First openly transgender Olympian makes history

New Zealand's Laurel Hubbard has never sought publicity and exposure but after she became the first openly transgender athlete to compete at the Olympics, she has made constant headlines.

The soft-spoken, media-shy weightlifter said she would likely retire from the sport - and hopes her landmark appearance should be forgotten fast as sport becomes more open and inclusive.

"...I don't think it should be historic. I think that as we move into a new and more understanding world, people starting to realize that people like me are just people, we are human and as such, I hope that just by being here, that's enough."

She made an unexpected early exit on Monday (August 2) - eliminated just 10 minutes into her +87kg contest after failures in her opening three lifts.

She was born male and transitioned eight years ago, and was allowed to compete in women's events by a 2015 International Olympic Committee consensus.

But her participation in the Games has sparked a huge debate on whether being more inclusive towards transgender athletes competing in women's events means disadvantaging athletes who were born as women.

Hubbard said she hopes more transgender people will be encouraged - not just in sport but in all aspects of life.

"I just hope that if people are undergoing any difficulty or struggles in their life, not necessarily related to sport but to anything really, they can perhaps can see there are opportunities in the world, there are opportunities to live authentically and as we are."

This year's Games is considered to be the most inclusive with the highest number of openly LGBT athletes.