Chris Graythen/Getty Images
- Transgender weightlifter Laurel Hubbard missed out on a chance to make history at the Tokyo Olympics.
- She failed all three of her attempts, while China's Li Wenwen took the gold.
- Hubbard was allowed to compete following an IOC rule change.
- Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.
New Zealand's Laurel Hubbard missed her chance to be the first medal-winning transgender woman at an Olympic Games.
Hubbard failed all three attempted lifts in the women's +87kg weightlifting at the Tokyo Olympics, while Chinese athlete Li Wenwen took the gold medal.
Hubbard was the first openly transgender female athlete to compete at the games, but was unable to cleanly lift on any of her three attempts.
The 43-year-old started with a weight of 120kg but could not extend her legs and was forced to drop the bar behind her.
In her second attempt, Hubbard managed to lift 125kg, but with some difficulty, and the effort was failed by two judges to one.
In her third and final attempt, Hubbard was unable to lift the 125kg weight.
China's Li Wenwen set an Olympic record in both the snatch and clean & jerk to win gold with a combined score of 320kg.
Hubbard, who began transitioning in 2012, was allowed to compete at the games following an International Olympic Committee (IOC) rule change in 2015.
The new rule allows athletes who have transitioned from male to female to compete in women's sport provided they had identified as a female for at least four years and kept their testosterone level below a certain level
The New Zealander returned to competition in 2017 after a break of 16 years since competing in men's events. Her appearance at the Olympics has been met with a mixed reaction.
Some critics, including fellow competitors, have argued that her competing in Tokyo is unfair to cisgender athletes.
However, the New Zealand Olympics Committee called Hubbard a "really important role model" who "opens up a conversation about inclusivity."