THE Philippine Team bagged the first place in the Over All Male category for standard distance race and the Over All Male and Female category for sprint in the second leg of the 2019 Lanorteman held in Kauswagan town, Lanao de Norte on September 22.
But, what caught the attention of most spectators during the race was the lone transgender woman who competed in the men’s category of Lanorteman.
Junry Mayol or Maria King, as what she prefers to be called, is a runner under the team Tri Sur in Pagadian City in Zamboanga del Sur.
According to Maria, Lanorteman is her second triathlon following the first she participated in Pagadian City just last week.
“I’m into sports talaga pero wala gyud sa akoang mind nga mo-try og triathlon. It’s just that I had friends nga nag-encourage sa ako nga mo-try kay since I already have the endurance in running. So that’s when I started,” Maria, a resident in Molave town, Zamboanga del Sur, said.
(I’m into sports but it was not in my mind to try triathlon. It’s just that I had friends who encouraged mi to try since I already have the endurance in running. So that’s when I started)
Maria shared how challenging it was for her to participate in her first Triathlon in Pagadian as it was the first time a transgender joined a triathlon held in the said city.
“Dili siya sayon. I’m thankful sa organization, ang nag-organize sa event is my team, they encouraged me nga kaya lagi nako without any second thoughts sa akong mind nga dili nako mahuman. Thankfully nahuman na ko ang race, fourth place man category,” Maria said.
(It’s not easy. I’m thankful to the organization. The one who organized the event is my team. They encouraged me saying I can do it without having second thoughts in my mind that I won’t be able to finish it)
Maria, in Lanorteman, participated in the Over All Male category for sprint. Asked if she has any issue on joining the men’s category instead of the women’s, she said:
“I have no issue about gender preference sa race. If they allow LGBT, just like me a transgender, ang moapil sa women’s [category] it wouldn’t be a problem but also it wouldn’t be a problem during a men’s category.”
Maria also shared that during the Lanorteman race, she didn’t see any transgender person joining the competition apart from her.
“I haven’t seen someone like me nga tans nga niapil sa competition. Ingon sila it’s very unusual, even myself I couldn’t believe nga wala ko nakita nga pareha nako dinhi sa race,” Maria said.
“Its very challenging sa akoa kay I’m breaking stereotypes. Its hard kasi, I’ve been to transition before, I had a hormonal transition before,” she added.
Maria also said that as a lone transgender in the competition, it’s very promising and inspiring as she’s bringing the flag of the LGBT.
“Na encourage kay ko kay, you know, miski kinsa naman diba kung ikaw ang morepresent sa imohang category first time, very inspiring. Very brave, I had a very good spirit before joining the competition,” she said.
Maria is also hopeful that one day transgenders like her can participate in races or sports in a category they prefer, be it men’s or women’s.
“I’m very open-minded kasi. Hindi pa ko totally woman, so I enjoy competing with man. It is somehow [an issue] pero hindi ganun ka bigat,” she said.