Transgender New Zealander Wins Australian Women’s Weightlifting Competition


transgender weightlifter wins

After winning the competition, Hubbard displayed strong emotions as he lined up for presentation of the gold medal. He smiled and waved to the audience as she awaited the medal, while struggling to hold back tears.

Hubbard was chosen to make her international debut at the Australian event after surpassing Tracey Lambrechs at the top of the Over 90 kg division in New Zealand. Lambrechs had previously represented New Zealand at the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

Hubbard’s selection was considered a pioneering moment in sport for the LGBT community. Further ground could yet be broken, with (her) performance in Melbourne expected to go a long way to securing Hubbard’s place in the team for the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games next year.”

Lambrechs was initially bothered by being knocked off the top rung in her division, but has since shed 17 kg in order to compete in the 90 kg class. At the Melbourne event, he took home the silver medal with a combined total of 206 kg in her new division.

As transgender athletes begin to blur the lines between men’s and women’s competitions, one has to wonder how the Olympic Games will handle the issue.

Traditionally, the Olympics have relied on chromosome testing to determine eligibility for competition in both male and female events, whenever questions have arisen.

Declarations of transgender preferences will not change the fact that people are born either male or female depending upon chromosome makeup. As long as that remains the Olympic standard, athletes like Hubbard may not get to compete at that level.

As more transgender athletes seek to participate in sports of their choosing, governing sports authorities will have to determine which standards will apply for competing.

 

Source: New Zealand Herald

 



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