Zdena Koubková

Zdena Koubková

Zdena Koubkova in 1936
Personal information
Born	8 December 1913 Paskov, Czechoslovakia
Died	12 June 1986 Prague, Czech Republic
Sport
Sport	Running, high jump, long jump
Club	VS Brno VS Praha
Medal record Competitor for  Czech Republic Women's World Games Gold 1934 London 800 m Bronze 1934 London Long jump

Zdena "Zdeňka" Koubková (later Zdeněk Koubek, 8 December 1913 – 12 June 1986) was a track athlete from Czechoslovakia. She won two medals at the 1934 Women's World Games and several national titles in the 100–800 m running, long jump and high jump, and set a few world records in running events. In 1936 she underwent a sex change surgery to become a man and retired from athletics.^[1][2]

Biography

Koubková was born in Paskov, in a family of eight siblings. Soon after her birth, the family moved to Brno, where she finished school and started training in athletics. Koubková continued her education and training in Prague. In 1934 she won five national titles, in the 100 m, 200 m and 800 m running, high jump and long jump. On 14 June 1934 she set her first world record, in the 800 m at 2:16.4. The next world record came in the medley relay (2×100 m, 200 m and 800 m), at 3:14.4. Later in August, Koubková won the 800 m event at the 1934 Women's World Games, in a world record time of 2:12.4, and finished third in the long jump with a national record of 5.70 m. Around that time newspapers started discussing her excessive for a woman masculinity, noting that pants would suit her better than skirt.^[3]

In 1935 Koubková retired from competitions and for six months toured the United States. Next year she underwent a sex change surgery and changed her name to Zdeněk Koubek.^[1][4] He abandoned athletics and potential coaching career, and only after World War II joined the team of his brother Jaroslav and played rugby for a local club.^[3]

Koubek spent his late years living decently with a wife in Prague, where he died aged 73. A 1935 novel Zdenin světový rekord (Zdena's world record) by Lída Merlínová is based on his early life and career.^[1][3]

References

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