The 2025 World’s Strongest Woman competition in Arlington, Texas, erupted into controversy after American competitor Jammie Booker — who won the Official Strongman Games World Championship over the weekend — was stripped of the title on Tuesday after organizers said Booker failed to disclose that he is a man.
Booker was disqualified for violating the rules that mandate contestants compete in the division matching the sex they were born as.
“It appears that an athlete who is biologically male and who now identifies as female competed in the Women’s Open category,” organizers explained. “Strongman officials were unaware of this fact ahead of the competition and we have been urgently investigating since being informed.”
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“Had we been aware, or had this been declared at any point before or during the competition, this athlete would not have been permitted to compete in the Women’s Open category.”
Booker claimed gold while British powerhouse Andrea Thompson, a former champion and one of the most respected figures in the sport, stepped off the podium muttering “this is bullsh*t,” according to multiple witnesses.
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
Within hours, her coach, former strongman Laurence Shahlaei, declared Thompson the real 2025 champion, praising her dominance in the deadlift, log press, and circus dumbbell. “Sport is sport,” he wrote. “Women’s classes exist for a reason.”
Three-time World’s Strongest Woman Rebecca Roberts ignited the backlash further, saying that no athletes or organizers knew about Booker’s background. A resurfaced 2017 YouTube video appearing to show Booker describing herself as a “21-year-old trans woman” fueled those concerns.
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Roberts posted a blunt statement alongside a “Protect Women’s Sports” image, insisting she held “no hate toward transgender people” but warned that strength sports cannot ignore biological realities. “Women’s divisions must remain biologically female-only,” she wrote, calling Thompson the true champion. Thompson liked the post.
Other top athletes echoed the sentiment. Three-time champion Donna Moore called Thompson the “true winner,” while 2023 World’s Strongest Man Mitchell Hooper blasted the result in a video after watching the event live. “The first time I saw Jammie, I said: ‘This woman looks different,’” Hooper said, noting Booker appeared several inches taller and roughly 80 pounds heavier than any competitor. “There is a time when you have to take a stand for women’s sports.”
Even Booker’s own sponsor, Iron Ape, cut ties before he was disqualified, saying it had “reason to believe” Booker misrepresented critical information to the Official Strongman Games, stressing the decision was about integrity, not identity.
American strongwoman Morgan Irons said Booker’s participation cost women prize money, podium spots, national bids, and a pro card, adding Booker allegedly raised travel funds “under false pretenses.”
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
Booker thanked competitors and organizers on social media after winning, saying the outcome wasn’t expected. His Instagram account, which featured videos of him lifting, is now set to private.
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