Laurel Hubbard has announced plans to retire from weightlifting following her historic performance at the Tokyo Olympics. Transgender weightlifter, announces plans to retire following her Olympic Games appearance
Laurel Hubbard, transgender weightlifter, announces retirement plans
The New Zealander became the first transgender athlete to compete in a different gender category from her birth, but failed to make an exit and was subsequently eliminated from the competition.
Now, the 43-year-old athlete plans to end her career. She said, “Age has caught up with me, in fact, if we’re being honest, it probably caught up with me a long time ago.”
“My involvement in the sport is due to, among other things, heroic amounts of anti-inflammatories, and it’s probably time to start thinking about hanging up my boots and concentrating on other things in my life.”
“I’m not sure that a role model is something I can aspire to, instead, I’m hoping that the mere fact of being one can serve as an encouragement.”
Her inclusion in the event came after the IOC made changes to its qualification guidelines in 2015, allowing trans athletes to compete in women’s events based on their testosterone levels.
Hubbard competed as a male weightlifter before transitioning in 2012 and returning to the sport in 2017.
Prior to the competition, the Southlander applauded the IOC for allowing her to make history.
The Olympic Games are a global celebration of our hopes, our ideals and our values. I congratulate the IOC for its commitment to making sport inclusive and accessible.
After being selected for the Games, Hubbard was “grateful and touched by the kindness and support shown to me by so many New Zealanders.”
Hubbard was ranked 15th in the world and became the third oldest lifter in Olympic history.
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