Biography
Laurel Hubbard is the first Olympic rod, replacing the floor. Already being a woman, the New Zealand weightlifter took the 17th line of the world ranking in a heavy weight category (more than 87 kg). The sports community spoke about the athlete after the news about the possible participation of the transgender in the Olympiad in Tokyo. And the point is not in the success of Hubbard on a platform, but in the fact that many consider the dishonest participation of a former man in competitions, referring to a natural physical advantage.Childhood and youth
Gavin Hubbard is the son of Dick Hubbard, an ex-mayor of Auckland City, the founder of the company for the production of dry breakfasts Hubbard Foods and Diaan reader. Gavin was born on February 9, 1978 in Auckland, a major city in the north of New Zealand.
Love to rod guy penetrated in his youth. At 20, Hubbard became the record holder among juniors in the newly created division M105, raising 135 kg in the jerk, and in the push - 170 kg. Later, these indicators surpassed another New Zealander David Liti.
As a man, Gavin did not win serious tournaments and decided to quit a professional sport at 23. 10 years later, Hubbard took a leadership position in the Olympic Federation of Heavy Athletics of New Zealand.
Weightlifting
After the operation on the gear change, the sports successes Hubbard went to take off.The first victorious tournament for Laurel as a transgender was the Open Australian Championship in Melbourne. In a heavy category, the ex-man conquered a gold medal, gaining in the amount of 268 kg with its own weight 131 kg. It was the first precedent when the trans-woman won the international title in weightlifting.
Despite the fact that Hubbard answered the requirements of the competition, this victory caused indignation by the remaining athletes. And Michael Kilan - the executive director of the Australian Federation - called the competition and their results are dishonest.
The following achievement in the biography of Laurel was the silver medal of the World Championship - 2017 in Anaheim. Then, despite the fact that the Australian Federation demanded to remove the athlete from the Games of the British Commonwealth - 2018, Hubbard passed the qualifications and even won the jerk, putting a record - 132 kg. But due to the injury, the elbow did not push the impetus and left the competition.
After the victory of Hubbard in 2019, in the Pacific Games in Samoa, the Prime Minister of the country stated that Lorel could not be allowed to tournament, and public organizations demanded to tighten the rules for the participation of transgender in competitions. But the negative attitude of society did not prevent the rod to win 2 gold medals.
The awards were conquered in all the rules: the athlete corresponded to the IOC standards on the content of testosterone in the blood. Although Frankly shocked rivals Hubbard said that the game was dishonest, because the body of weightlifters after the operation remained quite male.
Shortly after the Championship in Pattaya, where the trans-woman took the sixth place, followed by a number of victories: gold in Qatar and, finally, the Gold World Cup in 2020.
Personal life
In 2013, 35-year-old Gavin Hubbard decided to change the floor and called himself a new name - Laurel.
After the operation, the weightlifter leads a closed lifestyle, the interview almost does not give, but it regularly listens to criticism in its address. There is no instagram account at the athletes, and Laurel's personal life does not exist, which is not surprising, given the degree of discontent of the public.
The network has a lot of photos of transgender rods from different tournaments and championships. Family, in particular, the Father supports the decision of the former Gavin to go through the sex change transformation.
Due to careless driving in 2018, the woman became the culprit of the accident, as a result of which another driver injured the spine. Lorel paid compensation, but for a month deprived of driving license. The presiding judge preferred to hide the surname Hubbard to avoid unpleasant publicity until the rod was preparing for the Olympic Games. However, the order was canceled after filing an appeal to the Supreme Court.
Growth Laurel Hubbard - 185 cm.
Lorel Hubbard now
The news about the declared participation of Laurel Hubbard in the Summer Olympiad in Tokyo trembled the world community. In 2021, the rod has officially entered the New Zealand national team. Laurel is the first transgender in the history of the Olympic Games, and many do not agree with this decision, pointing to the fact that Biologically Laurel was a man's body. However, the IOC believes that everything is legal."Rules that allow me to participate in competitions, adopted in 2003. It is amazing: in almost two decades, the world of sports is not ready for the appearance of such an athlete as me. Nevertheless, I am not going to retreat and is ready to prove that the right time has come for change, "answered Hubbard for attacks in the media.Now Lorel Hubbard continues to fight for his rights and place in the sports Olympus. Together with the condemnation of the athlete meets a lot of support from the LGBT community:
"I cry from happiness, watching the career Laurel. She has to perform under huge pressure. I am proud of this brave woman, "another transgender athlete Kirst Miller wrote in his twitter account.Achievements
- 2017 - Silver winner of the World Cup
- 2017 - Winner of World Sport Veterans Games
- 2017, 2019 - Winner of the Oceania Championship
- 2017, 2019 - Winner of the Commonwealth Championship
- 2019 - Winner of Pacific Games
- 2020 - World Cup winner