In a touching message through Instagram, world record holding power lifter Matt Kroczaleski has emerged as Janae Marie Kroc. In the first post to the @mattkroc account in 16 weeks, Kroc announced she was transgender to her 4,000-plus Instagram followers with a picture on Tuesday.
A photo posted by Matthew Kroczaleski (@mattkroc) on
The post received over 900 likes and 365 mostly supportive comments. After receiving much attention from various outlets, she gave an update through another Instagram post on Wednesday. In the post Kroc says that she has not fully transitioned and is currently living as both genders and will continue to do so until her sons are out of high school. Kroc identifies as both transgender and gender-fluid. Kroc claims to be both an “alpha-male and a girly girl” but identifies more as a female.
Kroc is the second major U.S. athlete to come out as transgender (Caitlyn Jenner was the first) and the first in her sport. Her coming out also reminds us of another trans body-builder, Aydian Dowling, who is competing to become the first-ever transgender fitness model on the cover of Men’s Health magazine.
Kroc’s separate Instagram account, @JaneMarieKroc, was created over a year ago and features mostly selfies of her and her muscular physique. The @JaneMarieKroc account currently has over 3000 followers. Congratulations to Kroc for trailblazing in her sport and being her true self.
