American strongwoman Jammie Booker, 28, has been stripped of her 2025 World’s Strongest Woman title after it emerged she was transgender and failed to disclose her male birth status before competing. The revelation has set off a firestorm over fairness in women’s strength sports.
British Runner-Up Crowned New Champion
Britain’s Andrea Thompson, who narrowly missed out by just one point, has been declared the rightful 2025 champion following Booker’s dramatic disqualification. Thompson stormed off stage in protest at the initial result, muttering “This is bullshit,” before social media sleuths dug up a 2017 video where Booker identified as a trans woman.
The fierce showdown took place at the Official Strongman Games World Championships in Arlington, Texas, where 10 top female athletes battled through brutal events like deadlift, log press, and atlas stones. Booker had clinched victory with 52 points to Thompson’s 51, but the result was overturned after organisers launched an urgent probe triggered by public outcry.
Official Games Slam ‘Non-Disclosure’ in Statement
The Official Strongman Games revealed they were blindsided, saying: “Officials were unaware of Booker’s gender identity before the competition. Had we known, Booker would not have been allowed to compete in the Women’s Open category.” Attempts to reach Booker went unanswered.
Points were recalculated and Thompson’s win officially confirmed, a verdict welcomed by fans and fellow athletes alike.
Strongman Legends Back Thompson, Demand Fair Play
Coach Laurence Shahlaei praised Thompson’s dominance while stressing the complexity of balancing transgender rights with sport fairness: “Sport is sport and women’s classes exist for a reason.”
Three-time champion Rebecca Roberts was even more forthright, declaring: “Transgender women, people born male, should not be competing in the women’s category. It’s about undeniable physical differences that don’t disappear.”
Roberts condemned the lack of transparency, warning it “cracks trust” in the sport. Thompson herself liked Roberts’ post, while men’s champ Mitchell Hooper and three-time women’s winner Donna Moore congratulated the new champion.
Booker Silent as Sponsor Drops Support
Booker had briefly celebrated her win, saying: “I genuinely did not expect this outcome…it was a pipe dream.” But since the disqualification, she has stayed silent and not explained her non-disclosure to officials.
Worse, sponsor Iron Ape Athletics cut ties, citing “misrepresentation of critical information” and unfair advantage concerns.
The Science Behind The Fury
Experts highlight clear biological advantages men possess, including 30-50% more muscle mass and stronger bones, that don’t vanish entirely with hormone treatment. Critics argue current hormone level rules are insufficient to level the playing field in high-strength competitions.
Social Media Explodes Over Fairness Debate
- Hashtag #ProtectWomensSports trended with 100,000+ posts.
- Fans praised the restored fairness with messages like “Fair play wins, congrats Andrea!”
- Others expressed confusion or sympathy for Booker’s situation.
Official Strongman Games Investigates All 2025 Events
The organisers announced a full eligibility review across 2025 competitions amid calls for tougher pre-event screening. The Booker-Thompson saga highlights the urgent need for clearer rules to safeguard women’s sports — balancing inclusion without sacrificing fair competition.
Andrea Thompson’s hard-fought victory now stands as a rallying cry in one of sport’s hottest cultural battles. The search for solutions that respect both transgender athletes and female competitors is far from over.
