Elbow injury forces NZ weightlifter to retire
Weightlifter Laurel Hubbard has confirmed her career is over as a result of the elbow injury which forced her out of the Commonwealth Games mid-competition.
The transgender New Zealand athlete, 40, told media on the Gold Coast she would not compete again after the horror injury suffered when she was trying for a Commonwealth record 132kg in the snatch in the women’s 91kgplus competition on Monday.
The bar fell awkwardly behind her and she reeled in pain clutching her left elbow, her dream of winning Commonwealth Games gold over.
She said afterwards it was likely a ruptured ligament, and defended her decision to aim for 132kg when her first lift of 120kg had her comfortably in the lead.
‘‘I have no regrets about the attempts that I made, because I believe that to be true to sport you really have to try to be the best that you can,’’ she said on Monday. ‘‘And I’m happy with the decisions we’ve made.’’
The injury brought to an abrupt end her debut at the Commonwealth Games which drew widespread attention and controversy.
Hubbard was cleared by the International Weightlifting Federation to compete in women’s tournaments last year.
She represented New Zealand as Gavin Hubbard before she transitioned in her mid-30s. The International Olympic Committee allowed her to take part in last year’s world championships after ruling she had undergone at least one year of hormone therapy and was recording sufficiently low levels of testosterone.
Hubbard was a silver medallist at last year’s world championships in the United States and was a dominant favourite to win gold on Monday.
Her participation drew criticism from members of other nation’s weightlifting federations.