‘It’s unfair’: Rival lifters take aim at Hubbard
New Zealand transgender weightlifter Laurel Hubbard has come under fire from her rivals just as she prepares to compete in the Commonwealth Games on Australia’s Gold Coast.
Hubbard, who is favoured to win gold this afternoon in the women’s over 90kg category, has been a hot topic for some in the weightlifting community, and the Samoan coach of one of her rivals has voiced his displeasure that Hubbard is allowed to compete.
“It’s just very unfair,” Jerry Wallwork told the ABC.
“A man is a man and a woman is a woman and I know a lot of changes have gone through, but in the past Laurel Hubbard used to be a male champion weightlifter,” Wallwork said.
“The strength is still there and I think it’s very unfair, and for all females it’s unfair.
“The situation may have been accepted by the IOC, but that won’t stop us from protesting, regardless of whether it’s against one of our lifters or not.”
However, despite Wallwork’s verbal protest, there is not going to be an official protest which stops Hubbard from competing.
The Herald understands no protests have been filed by any of the organisations involved at the Games, and the secretary-general of the Oceania Weightlifting Institute also said that, despite Wallwork’s comments, there will be no protest coming from their camp.
“She’s done everything according to the IOC rules and she’s proven that she’s a woman,” Paul Coffa told the ABC.
“You can’t stop criticism, but I see it differently, she’s done what she’s required to do, so give her a chance and let her continue.”
Hubbard will get that chance today, with her final beginning at 4pm. — Staff reporter, agencies