Today's Google Doodle celebrates the 109th birthday of Belgian transgender pro cyclist Willy de Bruyn.
Willy De Bruyn was born intersex – meaning he was born with both female and male genitalia – in Erembodegem, Belgium, in 1914. The doctors assigned him female at birth and his parents named him Elvira.
De Bruyn began cycling at a young age, won his first race when he was just 15 years old, and would eventually win the female world championship in 1934 and 1936. But he had secretly started questioning his gender during his adolescence and felt increasingly uncomfortable participating in and winning female competitions.
Google Doodle of Belgian cyclist Willy De Bruyn. Credit: Google
De Bruyn eventually moved to Brussels where he worked various odd male-dominated jobs until his employers discovered that his ID said 'female'. At this point he decided to challenge his gender status in the court of Oudenaarde with the support of a doctor's certificate.
He was initially denied, but with the further support of more doctors and lawyers, De Bruyn was ultimately recognised as a man in the eyes of the law when he officially changed his name to Willy De Bruyn on 24 March 1937.
He then began racing cycling in male competitions, and married female cyclist Clementine Juchters in 1938. Together they ran a sports bar Denderleeuw Café in north Brussels for many years before finally settling in Antwerp. De Bruyn passed away in 1989.
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The Google Doodle explanation writes, "Today, De Bruyn is remembered for his athleticism, his perseverance on the journey to becoming legally recognised as a man, and his fight for the acceptance of intersex people."
In July 2019, the end of Green Alley in Brussels between Gare du Nord and Tour & Taxis was named Rue Willy De Bruyn.
