Weightlifting New Zealand says their team is united heading towards the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in April.
Laurel Hubbard of New Zealand competes in the Women's 90+ kg division of the IWF Weightlifting World Championships in California, 2017. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Yesterday Laurel Hubbard became the first New Zealand senior weightlifter to win medals at the World Championships, taking two silvers in California.
Questions of Hubbard's apparent physical advantage were again raised at the Championships.
After the Commonwealth Games team was named last month, fellow team member Tracey Lambrechs admitted she wasn't happy about Hubbard being selected.
High Performance Director Simon Kent says his team is one.
"I'm really happy that our teams is going to come together and be united to represent New Zealand in a positive way and really uphold our organisational values which include showing some leadership, showing some real personal integrity and ultimately being able to put some really good performances on the platform that hopefully New Zealand can be proud of.
Kent says by all account Hubbard is coping very well with the controversy that follows her.
Kent says this is a new conversation for society to have, and he sees Hubbard's competition as a real positive.
"I'm a glass half full man so I see the positivity that this is wider than sport, this brings to the forefront of what does it look like to be a genuinely diverse and inclusive society, getting people taking about something that potentially wouldn't be at the forefront of discussion so overall I think its a positive thing.
New Zealand named a 12 person team for the Commonwealth Games.
-RNZ
