Gold Coast crowd's embrace of Laurel Hubbard did Australia proud, even if her night ended in disappointment

They call the Commonwealth Games the Friendly Games, and that was never more true when transgender Kiwi weightlifter Laurel Hubbard finally stepped into the world spotlight.

Hubbard's entry into the games has been deliberately low-key, as the New Zealand team try shield her from possible backlash to her participation.

There was going to be no shielding her, however, when she stepped into the glare of competition at Carrara Sports and Leisure Centre.

They didn't need to worry.

There was polite applause for Hubbard when the 90kg plus lifters were introduced, dwarfed inevitably when the Aussie next to her had her name called out.

Her first attempt at the snatch - 120kg - was at that point the highest weight attempted, and the crowd appreciated it.

Hubbard repaid them with a shy smile and wave.

The weights continued to rise with each attempt, failing at both 127kg, which would have been a new games record, and the fateful 132kg, which would have been a new Commonwealth record, but instead resulted in a nasty injury and her pulling out of competition.

Before the blow, the crowd was entranced by Hubbard's battle with Samoa's eventual gold medalist Feagaiga Stowers, herself an incredible story, being just 17 and only three years into the sport.

Things like gender, hormone levels and regulations didn't matter.

The battle between two athletes did.

Hubbard herself had this to say afterwards, as the world's media gathered to speak to her.

"The Australian crowd was magnificent. It felt like just a big embrace. They really made me try to lift my best. I gave it everything and I regret I wasn't able to make the lift today.

"The Commonwealth Games here are a model for what sport can, and should, be. It's an incredible environment and an amazing atmosphere," she said.

"Without any doubt, they have lived up to the mantra of humanity, equality and decency."

It was purely about the sport, the theatre, and perhaps, even though there wasn't an Aussie in the mix, a sense of trans-Tasman fair play.

Good on ya Gold Coast, and thanks.