A biological male weightlifter competing as a woman
for New Zealand’s Olympic team lost her chance to medal in Tokyo after judges declared a no lift on her first three efforts.
Laurel Hubbard, 43, was born male but transitioned eight years ago and resumed weightlifting following some time away from the sport. She made history on Monday by becoming the first transgender woman to compete at the Olympics.
Her participation in this year’s competition triggered a larger debate about fairness for women and about gender identification and inclusion. Some critics have argued Hubbard had an unfair advantage because she was born male and transitioned at the age of 35, after going through male puberty.
“I’m not entirely unaware of the controversy which surrounds my participation at these Games,” Hubbard said following her competition.
After she did not complete any of her three lifts in the snatch portion of the competition, she formed a heart sign with her hands and mouthed “thank you” to spectators.
She took no questions from the media but thanked Japan for hosting the contest and the International Olympic Committee for its role in what she described as making the sport more accessible.
“And as such, I would particularly like to thank the IOC, for I think really affirming its commitment to the principles of Olympism and establishing that sport is something for all people, that it is inclusive and is accessible,” Hubbard said.
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IOC rules allow for transgender athletes to compete in women’s sports so long as their total testosterone level in serum is below 10 nanomoles per liter. Olympic weightlifting “requires two years of hormone therapy, instead of just one as listed by the IOC,” according to TransAthlete.com.
Had she received a medal, Hubbard would have become the oldest weightlifter to make it to an Olympic podium.
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Tags: News, New Zealand, Transgender, weight, Sports
Original Author: Kaelan Deese
Original Location: Transgender woman weightlifter fails to complete lifts and won’t move forward