New Zealand weightlifter to become the first transgender athlete to compete in Tokyo Olympic Games

Olympic officials say Hubbard's testosterone levels are low enough for her to enter the women's category in weightlifting.

By Nicholas Sherman

Published: June 21, 2021 7:53am

Updated: June 21, 2021 8:52am

New Zealand weightlifter Laurel Hubbard is set to be the first transgender athlete to compete in the Olympic Games, participating in next month's competition in Tokyo.

Hubbard has been named as one of five weightlifting athletes to be selected for the New Zealand Olympic team, according to the New Zealand Herald.

The 43-year-old Hubbard was born male but transitioned to female in her 30s. Hubbard also competed as a male but became eligible to compete in women's weightlifting after showing in early May testosterone levels below the threshold required by the International Olympic Committee .

Hubbard won a silver medal at the 2017 world championships and represented New Zealand at the 2018 Commonwealth Games before suffering a serious injury in competition. She also won a gold medal in the 2019 Pacific Games in Samoa, where she beat Samoa’s Commonwealth Champion Feagaiga Stowers, which sparked outrage in the island nation.