New Zealand transgender weightlifter Laurel Hubbard has won her first international competition, in Australia.
Competing in the female 90kg+ division at the Australian International event in Melbourne, Hubbard lifted a combined 268kg to defeat Iuniarra Sipaia of Samoa by 19kg.
New Zealand weightlifter Laurel Hubbard Photo: Supplied: Australian Weightlifying Federation.
Hubbard, 39, is the first transgender sportsperson to represent New Zealand.
She was cleared by the International Olympic Committee and International Weightlifting Federation to compete against other female lifters.
She was already a top competitor and administrator in the sport here before her transition.
Hubbard had to show that her testosterone levels were below a certain threshold for a year before competing.
Hubbard is the daughter of cereal magnate and former Auckland mayor Dick Hubbard, and is a leading contender for the New Zealand team to compete at next year's Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast.