The winner of a recent World’s Strongest Woman competition has been stripped of her crown after allegations emerged that she was born male.
The controversy reignites the heated and ongoing debate over transgender participation in sports — a topic that has sharply divided public opinion and sparked intense backlash in recent years.
The dispute erupted after American competitor Jammie Booker, who claimed victory at the event in Arlington, Texas, faced accusations that she was biologically male at birth. Andrea Thompson of the UK — the 2018 champion — placed second by a single point and reacted with visible frustration, walking off the stage and calling the result “bull****.”
Shortly after the November 23 competition, an older YouTube video from 2017 resurfaced. In it, Booker described herself as “a 21-year-old trans woman,” discussing her struggles and her upbringing in a strict religious household. The clip, reportedly posted on her own channel, fueled widespread demands that her title be revoked.
Records from Strongman Archives indicate that Booker had not participated in a women’s division before June 2025, when she appeared in the Rainier Classic-Pro-Am.
Following the uproar, Official Strongman announced on social media that they had been unaware of Booker’s background before the event. They stated that the Women’s Open category is reserved for athletes registered as female at birth and acknowledged that Booker would not have been eligible to compete under their rules.
Soon after, the organization officially disqualified Booker, revoked her points, and reordered the rankings. As a result, Andrea Thompson has now been declared the rightful winner.
In a public statement, Thompson expressed both disappointment and sadness over the situation:
“What should have been a proud moment has instead been tainted by deception,” she wrote. “This sport empowers women to compete on their own terms, without being judged by society’s expectations. None of us — including the Official Strongman Games team — saw this coming.”
Thompson added that the scandal not only robbed her of a proper victory celebration but also denied other women their rightful recognition on the podium.
