Trans weightlifter Laurel Hubbard is looking forward to a lifetime of ‘graceful obscurity’ after she fulfilled her dreams of competing in the Olympic Games.
The 43-year-old from New Zealand made history as the first transgender athlete to participate as a solo Olympian.
According to reports, she was eliminated from the women’s 87+ kilogram division after failing on all three attempts.
Hubbard, who transitioned in 2012, was the only one out of 13 finalists that failed to complete a valid snatch lift.
But she is now excited to go back to a life of anonymity, telling the press that she never wanted to have a public profile.
“I’m looking forward to my career as a pub quiz question or a trivial pursuit card,” she expressed.
“Sport is something that all the people around the world can do. It’s inclusive, it’s accessible and I think that’s just, just really fabulous,” Hubbard continued.
Hubbard was able to compete due to a change in the transgender guidelines of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in 2015.
The new guideline states that athletes who transition from male to female can participate in the women’s category as long as their testosterone level in serum is less than 10 nanomoles per liter for at least one year.
Before thanking the crowd, Hubbard said from the arena on Monday: “I know that my participation at these Games has not been entirely without controversy, but they have been just so wonderful.”
She also said that she was happy with her performance.
“I’ve never been involved in sport because I’m interested in publicity or profile. If it means that I now begin to descend into graceful obscurity, I’m okay with that.”
Hubbard also thanked the IOC for ‘opening the door’ for trans athletes.
“I haven’t come here to change the world. I’ve come here because sport is part of me,” she said. “The IOC has tried to put in place regulations that apply to all sports. I suspect over time there will be more refinement… but it’s not my area of expertise.”
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