Weightlifter Laurel Hubbard injured at Commonwealth Games

New Zealand weightlifter Laurel Hubbard has withdrawn from competition at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games after an injury yesterday afternoon.

After having been a favourite to win the gold, Hubbard sustained a severe-looking elbow injury during her final lift in yesterday’s event, The Sydney Morning Herald has reported.

“At this stage we don’t know the exact details of the injury,” Hubbard said later yesterday.

“It seems likely that I have ruptured a ligament.

“The one saving grace in all of this is that I’m not in any great pain at the moment. I’m sure that will come with time.

“I have no regrets about the attempts I made because I believe that to be true to sport you really have to try to be the best that you can.”

Samoan weightlifter Feagaiga Stowers took the gold in the event, Nauru’s Charisma Amoe-Tarrant won silver, and bronze went to England’s Emily Campbell.

Australia’s Deb Lovely-Acason placed fourth.

Hubbard said she had been mindful of controversy over her inclusion in the competition as a trans woman, but praised the sporting community and Australia for making her feel welcome.

“It would be untrue to say that the thought never crossed my mind,” she said.

“But there was no indication at all today they were anything other than absolutely fantastic, so a real credit to the Australian people and also the broader sporting community.”

Hubbard is the first trans athlete to represent New Zealand at the Commonwealth Games.

Since she qualified last year, there have been calls for her to be banned from competition due to her perceived ‘advantage’ as a trans woman.

The head of the Australian Weightlifting Federation earlier this year called for her to be banned from the women’s division.

Commonwealth Games officials swiftly dismissed the complaint, confirming that Hubbard meets international criteria to compete.