The 2025 World’s Strongest Woman competition, held in Arlington, Texas, was meant to be a celebration of raw power, discipline, and elite athleticism. Instead, it’s now the epicenter of a firestorm shaking the foundations of competitive strength sports — a dramatic collision of fairness, identity, and biology that has ignited an international reckoning.
American athlete Jammie Booker was crowned champion over the weekend after a dominant showing at the Official Strongman Games. But by Tuesday, that title had been revoked, after organizers concluded Booker — who identifies as a woman — is biologically male, a direct violation of the event’s eligibility rules, which clearly state that competitors must compete in the division matching their sex at birth.
Never happens.
Andrea Thompson just had her title stolen by a man, Jammie Booker, who won 1st at the World’s Strongest Woman competition in Arlington, Texas.
“This is bulls&@$. Can we go?” pic.twitter.com/y8JakhMNQL
— XX-XY Athletics (@xx_xyathletics) November 25, 2025
In a terse but pointed statement, event officials acknowledged they had been “unaware” of Booker’s background prior to or during the competition. “Had we been aware,” they wrote, “this athlete would not have been permitted to compete in the Women’s Open category.” The fallout was immediate and explosive.
At the heart of the storm is Andrea Thompson, a decorated former champion from the U.K. who finished behind Booker. Multiple witnesses reported she left the podium fuming, muttering “this is bullsht.”* Her coach, Laurence Shahlaei, wasted no time declaring Thompson the true 2025 champion, highlighting her overwhelming performance in cornerstone events like the log press and circus dumbbell. “Sport is sport,” Shahlaei said. “Women’s classes exist for a reason.”
Indeed, those who built the very foundation of modern strength athletics echoed the frustration. Rebecca Roberts, a three-time World’s Strongest Woman, called out the “lack of transparency,” posting a widely shared statement that included a now-viral image: “Protect Women’s Sports.” In her words: “This isn’t about hate. It’s about biology, and women’s divisions must remain biologically female-only.”
An older 2017 video showing Booker self-identifying as a transgender woman surfaced shortly after the disqualification, sparking further criticism about oversight and disclosure. Booker’s physical advantage — reportedly several inches taller and nearly 80 pounds heavier than any of the other finalists — wasn’t lost on spectators or professionals alike. Mitchell Hooper, the reigning World’s Strongest Man, weighed in sharply, saying, “The first time I saw Jammie, I said: This woman looks different… There is a time when you have to take a stand for women’s sports.”
Female lifter SLAMS Jammie Booker, a male, for stealing a woman’s place and title in the women’s power competition.
“If we do not come together and fight this, we will be erased, and everything that women have fought tooth and nail for will be void. I urge you to stand with… https://t.co/ziAc47jP4u pic.twitter.com/tLoWkXvSQa
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) November 25, 2025
The reaction wasn’t just limited to commentary. Iron Ape, Booker’s sponsor, severed ties before the disqualification was even announced, citing “critical misrepresentations.” In a sport where sponsorships, pro cards, and national team bids are hard-won, the implications of Booker’s presence reverberated far beyond the medal stand.
Morgan Irons, a rising American competitor, laid it out bluntly: “This cost women podium spots, prize money, and a shot at professional advancement.” Irons also alleged that Booker raised travel funds under false pretenses, a charge that, if confirmed, could further damage trust in the strength community’s athlete ecosystem.
Booker, for his part, had posted a thank-you message on Instagram following the win, saying the outcome was “unexpected.” His account has since been locked down, and he has yet to issue a public response.
But the larger issue lingers.
And if the outcry from elite athletes, coaches, and fans is any indication, the integrity of women’s strength sports just went from a simmer to a full boil — and the next chapter promises to be just as unyielding as the athletes themselves.