Laurel Hubbard made history on Monday as the first transgender athlete to compete at the Olympics. The good times did not go as planned as the New Zealand weightlifter failed at her attempt to make the medal stand.
Hubbard was the only one of the 13 finalists to not complete at least one lift.
She bailed out early in her fist attempt to get 120kg above her head. On her second attempt at 125kg, she was able to get the weight up and pumped her fist after in satisfaction, however judges ruled it a “no lift.” On her third attempt, she once again failed by not standing up with the weight above her head.
After the bar fell to the ground, she patted her chest and made a heart out of her hands as a signal to those in attendance and whomever was watching at the time.
“Thank you so very much for your interest in my humble sporting performance tonight,” Hubbard said to the media. “I know from a sporting perspective I did not live up to the standards I put upon myself.”
It was eight years ago when Hubbard would make the transition to a woman at the age of 35. Hubbard then entered Olympic competition at age 43.
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“I know my participation in these games has not been entirely without controversy,” Hubbard said, mentioning some “quite difficult times.”
She then praised the International Olympic Committee for letting her compete here.
“[The IOC has] been extraordinarily supportive and I think that they have reaffirmed the principles of the Olympics that sport is something that all people around the world can do, that it is inclusive and successful,” Hubbard said.
She did not take questions from the media.
