The 2025 World’s Strongest Woman contest faced controversy as an alleged transgender participant initially claimed victory before being stripped of the title shortly after. Jammie Booker, a competitor from the United States, who some athletes and coaches believe is biologically male, triumphed over UK’s Andrea Thompson in Arlington, Texas, sparking outrage within the strongwoman community. A video capturing the medal ceremony showed Thompson walking off the podium in apparent frustration while Booker celebrated.
Event organizers announced the disqualification of Booker from the Official Strongman World Championships 2025, adjusting athlete rankings to ensure fair placement for all Women’s Open competitors. Thompson, from Melton, Suffolk, received recognition as the “true World’s Strongest Woman” from her coach and prominent figures in the sport, including three-time champion Rebecca Roberts, who highlighted the lack of awareness regarding Booker’s background before the competition.
Despite limited details, a YouTube video linked to Booker’s account in 2017 described them as a “21-year-old trans woman… struggling to stay true to herself.” Roberts emphasized the importance of transparency in sports, advocating for female-only divisions based on biological sex. She stressed the need to preserve the integrity of women’s strength sports, emphasizing the physical discrepancies that exist in strength-based disciplines.
Acknowledging Thompson as the rightful champion, her coach praised her performance, highlighting the significance of women’s categories in sports. Fellow athletes and industry figures rallied behind Thompson, denoting her victory as a testament to women’s strength sports. The controversy surrounding the competition has prompted discussions on governance, athlete classification, and the necessity for comprehensive disclosure in sporting events.
Organizers clarified that only athletes aligning with their birth sex can compete in designated categories, emphasizing fairness and non-discrimination in sports. The Mirror sought comments from Booker regarding the incident.