The 2025 World’s Strongest Woman contest faced turmoil as a transgender athlete won the title but was later stripped of it. American contender Jammie Booker, amid allegations of being biologically male, triumphed over UK’s Andrea Thompson in Arlington, Texas, sparking outrage in the strongwoman community. Footage from the medal ceremony captured Thompson walking away from the podium in apparent discontent while Booker celebrated.
Event organizers announced the disqualification of Booker from the Official Strongman World Championships 2025, adjusting athlete standings to ensure fairness. Thompson, from Melton, Suffolk, received praise as the rightful World’s Strongest Woman by her coach and other prominent figures in the sport. Former champion Rebecca Roberts revealed that neither participants nor officials were aware of Booker’s background before the competition.
While specifics remain vague, a 2017 YouTube video on Booker’s account described them as a “21-year-old trans woman struggling with identity.” Roberts emphasized on Instagram that transgender women should not compete in women’s sports to maintain fairness. She stressed the importance of transparency and the need for women’s divisions to be exclusively for biological females to uphold the integrity of the sport.
Acknowledging Thompson as the legitimate winner, her coach, Laurence Shahlaei, commended her outstanding performance and highlighted the significance of gender-specific categories in sports. Support poured in for Thompson, with 2023 World’s Strongest Man Mitchell Hooper and multiple champions endorsing her victory.
Hooper criticized the competition outcome, noting significant physical differences between Booker and other participants, advocating for upholding fairness in women’s sports. The ensuing controversy has raised concerns about governance, athlete classification, and the lack of disclosure in the sport.
The title has been rightfully awarded to Thompson after organizers acknowledged the oversight regarding Booker’s gender identity. They clarified that athletes must compete based on their biological sex at birth, emphasizing inclusivity while ensuring fair competition. The Mirror reached out to Booker for comments.