Australian radio presenter Ben Fordham has gone to town on the decision to name transgender athlete Laurel Hubbard 'Sportswoman of the Year'.
The Kiwi weightlifter made history earlier this year by becoming the first openly trans woman to compete at an Olympic Games.
She failed to impress in Tokyo; bowing out in the early rounds of the competition after not recording a single successful snatch lift.
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But while she missed out on a medal at the 2020 Games, Hubbard has now received a different prestigious award by being named 'Sportswoman of the Year' by the University of Otago in New Zealand.
News of the decision has left fans divided, with some blasting the university's move. Ben Fordham is one of them.
"They think they're being inclusive, but they're making life harder for women," he said on 2GB Radio."Please, make this stop. When the sportswoman of the year is born a man, political correctness has gone a mile too far.
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"If we keep on listening to the woke brigade there won't be a need for women's sport. It comes down to biology, men are usually - not always - stronger than women."
Upon receiving the award, Hubbard said she was 'grateful for all of the support and kindness received from the teaching staff and students at Otago University'.
"It is not possible for athletes to complete at the Olympic level without the encouragement and aroha of friends, family and supporters," she told the Otago Daily Times.
"This award belongs to everyone who has been part of my Olympic journey.''
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Otago University Students' Association president Michaela Waite-Harvey said the Blues Awards aim to highlight Otago students excelling in their chosen sporting field.
She said: ''We could think of no-one more worthy of sportswoman of the year than Laurel Hubbard who represented Otago and New Zealand incredibly well at this year's Tokyo Olympics.''
Hubbard's appearance at the recent Tokyo Olympics sparked debate among sports fans across the globe.
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A bunch of big-name figures openly spoke out against Hubbard's participation, most notably former Olympian Caitlyn Jenner, while others praised the International Olympic Committee for their inclusion of her.
Prior to the 2020 Games, Hubbard applauded the IOC for allowing her to make history, saying: "The Olympic Games are a global celebration of our hopes, our ideals and our values.
"I commend the IOC for its commitment to making sport inclusive and accessible."
She later she was 'grateful and humbled by the kindness and support that has been given to me by so many New Zealanders'.
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