Laurel Hubbard Wiki – Laurel Hubbard Biography
Laurel Hubbard is a transgender weightlifter from New Zealand who competed before her gender transition under the name Gavin Hubbard, Hubbard set New Zealand junior records in 1998 in the newly established M105+ division with snatch 135 kg, clean & jerk 170 kg, total 300 kg. Those records were later surpassed by David Liti. In 2012 she was appointed to the position of Executive Officer for Olympic Weightlifting New Zealand. Subsequently, she transitioned to female and became Laurel Hubbard.
At the 2017 Australian International & Australian Open in Melbourne, she competed at the heaviest 90 kg+ category, winning the gold medal with a 123 kg snatch and 145 kg clean & jerk, for a total of 268 kg at a bodyweight of 131.83 kg. She thus became the first trans woman to win an international weightlifting title for New Zealand. Although she met eligibility requirements to compete, her win sparked controversy, with some other competitors claiming the competition was unfair. Athletes that were critical of the decision to allow her to compete include Iuniarra Sipaia, Toafitu Perive, Deborah Acason, and Tracey Lambrechs. Australian Weightlifting Federation’s chief executive, Michael Keelan, said it was unfair to other competitors.
Hubbard qualified for the 2018 Commonwealth Games, but an elbow injury during the competition forced her withdrawal from the event while leading the field. She won two gold medals at the 2019 Pacific Games in Samoa. The decision to allow her to compete was subsequently criticized by the Samoa 2019 chairman, Loau Solamalemalo Keneti Sio, and Samoa’s Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Aiono Sailele Malielegaoi.In 2020, she won the gold medal in the women’s +87 kg event at the Roma 2020 World Cup in Rome, Italy.
On June 21, 2021, the New Zealand Olympic Committee confirmed that Hubbard had been selected for the New Zealand Olympic team to compete in the women’s 87-kilogram category. This decision resulted in Hubbard becoming the first openly transgender athlete to be selected for the Olympic Games. The decision attracted controversy with Belgian weightlifter Anna Van Bellinghen claiming that allowing a transgender woman to compete in the women’s event was unfair and that the situation was “like a bad joke”.The selection was also criticized by the former New Zealand representative athlete Tracey Lambrechs.
Laurel Hubbard Age
She was born on February 9, 1978 in New Zealand.
Laurel Hubbard Parents
She is the daughter of Diana Reader and Dick Hubbard a former Mayor of Auckland City and the founder of Hubbard Foods.
Laurel Hubbard Nationality
She comes from New Zealand and is a national of the same country.
Laurel Hubbard Height – Laurel Hubbard Weight
She stands at a listed height of 6 feet 1 inch (1.85 meters) tall and weighs over 90 kilograms.
