New Zealand's Laurel Hubbard will become the first-ever transgender athlete at the Olympics, where she will be competing in the women's 87kg weightlifting category.
Hubbard released a statement via the New Zealand Olympic Committee on Monday, which read, "I am grateful and humbled by the kindness and support that has been given to me by so many New Zealanders. When I broke my arm at the Commonwealth Games three years ago, I was advised that my sporting career had likely reached its end. But your support, your encouragement, and your ‘aroha’ [affection] carried me through the darkness.
"The last 18 months has shown us all that there is strength in kinship, in community, and in working together towards a common purpose. The 'mana' [honor] of the silver fern comes from all of you and I will wear it with pride."
A rule change made by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in 2015 states that athletes who transition from male to female can compete if their testosterone levels stay below 10 nanomoles per litre for at least 12 months. Belgian weightlifter Anna Vanbellinghen has criticized the decision to allow Hubbard to compete, saying that it would be unfair for women and "like a bad joke."
New Zealand Olympic Committee chief executive Kereyn Smith hit back at critics, stating, "As well as being among the world’s best for her event, Laurel has met the IWF eligibility criteria including those based on IOC guidelines for transgender athletes." She added, "We acknowledge that gender identity in sport is a highly sensitive and complex issue requiring a balance between human rights and fairness on the field of play."
Source: Yahoo! Sports
