First "trans Olympian" is out of the competition

Weightlifter Laurel Hubbard, who recently made history as being the first openly transgender athlete to compete in the Olympics, has been ousted from the competition after having failed to register a successful lift.

Hubbard, who transitioned from male to female, was competing in the women's weightlifting category. After failing to lift 120kg and two failed attempts at 125kg for the New Zealand national team, Hubbard exited the competition.

Conversely, China's world record holder Li Wenwen set three Olympic records as she won the gold medal, first lifting 140kg in the snatch, then 180kg in the clean and jerk to finish on a total of 320kg.

"I'm not entirely unaware of the controversy which surrounds my participation at these Games," said Hubbard concerning the incident. "And as such, I would particularly like to thank the [International Olympic Committee], for I think really affirming its commitment to the principles of Olympism and establishing that sport is something for all people, that it is inclusive and is accessible."

Great Britain's Emily Campbell won silver with a score of 283kg. USA's Sarah Robles won bronze with 282kg. Campbell is also the first British athlete to win a medal in the sport since 1984.

Although Hubbard has been eligible to compete in the Olympics since 2015, when the International Olympic Committee (IOC) issued new guidelines allowing transgender women to compete ​in women's events provided their testosterone levels are at a certain amount, Australia's weightlifting federation still sought to block Hubbard from competing at the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast in2018. However, organizers rejected the move​, citing her compliance with IOC standards.