Transgender Weightlifter Laurel Hubbard Crashes Out Of The Olympics After Three Failed Attempts

The 43-year-old from New Zealander made history in becoming the first openly transgender athlete to participate in the Olympics and was vying for a medal.

But her Olympics debut did not go to plan as she ultimately registered a 'DNF' after three attempts in the 87kg Group A competition.

Under enormous pressure, Hubbard did not register a single snatch and her final attempt saw her unable to get her legs up - resulting in the bar going over her head and falling behind.

After the final unsuccessful attempt (a second one at 125kg), Hubbard was still smiling and did a heart gesture with her hands before mouthing "Thank You" to the camera.

Hubbard's lack of lifts means she did not progress to the clean and jerk section of the competition, which featured a total of ten athletes.

She then went under hormone therapy and started her transition in 2012 before returning to the sport five years later.

Her inclusion in this year event comes as a result of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) changing their rules in 2015.

The current regulations stipulate that transgender athletes are allowed to compete as women, as long as their testosterone levels remain below a certain threshold.

"I commend the IOC for its commitment to making sport inclusive and accessible."

Hubbard is ranked 15th in the world. She had been slated to compete in the 2018 Commonwealth Games three years ago but picked up an elbow injury.