I would have admitted I was born a male . But I am what I am . For the most part I'm treated with respect. But even if I win a world title, someday someone will always say it’s not fair. But I will know I had to work my butt off to get to this level, to win it. So at the end of the day, I compete to prove to myself I'm the best. I cannot be what others think about me.
Iza Małkowska