Laurel Hubbard, New Zealand’s representative in the 87+kg weightlifting class, the first transgender athlete at the Olympics, bowed out of the Olympics on Monday when she was unable to record a lift in the snatch section. But, Hubbard became the first out transgender woman to compete in the 125-year history of the Olympics on Monday.
Hubbard, 43-year-old was born as and competed as a man before transitioning in 2012.
According to the New Zealand Olympic Committee, Hubbard, who has a personal best snatch of 132kg, began with an attempt at 120kg, but lost control of it. She pushed up the weights to 125kg for her second attempt and looked to have achieved it, but the judges ruled 2-1 that it was a foul lift because never had the bar steady enough overhead.
She elected to stay at 125kg for her third attempt but was unable to lift it.
“My performance wasn’t what I had hoped but I’m humbled by the support I’ve received from so many people around New Zealand. I am aware that my participation has been controversial,” Hubbard said according to the New Zealand Olympic Committee.
“Thank you to the IOC for living up to the Olympic values and showing that sport is for all and that weightlifting can be done by all types of people.” “Thank you also to Japan for hosting an extraordinary Games,” an emotional Laurel Hubbard said after competition.
China’s Li Wenwen won the gold medal with Olympic records in the snatch (140kg), clean and jerk (180kg) and the total score (320kg).
Emily Campbell claimed silver to become the first-ever British woman weightlifter to medal at an Olympics.
American Sara Robles took a second consecutive bronze after Rio 2016.
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