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Laurel Hubbard (2018)
Photo: Mark Schiefelbein / AP
The weightlifting competitions at the Summer Olympics are likely to attract significantly more attention than usual this year.
As it has now become known, Laurel Hubbard will be the first transgender person in Olympic sports history to compete in the women's super heavyweight division.
"I am grateful and humble for the kindness and support that so many around the country have shown me," said Hubbard after being nominated by the New Zealand Olympic Committee.
The 43-year-old had lived as a man for the first 35 years but never participated in international weightlifting competitions.
Your nomination corresponds to the guidelines of the International Olympic Committee of 2015/16, according to which the testosterone level must be below a certain limit value for twelve months.
This also applies if no gender reassignment surgery has (yet) been performed.
With the new regulation, the committee wanted to prevent discrimination.
The New Zealand Association stated, “We have a strong culture of respect and inclusion.
We are committed to supporting all eligible athletes. "
Opponents of the decision complain about a lack of fairness
But the decision in favor of Tokyo is also likely to attract criticism.
Opponents of such inclusion had already suggested in the past that the bone and muscle structure, among other things, could bring advantages if someone went through puberty as a male.
The Belgian weightlifter Anna Vanbellinghen, who competes in the same weight class, had recently described a possible Hubbard nomination as a "bad joke".
According to the Belgian, she expressly did not want to criticize Hubbard himself or the transgender community.
But this situation is "unfair to the sport and the athletes."
jok / Reuters
