While transgender men are eligible to compete in male categories ‘without restrictions’, transgender women must hit a number of qualifications before they can compete, according to the IOC’s official guidelines.
Laurel Hubbard of New Zealand is set to make history at this summer’s Olympic games as the first openly transgender athlete to compete in a solo event.
The 43-year-old weightlifter was chosen by New Zealand’s Olympic team on June 21 for the women’s +87kg category and under the International Olympic Committee (IOC) current rule that state transgender women can compete in accordance to their gender identity if they meet several criteria.
Hubbard is one of the three trans- athletes making history in these games, joining Quinn — who will compete for Canada’s soccer team — and Chelsea Wolfe, an American BMX reserve rider joining team USA.
IOC President Thomas Bach affirmed Hubbard’s eligibility on July 17, saying rules cannot be changed during ongoing competition and that the IOC is working on guidelines for future cases.
The International Olympic Committee’s guidelines, issued in 2015, allow any transgender athlete to compete as a woman provided their testosterone levels are below 10 nanomoles per liter for at least 12 months before their first competition.
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