Aimee Walker
Laurel Hubbard, who is the first-ever openly transgender athlete to compete at the Olympics, has hinted that she may retire following her historic performance.
The 43-year-old said she hopes to be a ‘sense of ‘encouragement’ for future athletes.
At the event, she explained: “Age has caught up with me. In fact, if we’re being honest, it probably caught up with me some time ago.
Watch as Donald Trump slams transgender athletes competing in the Olympics in the clip below…
“My involvement in sport is probably due, if nothing else, to heroic amounts of anti-inflammatories, and it’s probably time for me to start thinking about hanging up the boots and concentrating on other things in my life.
“I’m not sure that a role model is something I could ever aspire to be, instead I hope that just by being I can provide some sense of encouragement.”
The Kiwi was knocked out of the competition when she failed to make a snatch but she has commended the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for giving her the opportunity.
She said: “The Olympic Games are a global celebration of our hopes, our ideals and our values.
“I commend the IOC for its commitment to making sport inclusive and accessible.”
Team GB Gold Medallist Slammed Over Laurel Hubbard Tweet
When it was ruled that Hubbard could take part in the Olympics, she was left overjoyed.
In a 2017 interview, she stated: “The rules that enabled me to compete first went into effect in 2003.
“But I got the sense at least that people were willing to consider me for these competitions and it seemed like the right time to put the boots on and hit the platform.”
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