New Zealand weightlifter, Laurel Hubbard has been selected to be part of the country’s team for Tokyo Olympic Games, becoming the first openly transgender athlete to compete at the event after qualifying requirements were modified.
Hubbard will compete in the women’s 87-kg category, New Zealand Olympic Committee announced the controversial decision.
Reacting in a statement, Hubbard said;
I am grateful and humbled by the kindness and support that has been given to me by so many New Zealanders.
The 43-year-old previously competed in men’s events before coming out as transgender in 2013 but critics say she has an unfair advantage over other women.
She has been eligible to compete in the Olympics since 2015, 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.
Testosterone is a hormone that increases muscle mass.
However, her eligibility has been questioned by ex-athletes and other critics of the International Olympic Committee’s guidance on inclusion for transgender athletes, which they believe ignores the performance advantage gained by going through male puberty.
Critics pointed to the biological advantages of those who have gone through puberty as males, such as increased bone and muscle density.
Last month, Belgian weightlifter Anna Vanbellinghen, who is competing in the same category, said that if Hubbard were to compete in Tokyo it would be unfair for women and “like a bad joke“.
She expressed that while she fully supported the transgender community, the principle of inclusion should not be “at the expense of others“.
In May, Vanbellinghen opined;
Anyone that has trained weightlifting at a high level knows this to be true in their bones: this particular situation is unfair to the sport and to the athletes.
Life-changing opportunities are missed for some athletes – medals and Olympic qualifications – and we are powerless.
Also, Save Women’s Sport Australasia, an advocacy that is against transgender athletes competing in women’s competitions has also criticised Hubbard’s selection for the Tokyo Games.
“It is flawed policy from the IOC that has allowed the selection of a 43-year-old biological male who identifies as a woman to compete in the female category,” the group said in a statement ahead of Monday’s decision.
However, New Zealand’s government have backed her inclusion for the upcoming Olympics.
New Zealand Olympic Committee chief executive, Kereyn Smith said;
As well as being among the world’s best for her event, Laurel has met the IWF eligibility criteria, including those based on IOC Consensus Statement guidelines for transgender athletes.
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.
As the New Zealand team, we have a strong culture of ‘manaaki’ (respect) and inclusion and respect for all.
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