The Olympic dream is over for first transgender athlete Laurel Hubbard after she was eliminated from the women’s weightlifting competition.
Hubbard was knocked out of the tournament in the very first round after failing to make a single lift. She registered one failed attempt to lift 120kg and two failed efforts at 125kg.
Hubbard said:
“I know that from a sporting perspective I haven’t really hit the standards that I put upon myself and perhaps the standards that my country has expected of me.
“But one of the things for which I am profoundly grateful is that the supporters in New Zealand have given me so much and have been beyond astonishing.
“I’d like to thank the New Zealand Olympic Committee – they have supported me through what have been quite difficult times.
“I know that my participation at these Games has not been entirely without controversy but they have been just so wonderful and I’m so grateful to them.”
Great Britain’s Emily Campbell won silver, with the gold medal going to China’s Li Wenwen.
