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How the transgender Olympic athlete is causing divide
History will be made at the Tokyo Olympics this year, with a transgender New Zealand athlete set to compete.
Meet weightlifter Laurel Hubbard – the first transgender athlete to compete at the Olympics after being selected by New Zealand for the women’s event at the Tokyo Games.
Hubbard will compete in the super-heavyweight 87-kg category, her selection made possible by updated qualifying requirements.
The 43-year-old, will also be the oldest lifter at the Games.
Hubbard had competed in men’s weightlifting competitions before transitioning in 2013.
“I am grateful and humbled by the kindness and support that has been given to me by so many New Zealanders,”
Hubbard said in a statement issued by the New Zealand Olympic Committee (NZOC) on Monday.
Hubbard has been eligible to compete at Olympics since 2015, at a time when the International Olympic Committee issued guidelines allowing any transgender athlete to compete as a woman provided their testosterone levels are below 10 nanomoles per litre for at least 12 months before their first competition.
“I am grateful and humbled by the kindness and support that has been given to me by so many New Zealanders,”
The decision is set to fuel the debate over inclusion and fairness in sport.
Though Hubbard has been welcomed into the games, some scientists have stated that the guidelines do little to mitigate the biological advantages of those who have gone through puberty as males, including bone and muscle density.
Advocates for transgender inclusion argue the process of transition decreases that advantage considerably. They say that physical differences between athletes mean there is never a truly level playing field.
The New Zealand government shown its support
The New Zealand Minister for Sport and Recreation Grant Robertson says the government supports Hubbard’s selection to compete in the games.
“Laurel is a member of New Zealand’s Olympic team. We are proud of her as we are of all our athletes, and will be supporting her all the way,”
Tokyo Olympics creeps closer
The Tokyo Olympics will start on Friday July 23 2021 after being postponed due to coronavirus.
