She was knocked out in the early stages of the competition.
Laurel Hubbard was given a rousing ovation after being eliminated from the women’s super heavyweight weightlifting competition.
Hubbard had become the first openly transgender athlete to ever compete at the Olympics, but was unable to complete a legitimate snatch and was therefore knocked out of the competition.
The 43-year-old lost control of her first attempt at 120kg, dropping the bar. She then appeared to be successful with her attempt at 125kg but only one of the three judges agreed. Hubbard was then unsuccessful with her third attempt as well, ruling her out of the final and ending her Olympic journey.
Her participation in the event had been hugely controversial, sparking a fierce and often toxic debate on both sides, with some arguing that Hubbard had an unfair advantage over her competitors as she had gone through male puberty.
But her competition was over within 10 minutes of her first attempt. In her second effort, as she cleared the bar above her head there were loud cheers across the arena, before the attempt was declared a no lift.
Hubbard did not appeared to be too disheartened though, thanking those present and putting her hands to her heart.
Related links:
Laurel Hubbard makes history as first transgender athlete to compete at Olympics
IOC praises trans weightlifter Laurel Hubbard before athlete’s Olympic debut
After her exit, the New Zealander took no questions from reporters according to the Evening Standard, but she did thank Japan for hosting the games and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for its role in allowing her to compete and making the sport “inclusive” and “accessible.”
She said: “I’m not entirely unaware of the controversy which surrounds my participation at these Games.
“And as such, I would particularly like to thank the IOC, for I think really affirming its commitment to the principles of Olympism and establishing that sport is something for all people, that it is inclusive and is accessible.”
Her words echoed the sentiment of a statement she released before competing in the event, in which she thanked the IOC for “its commitment to making sport inclusive and accessible.”
