Laurel Hubbard is a New Zealand transgender weightlifter. Competing before her gender transition under the name Gavin Hubbard, Hubbard set New Zealand junior records in 1998 in the newly established M105+ division with snatch 135 kg, clean & jerk 170 kg, total 300 kg. Those records were later surpassed by David Liti. In 2012 she was appointed to the position of Executive Officer for Olympic Weightlifting New Zealand. Subsequently, she transitioned to female and became Laurel Hubbard.

At the 2017 Australian International & Australian Open in Melbourne, she competed at the heaviest 90 kg+ category, winning the gold medal with a 123 kg snatch and 145 kg clean & jerk, for a total of 268 kg at a bodyweight of 131.83 kg. She thus became the first trans woman to win an international weightlifting title for New Zealand. Although she met eligibility requirements to compete, her win sparked controversy, with some other competitors claiming the competition was unfair. Athletes that were critical of the decision to allow her to compete include Iuniarra Sipaia, Toafitu Perive, Deborah Acason, and Tracey Lambrechs. Australian Weightlifting Federation’s chief executive, Michael Keelan, said it was unfair to other competitors.

Hubbard qualified for the 2018 Commonwealth Games, but an elbow injury during the competition forced her withdrawal from the event while leading the field. She won two gold medals at the 2019 Pacific Games in Samoa. The decision to allow her to compete was subsequently criticized by the Samoa 2019 chairman, Loau Solamalemalo Keneti Sio, and Samoa’s Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Aiono Sailele Malielegaoi.In 2020, she won the gold medal in the women’s +87 kg event at the Roma 2020 World Cup in Rome, Italy.

Laurel Hubbard Age

She was born in 1978 in New Zealand.

Laurel Hubbard Parents

She is the daughter of Dick Hubbard a former Mayor of Auckland City and the founder of Hubbard Foods, and her mother Diana Reader.

Laurel Hubbard Nationality

She hails from New Zealand therefore is a national of the same country.

Laurel Hubbard Height/ Weight

She stands at a height of 6 feet 1 inch (1.85 meters)tall and weighs over 90 kilograms.