A trans athlete has sparked outrage after being crowned “World’s Strongest Woman” in Texas.
American competitor Jammie Booker, who was born male, secured first place ahead of Britain’s Andrea Thompson, who appeared to storm off the podium in protest.
Since the verdict, athletes and coaches have declared Thompson the rightful champion.
The incident has reignited fierce debate within the strength sports community about fairness and eligibility in women’s competitions.
Calls for biological sex-based divisions have gained momentum among competitors.
Three-time World’s Strongest Woman champion Rebecca Roberts revealed that neither competitors nor event organisers were aware of Booker’s background before the competition.
Roberts took to Instagram on Monday evening, sharing an image reading “Protect Women’s Sports” alongside a statement.
She wrote: “Transgender women, people born male, should not be competing in the women’s category.”
Andrea Thompson appeared to storm off the podium in protest
The athlete added: “This isn’t about identity. It isn’t about politics. It’s about the undeniable physical differences that exist in strength-based sports… differences that don’t disappear, and that matter more here than almost anywhere else. Women’s categories were created for a reason, and if we lose that, we lose the foundation of our sport.
“What happened this weekend wasn’t transparent. None of us knew. Not even the organisers knew. And when fairness is taken by surprise, trust in the sport begins to crack.
“My message is simple. Trans people belong in sport, but women’s divisions must remain biologically born female-only. I love this sport. I have given my life to it. And I won’t ignore something that could quietly change it forever.”
Thompson’s coach, Laurence Shahlaei, publicly congratulated his client on social media, declaring her the victor of the 2025 World’s Strongest Woman competition.
He wrote: “A huge congratulations to my client but more importantly, my very good friend @andreathompson_strongwoman for winning the World’s Strongest Woman 2025.
“You worked your ass off for this and I’m so proud of you. You absolutely dominated the deadlift, log and circus dumbbell and while there are still a couple of weaknesses to work on, you were still the strongest woman on the day.
“This win hasn’t come without controversy, but I want to make it very clear that while I support and applaud people for being who they want to be, sport is sport and the women’s classes exist for a reason.”
Thompson’s has since reshared the post and many others, declaring herself the champion.
Information about Booker’s background emerged from a YouTube video that appears to have been uploaded to Booker’s channel in September 2017
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Mitchell Hooper, who won the World’s Strongest Man title in 2023, congratulated Thompson on what he called a “champions performance.”
Three-time World’s Strongest Woman winner Donna Moore commented on Hooper’s post, declaring Thompson the “True winner of Worlds Strongest WOMAN this weekend.”
Information about Booker’s background emerged from a YouTube video that appears to have been uploaded to Booker’s channel in September 2017.
In the video, Booker stated: “Everyone is dying to tell their own story and I am obviously no exception to that.”
The video continues with Booker identifying as “a 21 year-old trans woman with a history of abuse, struggling to stay true to herself while under the rule of her religious parents.”
Roberts stressed that the lack of transparency surrounding the competition had damaged trust in the sport.
She wrote: “What happened this weekend wasn’t transparent. None of us knew. Not even the organisers knew. And when fairness is taken by surprise, trust in the sport begins to crack.”
She concluded her statement by congratulating Thompson as “the true Worlds Strongest Woman 2025.”
Thompson’s coach, Laurence Shahlaei, publicly congratulated his client on social media, declaring her the victor of the 2025 World’s Strongest Woman competition
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Thompson was among the many to like the post.
Social media users have reacted to the news, with one writing: “Wait, did a guy compete in the women’s division? I’m confused.”
Another added: “I hope they officially changed the outcome!!”
GB News has contacted the Official Strongman Games for comment.