Trans weightlifter Laurel Hubbard fails to lift at Arafura Games
New Zealand trans weightlifter Laurel Hubbard has returned to international competition, competing in Darwin鈥檚 Arafura Games but failing to make a lift.
Hubbard was previously in Australia for last year鈥檚 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, where she in an injury that threatened to end her career.
On Monday, she attempted a 110-kg lift in the 87 kg-plus snatch event, but failed to make a successful lift, reported.
She attempted the lift three times before bowing out with a cheerful wave to the crowd.
Like most trans athletes, Hubbard has been accused of having an unfair advantage over cis women competitors.
After qualifying for last year鈥檚 Commonwealth Games, including meeting the International Olympic Committee medical criteria to compete in the women鈥檚 division, she was subject to attacks by those who .
Australian Weightlifting Federation CEO Mike Keelan鈥檚 repeated calls for Hubbard to be blocked from competing were dismissed by Commonwealth Games officials.
Gary Marshall, president of Olympic Weightlifting New Zealand, accused Keelan of not having facts to back up his complaint, saying he had 鈥渘o leg to stand on鈥�.
A Human Rights Commission spokesperson at the time said that trans women with typical female levels of testosterone, such as Hubbard, hold no unfair physical advantage.
鈥淟aurel is a woman鈥攏ot a man masquerading as a woman to gain medals or glory,鈥� they said.
鈥淪he is an incredible athlete, who has met the International Olympic Committee regulations related to acceptable testosterone levels that enable her to compete in sporting competitions.鈥�
Hubbard took out two silver medals in the 2017 World Weightlifting Championships鈥攚ith the gold going to cis competitor Sarah Robles.
She said she had waited to be able to be accepted in sports as a trans woman.
鈥淚t鈥檚 not my role or my goal to change people鈥檚 minds,鈥� said Hubbard.
鈥淚鈥檓 not here to change the world, I鈥檓 just here to be myself.鈥�
