AIBU to be surprised that Laurel Hubbard didn't register a lift in the Olympics?

[Gladiolixoxo]

I wonder if all the controversy around Laurel's participation led to her losing her nerve?

I repeat: the only people who benefit from having single sex categories are female people. Women.

The only people who would lose out (who will lose out, who are already losing out) if we abandon (or continue to abandon) single sex sports are women. Female people.

Ergo, proposing the abolition of single sex sporting categories is necessarily an anti-woman stance.

I think Hubbard wanted to be noticed. Hubbard wanted to play out Hubbard’s fantasy of being a woman on the most public, international, high profile stage possible.

I think Hubbard wanted the whole world to see Hubbard competing “as a woman”, wanted to involve the whole world in Hubbard’s role play. Made us all accessories. Has been talked about so, so, so much. Will go down in history, one way or another. Will be remembered for decades, maybe more.

I think in that sense Hubbard got exactly what Hubbard wanted.

'You wanted to talk about crime. Maybe you should start another thread about that.'

The wider impact on women and girls globally as a direct result of your suggested categories being accepted widely enough to implement them...

Is off topic?

'Jesus. It was a theory - it was the floating of an idea, not even my idea but one that’s always discussed around the Olympics or any massive tournament, hopefully to generate a discussion'

But you don't want a discussion on them in any depth? Or just to the depth you want?

Oh, grow up. You wouldn't be saying this about literally any other competitor.

'What on earth would be the point of having endless administrative categories which would all need to be tested for and applied and constantly checked and rechecked and measured, when you have the very obvious natural division of male and female?'

That was answered earlier.

It's just admin.

('just admin' yep loads of women are familiar with that pov)

'one that’s always discussed around the Olympics or any massive tournament,'

I have never seen it floated anywhere that the Olympics should have different categories for different speeds.

But you don't want a discussion on them in any depth? Or just to the depth you want?

We were told that a grown up discussion was wanted, yet nothing was ‘floated’ past one suggestion that was never explained to enable fairness between males and females (ie. Negate the male physical advantages that occur when the bodies are the same weight/height even muscle:fat ratio.

So, I suspect that this was supposed to be a theoretical discussion where reality was ignored and no experts have found a viable solution. But we aren’t grown up enough to have the conversation with.

No in fact everyone on MN who has said this is not right has just been told to grow up.

That other thread there were about 2000 people, mainly women I'm sure, whose concerns about this mean they are childish.

Overall it must be a vast number of women who are not on board with males competing against women.

Maybe women often stop progressing intellectually when they are children?

I know that was a popular theory in the past. (Victorian? Earlier? Only thinking about here).

Well, are you saying it about any other competitor?

In this Olympics specifically, or in other sporting events / competitions?

And can you just confirm what is being said?

Make sure on same page.

I'll believe there is no issue when a transman in their 40's is in serious contention for a medal in the 100m sprint.

@AnyoneEveryone

Well, are you saying it about any other competitor?

I think that yes, there would be a discussion about any person who qualified for the Olympics despite being 20 years older, employing poor technique and having suffered what would have been career ending injuries for their direct competitors.

I think there would be a lot of questions about how that person was in a position to qualify and what had made that possible.

If you want to point me in the direction of any other person in the games who fits even one of these criteria - for example 20 years older than the average age of the rest of the field in their chosen sport then please feel free to give us a name.

I think there would be widespread suspicion of doping.

Not in equestrian shooting etc but the events where age is s massive factor. Which is most of them.

I think checking that we all understand what it is being said that's meant in that post though. To avoid confusion.

@Liberett0

Felt really sad for her. But just her being at the Olympics will have given confidence to and inspired hundreds talented trans women that they can aim to participate in the Olympics in Paris 2024 ❤️

Literally you've given zero thought to all the women who are at the peak of their game. Have battled and sacrificed (along with their families in many cases) and now who, despite being in the world elite, will not qualify as they are pitted against biological men who identify as women. I have nothing against trans. Be who you are. But in sport it is biological. And irradiating women for the trans agenda is a fucking disgrace.

Felt really sad for her. But just her being at the Olympics will have given confidence to and inspired hundreds talented trans women that they can aim to participate in the Olympics in Paris 2024

Interesting. Why do you mention transwomen only? Do you not think transmen will be winning medals in the men's events?

Which transmen rising up through the ranks of men's sport should we be keeping an eye on?

Any transmen twice the average age of their competitors getting a spot at the Olympics? I look forward to hearing about them.

@SecondCityShark

Did anybody see the mixed relay the other night? The males absolutely thrashed the females, which was no surprise. But at least it was fair in the context of that event (2 males and 2 females in each team).

It didn't half demonstrate the differences between our capabilities though.

It absolutely did! And what happens in Paris when the X2 women selected are trans who ID as women. So effectively you now have x4 biological men? Win? High possibility when pitted against other teams with X2 of opposing sexes. But, anything for the win right? (Sweeping under the carpet the blatant irradiation of women's sport). I'm so sad for my daughters.

@Cam77

Storm in a teacup. Every single women's medal at the Olympics has been won by... a woman. And yet this is "the end of women's sports" etc etc. Get a grip!

Are you a man?

And, how do you know that? Do the trans competitors have to declare that?

Calling out the evilness of racism started generations ago yet the rise of BLM was needed in 2020.

It's called foresight. A shit ton better than hind sight. Prevention is better than cure. I'd rather we stopped this utter nonsense before we have generations of defeated and morally beaten sports women. How long would it take for women to say "what's the point?" when they know they are likely to be competing against biological males.

Your comment is humiliating. For you.

hundreds talented trans women that they can aim to participate in the Olympics in Paris 2024

Are there hundreds of talented trans women at Olympic level?

A few facts that may have been missed I that spectacular merail.

Laurel was injured, a career ending arm injury in 2018.

Laurel won the Pacific games gold in 2019.

With a personal best of 185kg lifted.

Laurel failed to lift 125kg repeatedly

Other lifters failed to lift 97kg first time and adjusted

Laurel must have a coach

Laurel did not act upset or worried as repeatedly the lift was not made- pushing Hubbard out of the competition.

Women competing with Hubbard were at physical peak and half Hubbard's age

Women competing against Hubbard looked in condition and had good technique

Hubbard could be seen to be using poor technique

Anecdotally, my ds1 and dd compete in the same physical sport. Ds1 is slightly older but dd is now taller than him, they are similar weight. If they were in the same category dd wouldn't stand a chance of winning due the differences in physique. That is why they are separated by sec not gender and should remain so. Otherwise many people will be hurt and that is not what sport is about.

It was weird.

Just trying to think of another athlete at the Olympics who has fluffed their sport that badly and didn't seem to give a shit. Hughes false starting - stupid mistake. Dina not qualifying for final - clealry devastated. Any others?

I think Hubbard wanted to be noticed. Hubbard wanted to play out Hubbard’s fantasy of being a woman on the most public, international, high profile stage possible.

You don't know the first thing about Laurel do you?

Tbh I felt quite sorry for her in her interview as I felt she'd been used. She was clealrly not up to the standard and it was embarrassing from a sport pov for New Zealand.