fbpx
Connect with us

Culture

New Zealand Prime Minister Supports The Country’s 1st Transgender Weightlifter As Tokyo Olympics’ Contestant

Published

Nz Ft
Source: Independent & James Allan/Getty Images

Follow us on Facebook, Youtube, Twitter, and Instagram for the latest stories and updates daily.

Laurel Hubbart, a transgender woman will be the first transgender weightlifter to participate in the Olympics game, representing New Zealand.

Although the selection of a transgender contestant is unprecedented, the decision is supported by the country’s Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern. She told reporters that Laurel and the New Zealand team have followed the rules of the game.

Jacindaardern 2000X1270 1 696X442 1

“They have followed the rules. The alternative is to have someone who followed the rules but then is denied the ability to participate,” she said, according to Independent. “So, ultimately, I leave it to those bodies and that’s the decision they have made and it’s in keeping with the standard that has been set globally,” she added.

43 year-old Laurel Hubbart previously competed in men’s weightlifting competitions before transitioning in 2013. Hubbard won a silver medal at the 2017 world championships and gold in the 2019 Pacific Games in Samoa.

She will also be the oldest weightlifter at the games and will compete in the women’s +87kg category, where she is ranked 16th in the world. She is eligible to take part in the Olympics as a woman, as she has shown that her testosterone levels are below the threshold required by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

Nz

New Zealand Olympic Committee chief executive Kereyn Smith said that “We acknowledge that gender identity in sport is a highly sensitive and complex issue requiring a balance between human rights and fairness on the field of play, as the New Zealand team, we have a strong culture of manaaki (hospitality) and inclusion and respect for all.”.

She also added that the team is committed to supporting all eligible New Zealand athletes and ensuring their mental and physical wellbeing along with their high-performance needs in preparing for and competing at the Olympic Games.

According to the guidelines of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) any transgender woman athlete is allowed to compete at the games, provided their testosterone levels were below 10 nanomoles per litre for at least 12 months before their first competition.

What do you think about this? Let us know in the comments!

 

Also Read: M’sian Athlete Breaks World Record & Bags Gold Medal In Powerlifting At Dubai World Cup

Pjimage 2021 06 23T115048.734

Source: Independent

Follow us on Facebook, Youtube, Twitter, and Instagram for the latest stories and updates daily.



Just In

My Post 1 2024 03 19T103023.733 My Post 1 2024 03 19T103023.733
News37 mins ago

Melaka Introduces Cycling Paramedics that Provide First Aid Before Ambulances Arrive

We’ve been seeing multiple efforts from Melaka to improve their quality of living with the most recent being the introduction...

Collage 1 7 Collage 1 7
News51 mins ago

Kuantan Police Conducts Operation ‘Ops Samseng’ & Catches Man in Dinosaur Onesie for Speeding

People want to get where they’re going quickly. So if you exceed the speed limit by just a few miles...

Feat Image New Zealand Feat Image New Zealand
News18 hours ago

New Zealand Tourists Assault Phuket Policeman & Snatch His Gun After Violating Traffic Rules, Get Arrested

A shocking incident took place in Phuket, Thailand on Saturday (16 March) involving 2 foreign tourists and a local policeman....

Feat Image Google Apology Feat Image Google Apology
News19 hours ago

“For informational purposes only” – Google M’sia Apologises for USD1 = RM4.98 Error, Says Issue Now Resolved

Some 3 days after the inaccurate United States Dollar (USD) to Malaysian Ringgit (RM) exchange rate published by Google Finance...

My Post 3 2024 03 18T153531.525 My Post 3 2024 03 18T153531.525
News19 hours ago

Duyong ADUN Advices National Schools to Find Companies to Invest in Their Halls Like Chinese Schools

There’s once again a debate going on on social media, mainly Twitter, where people are discussing the pros and cons...

Collage 60 Collage 60
News20 hours ago

Cameron Highlands is Ranked the HAPPIEST Town in Malaysia, Followed by Jeli in Kelantan

Everyone has a happy place and when life hits us hard, we go where (or to whom) makes us happy...

Collage111111 2 Collage111111 2
News21 hours ago

Malaysia Ranks 8th Among Southeast Asian Countries in Experiencing Workplace Anger

Feeling angry is totally normal and part of being human. It can come from all sorts of things like tough...

Feat Image Google Usd Myr Feat Image Google Usd Myr
News23 hours ago

USD1 to RM4.98 Error: Google Says it Doesn’t Verify Currency Exchange Data & is NOT Obligated to Do So

Over the weekend, a screenshot of the Malaysian Ringgit (RM) allegedly reaching a new low of RM4.98 against 1 United...

Announcement

Latest Videos



TRENDING TODAY