It is the first time that a transgender weightlifter got to compete in Olympics, she is Laurel Hubbard and she took part in the women’s over-87 kg division. Though she didn’t remain in the competition for long but the impact of this was really significant.
The category in which she was is won by China’s Li Wenwen. Laurel was knocked out in the competition because she was not able to perform any of her lifts out of 3 at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics yesterday i.e. Monday.
Before leaving the competition, New Zealand’s weightlifter made a heart gesture with her hands to the audience. Though she wasn’t able to win, she stands as an inspiration to transgender athletes.
Also read: New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern supports weightlifter's selection for Olympics
She is not only the transgender athlete competing for the Tokyo Olympics, she usually receives attention and is a medal contender in weightlifting.
After exiting the competition, she said, "Of course, I'm not entirely unaware of the controversy which surrounds my participation in these Games, and, as such, I'd particularly like to thank the IOC, for, I think, really affirming their commitment to the principles of Olympism, and establishing that sport is something for all people. It is inclusive. It is accessible."
She also showed gratitude to the International weightlifting Federation because they kept this sport open for every gender, and also to the Japanese to hold the games even in the pandemic. When she entered the stage she received applause, on coming to the stage she took a moment closed her eyes, smiled, and took a deep breath.
On Monday, Wang Zhouyu won the gold, Tamara Salazar got silver and Crismery Santana got the 3rd position, winning the bronze. In 2015, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) changed the rules to enable transgender athletes to compete in the Olympics as women if their testosterone levels are below a certain level. Hubbard began transitioning in 2013, after previously participating as a man, and she has continuously met all of the IOC's transgender athlete eligibility requirements. As the oldest weightlifter at the Tokyo Olympics, she will compete in the 87-kilogram-plus category.