BERLIN -- German pole vaulter Yvonne Buschbaum retired
Wednesday, saying she long felt she lived in a man's body and plans
to begin hormone treatment.
Buschbaum finished third at the European Championships in 1998
and 2002.
"I feel as if I am a man and have to live my life in the body
of a woman," Buschbaum said on her Web site. "I am aware of the
fact that transsexuality is a fringe issue, and I do not want to be
responsible for it remaining on the fringe."
Buschbaum asked people to respect her decision and not draw
"false conclusions."
"I do not dope," she said, adding that a persistent injury and
her upcoming hormone treatment contributed to her decision to quit.
Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press
This story is from ESPN.com's automated news wire. Wire index
