Thursday, May 06, 2021
First trans athlete in Tokyo
The weightlifter who divides the Olympics
Laurel Hubbard wants to make history: She will be the first transgender athlete to take part in the Olympic Games. The weightlifter, who was born as a man, is lowering her testosterone levels for Tokyo, will send an important signal – and cause controversy.
New Zealand weightlifter Laurel Hubbard is well on the way to becoming the first transgender athlete to compete in the Olympics. The 43-year-old, who was born a man but became a woman in 2012, is about to reach the Tokyo Olympics (July 23 to August 8) under the amended Covid-19 qualification regulations.
“The NZOC can confirm that the International Federation’s revised qualification systems are very likely to result in a number of New Zealand weightlifters, including transgender athlete Laurel Hubbard, earning a quota spot in Tokyo 2020,” said the New Zealand Olympic Committee. An insider from the international association also confirmed to the English “Guardian” that the weightlifter will take part.
Hubbard was approved to compete in women’s weightlifting after her testosterone levels were below the threshold required by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Her goal is to get into the New Zealand roster for the Tokyo Olympics to start in the over 87kg weight class. The 2017 World Cup silver medalist is currently ranked 16th in the world.
Progress or unfair advantage?
At the Tokyo Games, Hubbard would be the oldest female weightlifter, but she could still have a real chance of a medal, because with her qualifying results she is in fourth place among the 14 already qualified weightlifters in the super heavyweight class over 87 kilograms. Controversy seems inevitable. Hubbard’s selection could severely divide opinion: between those who see it as a tremendous advance for trans athletes and others who insist it is benefiting from an unfair advantage.
The NZOC had a history of campaigning for Hubbard’s right to compete and stated that all athletes selected for Tokyo would receive its support. “The New Zealand team has a strong culture of caring, inclusion and respect for all,” it said.
The Australian Weightlifting Association had unsuccessfully tried to exclude her from the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast in 2018, arguing that she had a physical advantage over female athletes regardless of testosterone levels.
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