Laurel Hubbard: First Trans Athlete Competing at Olympics

Laurel Hubbard Will Be the First Transgender Athlete to Compete at the Olympics

21 June 2021 by Tori Crowther

GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 09: Laurel Hubbard of New Zealand competes in the Women's +90kg Final during the Weightlifting on day five of the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games at Carrara Sports and Leisure Centre on April 9, 2018 on the Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images)

New Zealand weightlifter Laurel Hubbard will be the first transgender athlete to compete at the Olympics this year. Olympic officials have selected Laurel for the women's weightlifting team for Tokyo 2020. "Hubbard has been confirmed eligible having met the IWF, IOC and NZOC eligibility criteria, including IWF eligibility criteria for athletes who transition from male to female based on IOC Consensus Statement guidelines," the New Zealand Olympic Committee said in a statement.

"I am grateful and humbled by the kindness and support that has been given to me by so many New Zealanders," Hubbard said in the same statement. "The last eighteen months has shown us all that there is strength in kinship, in community, and in working together towards a common purpose. The mana of the silver fern comes from all of you and I will wear it with pride," she added.

Laurel is set to compete in the women's 87kg weightlifting category in Tokyo in July.

Image Source: Getty / Scott Barbour