Tuesday, August 03, 2021

Canada's Quinn to become 1st openly transgender, non-binary athlete to win Olympic medal

Midfielder part of women's soccer team playing for gold against Sweden later this week



Andrea Janus · CBC Sports · Posted: Aug 02, 2021 
Canada's Quinn, left, and Lindsey Horan of the United States battle for the ball during their semifinal soccer match at Tokyo 2020 at Kashima Stadium on Monday.
 (Fernando Vergara/The Associated Press)

Canada's appearance in the gold-medal match in Japan won't be the only first for the women's soccer team when it takes to the pitch Friday (10 p.m. ET on Thursday in Canada).

Quinn, a 25-year-old midfielder from Toronto, will also become the first openly transgender and non-binary athlete to win an Olympic medal, as the team is assured of a gold or silver.

Quinn came out publicly as transgender in a social media post last fall, changed their pronouns to they/them and now goes by one name.

Since Canada's 1-0 semifinal victory over the United States on Monday at Kashima Stadium, setting up the final against Sweden, Quinn said they've been "getting messages from young people saying they've never seen a trans person in sports before."

CBC SPORTS IN TOKYO Canada shocks U.S. in semis, will play for Olympic gold in women's soccer

Quinn played college soccer for Duke University in North Carolina, and is the highest-drafted Canadian in National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) history — taken third overall by the Washington Spirit in 2018. They now play for the OL Reign.

They won the bronze at the 2016 Games in Rio and were also on the squad that suffered a heartbreaking loss to the U.S. in London in 2012.

Quinn came out last September, telling The Canadian Press it was partly because they were "tired of being misgendered" in society and the media, and also to be a "visible figure" for younger people who may be "questioning their gender, exploring their gender."

New guidelines coming for transgender athletes

At these Games, another transgender athlete has helped spark a conversation about greater inclusivity in sports. New Zealand's Laurel Hubbard, the first openly transgender Olympic weightlifter, competed Monday in the women's +87-kg category, but was knocked out of medal contention by failing to complete a lift in the first portion of the event.

"Of course, I'm not entirely unaware of the controversy which surrounds my participation in these Games," Hubbard said after exiting the competition. "And, as such, I'd particularly like to thank the IOC [International Olympic Committee] for, I think, really affirming their commitment to the principles of Olympism, and establishing that sport is something for all people. It is inclusive. It is accessible."

In 2015, the IOC established a set of regulations for transgender athletes in the Games. It has said it will release updated guidelines in the coming months.

For Quinn, being an advocate and a role model is not new. While at Duke, Quinn sat on the board of the school's chapter of Athlete Ally, an organization that aims to foster equal opportunity in sports regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity or expression.

Canadian soccer international Quinn hopes to start conversation, help young trans people

"Athletics is the most exciting part of my life and it brings me the most joy," Quinn told CBC Sports on Monday.

"If I can allow kids to play the sports they love, that's my legacy and that's what I'm here for."



Laurel Hubbard, 1st openly transgender Olympic weightlifter, competes in Tokyo

43-year-old Kiwi ruled out of medal contention after failing to complete a lift

James EllingworthSally Ho · The Associated Press · Posted: Aug 02, 2021 

New Zealand's Laurel Hubbard competes in the women's +87kg weightlifting competition at the Tokyo Olympics on Monday. (Edgard Garrido/Reuters)

Transgender weightlifter Laurel Hubbard finally got to compete at the Tokyo Olympics.

It didn't last long, but it was significant. Hubbard couldn't complete any of her first three lifts on Monday night, ruling her out of medal contention in the women's over-87-kilogram division that ultimately was won by China's Li Wenwen.

Hubbard made a heart gesture to the audience with her hands before leaving the competition arena.

Even without completing a lift, she was a pioneer for transgender athletes.

Canada's Quinn to become 1st openly transgender, non-binary athlete to win Olympic medal

Transgender Olympic weightlifter becomes focus of inclusion vs. fairness debate

While the New Zealander isn't the only transgender athlete competing at the Tokyo Games, she has been out for years and has been the focus of attention as a medal contender in weightlifting.

"Of course, I'm not entirely unaware of the controversy which surrounds my participation in these Games," Hubbard said after exiting the competition. "And, as such, I'd particularly like to thank the IOC, for, I think, really affirming their commitment to the principles of Olympism, and establishing that sport is something for all people. It is inclusive. It is accessible."

Hubbard also thanked the International Weightlifting Federation, because "they too have shown that weightlifting is an activity that's open to all of the people in the world," and the people of Japan for hosting the Games under extraordinary circumstances during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Hubbard received applause and also applauded her fellow athletes when they were introduced on stage. Returning to compete, she took a moment to close her eyes, smile and take a deep breath. She overbalanced on her opening weight of 120 kilograms, taking the bar behind her shoulders.

Her second effort of 125 kilograms — a weight Hubbard has often managed in previous competitions — was ruled invalid on a majority decision by the referees. With New Zealand teammates and staff calling out encouragement, the third attempt was almost a repeat of the first.

IOC to release new 'framework' for transgender athletes


Athletes are eliminated if they do not record at least one valid lift in each of the two parts of the competition.

Li's victory gave China its seventh gold medal in weightlifting at the Tokyo Games. Her rivals never got close to the 320-kilogram winning total, with Emily Campbell finishing 37 kilograms behind to take silver. She became the first British woman to win a weightlifting medal.

Sarah Robles of the United States repeated her bronze from 2016 with 282, becoming the first U.S. woman with two weightlifting medals. Robles was challenging for second place, but had her last lift ruled invalid for elbow movement. "The refs should be doing their jobs so they're doing it. It is really, really strict but if there's anytime to be strict, it should be at the Olympics," Robles said.

The International Olympic Committee in 2015 drew up a set of recommendations for including transgender athletes. Many sports bodies, including the IWF, have implemented similar policies based on those recommendations. Different sports are allowed to set their own specific policies.

Transgender weightlifter thanks IOC for 'commitment to making sport inclusive and accessible'

Transgender weightlifter Laurel Hubbard set to break new ground at Olympics

In weightlifting, that includes a requirement for athletes to show their testosterone is below a certain level after transitioning, a requirement which Hubbard met. She won a silver medal at the 2017 world championships but had not competed for 1 1/2 years before Tokyo because the coronavirus pandemic hit the competition schedule.

"My performance wasn't what I had hoped but I'm humbled by the support I've received from so many people around New Zealand," Hubbard said in a statement released by the New Zealand team."

The IOC will release a new "framework" for transgender athletes' eligibility in the coming months. That document is expected to take into account newer scientific studies published since the last major review in 2015. That will form a basis for sports to draw up their own updated policies.

Canadian judge, Olympics' 1st openly trans official, fears stealing spotlight from canoeist daughter

Tokyo Games shaping up as a watershed for LGBTQ Olympians

The New Zealand Olympic Committee recognized the sometimes-bitter discussions over what conditions should apply for transgender athletes to compete.

"We acknowledge that gender identity in sport is a highly sensitive and complex issue requiring a balance between human rights and fairness on the field of play," the NZOC said.

"The New Zealand team is committed to supporting all eligible New Zealand athletes at the Olympic Games, ensuring their mental and physical wellbeing as they compete on the world stage." Earlier Monday, Wang Zhouyu won the women's 87-kilogram category for the first of China's two weightlifting gold medals of the day. Wang won with a total of 270 kilograms. Tamara Salazar won the silver for Ecuador with a total 263, and Crismery Santana took the bronze with 256 for the Dominican Republic.

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