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Many people remember Balian Bushbaum from his recent past, when he was still a girl named Yvonne Bushbaum. In 2008, Yvonne—a remarkable German athlete, a pole vaulter—decided to change his gender. Today, Balian Bushbaum gives public seminars and lectures where he talks openly about himself, his feelings, and thoughts, and certainly compares the male and female natures.

Yvonne Bushbaum was born in 1980 in the German city of Ulm. At the age of 18, she completed basic military training and began her brilliant athletic career that same year. Pole vaulting became her main sport. From 1998 to 2007, she achieved significant success in various competitions, including world and European championships as well as the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney.

Her award collection includes a third place at the 1998 European Championships and another in 2002; second place at the 2002 European Indoor Championships; and sixth place at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia.

Yvonne’s personal record was set in June 2003 in her hometown of Ulm: she jumped 4.70 meters high.

In November 2007, Yvonne announced that she was leaving competitive sports due to numerous injuries. However, the real reason for her retirement was a completely shocking one: she openly declared herself transgender and decided to change her gender. This came as a true shock to many of her fans and supporters.After starting hormone therapy, she underwent gender-reassignment surgery in 2008 and officially changed her gender, adopting the name Balian Bushbaum.

On her official website, Balian expresses his sincere gratitude to his many fans for their support and the countless letters he has received. He says that it is precisely their emotional support that helped him through this difficult period in his life and that he is now absolutely happy with his new identity.

Balian gladly poses for photographers, and his photos—even those in which he is almost naked—show a very masculine appearance. Despite this, it is hardly possible to recognize that he was once a girl named Yvonne, as he appears so confident, friendly, relaxed, and happy.

"I want everyone to create their own happiness, because every person deserves to be happy and live in harmony with themselves and all external factors," Balian says.Today, he gives public lectures where he talks about himself, his struggles, how he overcame them, and his search for happiness.

<>p>Balian also mentions that after retiring from sports, he found a new hobby: motorcycle riding. As a man, he rides much faster than when he was a woman. Moreover, he observes that the female nature is generally more compassionate, and that Yvonne used to always try to help others.He also admits that a woman’s thoughts could easily fill the minds of three men.Regarding his current self, Balian says that he has become much more confident and independent, and as a result, much freer.