Tokyo Olympics: Weightlifter poised to become first transgender Olympian

Winner Hillary Kipkoech of Kenya crosses the finish line at the men's half-marathon of the Hokkaido-Sapporo Marathon Festival 2021, a testing event for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics marathon race, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan May 5, 2021. [REUTERS/Issei Kato/Pool]

Weightlifter Laurel Hubbard is set to become the first transgender athlete to compete at an Olympics after qualifying for the rescheduled Tokyo Games due to a rule change, Inside the Games website reported on Wednesday.

The report said Hubbard was effectively guaranteed a spot in the women’s super heavyweight category after the International Olympic Committee approved an amendment to the qualifying system due to disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.