Transgender weightlifter Laurel Hubbard forced to retire after horror elbow injury at Commonwealth Games
Hubbard feared she had ruptured a ligament in her left elbow - and it proved career-ending for Kiwi who used to compete as a male
THE horrific elbow injury that forced transgender weightlifter Laurel Hubbard out of the Commonwealth Games has also ended her career.
Kiwi Hubbard, 40, who competed as a male until four years ago, was badly hurt attempting a 132kg lift on Monday.
She led the standings with lift of 120kg in the snatch, but injured her arm with her third attempt at the higher weight.
Hubbard said at the time she thought she had ruptured a ligament in her left elbow.
On Tuesday she confirmed her injury was career-ending and that she would not compete again.
Her presence in the 90+kg standings was controversial and questioned by the Samoan team.
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Samona coach Jerry Wallwork claimed: "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.
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"The strength is still there and I think it's very unfair, and for all females it's unfair."
Having previously competed at national level as a man, Hubbard was expected to win on the Gold Coast.
At the world championships in December she finished second in the women’s super-heavyweights behind American Sarah Robles.
Hubbard passed all requirements to make it into the Games and compete in the women’s competition.
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And she thoroughly enjoyed the experience, saying: “The Australian crowd was magnificent.
“It felt like just a big embrace. They really made me try to lift my best. I gave it everything and I regret I wasn’t able to make the lift.
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“The Commonwealth Games here are a model for what sport can, and should, be. It’s an incredible environment and an amazing atmosphere.
"Without any doubt, they have lived up to the mantra of humanity, equality and decency.”
Hubbard's her exit left the door open for Feagaiga Stowers to claim Samoa’s second weightlifting victory of the day, ahead of Charisma Amoe-Tarrant of Nauru and England’s Emily Campbell.