New Zealand weightlifter to be first transgender Olympian

Officials say Hubbard's testosterone levels are low enough to enter the women's category in weightlifting.

Published: May 7, 2021 8:34am

Updated: May 7, 2021 9:58am

New Zealand weight lifter Laurel Hubbard is set to become the world's first transgender athlete to compete in the Olympic Games.

The 43-year-old Hubbard was born male but transitioned to female in her 30s. Hubbard will compete in the upcoming Tokyo Olympic Games in 2021.

Hubbard also competed as a male but became eligible to compete in women's weightlifting after showing testosterone levels below the threshold required by the International Olympic Committee, France 24 reported Wednesday.

"The NZOC can confirm that revised international federation (IF) qualification systems are very likely to see a number of New Zealand weightlifters, including Commonwealth Games transgender athlete Laurel Hubbard, allocated an IF quota spot for Tokyo 2020," the New Zealand Olympic Committee said in a statement.

Hubbard said she doesn't care about any criticism regarding transgender athletes in sports but that she wants to weightlift, saying "I don't want to change the world. I just want to be me and do what I do."