The 2025 World’s Strongest Woman competition faced controversy when a transgender athlete reportedly won the title but was later disqualified. American contender Jammie Booker, suspected by some competitors and coaches of being biologically male, triumphed over the UK’s Andrea Thompson in Arlington, Texas. This sparked outrage in the strongwoman community, with footage showing Thompson walking off the podium as Booker celebrated.
Organizers announced the disqualification of Booker from the Official Strongman World Championships 2025, adjusting points and rankings to ensure fairness among all Women’s Open athletes. Thompson, from Melton, Suffolk, received praise as the rightful champion by her coach and prominent figures in the sport. Concerns were raised about the lack of transparency, with claims that neither participants nor organizers were aware of Booker’s background prior to the event.
The debate intensified as a 2017 YouTube video from an account linked to Booker described the individual as a transgender woman. This led to calls for the preservation of women’s sports for biologically born females only. The issue of fairness and the future of women’s strength sports was emphasized, highlighting the physical differences that exist in strength-based competitions.
Acknowledging the controversy, Thompson’s coach publicly commended her performance and emphasized the importance of maintaining separate categories for women in sports. Support poured in for Thompson from various quarters, with the 2023 World’s Strongest Man and other champions backing her as the rightful winner of the competition.
The fallout from the event has sparked discussions on governance, athlete classification, and the need for greater transparency in the sport. The title has now been awarded to Thompson, with organizers affirming their commitment to fairness by ensuring athletes compete in categories aligned with their biological sex at birth. The Mirror has reached out to Booker for comment.