New Zealand announced last month that their weightlifting team would be taking Laurel Hubbard, a transgender weightlifter, to be the first ever openly transgender athlete at the Olympics. The inclusion of Hubbard garnered much social media attention – with many praising, but others equally criticising. The 43-year-old’s selection was a massive stepping stone in the right direction for her supporters. They saw the Olympics exemplifying inclusion and giving courage to other transgender athletes. 

Those against the idea however, had equally hot opinions about the matter. Many argued that being a transgender woman, or a woman who was assigned male at birth, gives Hubbard an unfair physical advantage. Some called her inclusion a bad joke and stated that cisgender athletes competing and dreaming of winning the Olympics have all their hard work outshined by Hubbard’s ‘advantages.’ 

Hubbard has not yet engaged with the whole debate herself, only briefly stating that the kindness and support she received was humbling. Many advocates for diversity stated that Hubbard’s selection shows that transgender women do not pose a threat to women’s sports. Moreover, they emphasised how the fight for inclusion is not over. 

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Photo Source: BBC