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Olympics: transgender weightlifter Laurel Hubbard announces retirement from sports

2021-08-04T07:52:22.126Z


At 43, the New Zealand athlete decided to stop competing after his failure in Tokyo. New Zealand weightlifter Laurel Hubbard, who made history in Tokyo on Monday by becoming the first transgender athlete to compete in the Olympics, announced on Wednesday that she was retiring from sports. “ Age has caught up with me. In fact, to be honest, he probably caught up with me a while ago , ”said Hubbard, who, at 43, is over 20 years older than most of his rivals. To discover The full O


New Zealand weightlifter Laurel Hubbard, who made history in Tokyo on Monday by becoming the first transgender athlete to compete in the Olympics, announced on Wednesday that she was retiring from sports.

Age has caught up with me.

In fact, to be honest, he probably caught up with me a while ago

, ”said Hubbard, who, at 43, is over 20 years older than most of his rivals.

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"

The fact that I'm still in competition is probably due, among other things, to an astronomical amount of anti-inflammatory drugs, and it's probably time for me to hang up and focus on other things in my life

", explained the New Zealander.

On Monday, she could not lift a single bar during the +87 kg competition, failing on a bar at 120 kg, then a second and a third at 125 kg.

Born male, Hubbard had competed in the men's categories before beginning a transition process to become a woman at around 30 years old.

The weightlifter thanked the IOC for the pioneering role he played in allowing him to participate in the Games.

"

I'm not sure I can pose myself as a model and inspiration (for others), but I hope that my presence and my existence can be a form of encouragement,

" she explained to the press. .

The presence of Hubbard, who for selection had met the International Olympic Committee (IOC) criteria for transgender athletes, sparked debate on questions of bioethics, human rights, science, equity and identity in the sport.

Laurel Hubbard did not shine in competition in Tokyo.

EDGARD GARRIDO / REUTERS

His supporters believe that his qualification for the Olympics represents a victory for inclusiveness and the rights of transgender people. But others feel that she enjoys an unfair advantage over her rivals because of physical abilities inherited from her birth as a man.

Under guidelines adopted in 2003, the IOC only allowed transgender participation to athletes who have undergone gender reassignment surgery, but dropped this requirement in 2015, focusing on lower testosterone levels. The Olympic body is expected to issue new guidelines on the issue after the Tokyo Games. “

I remain convinced that the debate must continue. While we have rules at the moment, they will undoubtedly evolve as more is known about trans athletes and what that means for participation in sport,

”Hubbard concluded.

Source: lefigaro

All sports articles on 2021-08-04

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