Strongwoman Competition Ends in Controversy
The 2025 World's Strongest Woman finals in Arlington, Texas, have become the center of a major sports controversy after American athlete Jammie Booker, who competitors claim is biologically male, won the gold medal. The victory has sparked intense debate about fairness in women's strength sports.
Great Britain's Andrea Thompson, who took second place, reportedly walked off the podium during the ceremony, appearing to say 'this is bulls***' while Booker celebrated the win. The British athlete has since been declared the 'true World's Strongest Woman' by her coach and fellow competitors.
Revelations and Reactions
Rebecca Roberts, a three-time World's Strongest Woman champion, made shocking claims that no one knew about Booker's background - not even the event organizers. Details about the American athlete remain unclear, but Mail Online referenced a YouTube video from September 2017 that appears to show Booker identifying as a trans woman.
In the video, Booker reportedly stated: 'I'm 21-year-old trans woman with a history of abuse, struggling to stay true to herself while under the rule of her religious parents.'
Sports Community Responds
The controversy has prompted strong reactions from within the strength sports community. On Monday night, Roberts posted an Instagram picture with the text 'Protect Women's Sports' alongside a lengthy statement.
Roberts wrote: 'I hold no hate toward transgender people. Everyone deserves dignity, respect, and the freedom to live their truth. But I cannot stay silent about something that threatens the fairness and future of women's strength sports.'
She emphasized that her concerns weren't about identity or politics but about physical differences in strength-based sports that don't disappear with transition. Roberts argued that women's categories were created for a reason and maintaining biological female-only divisions is essential for the sport's integrity.
The champion strongwoman concluded: 'What happened this weekend wasn't transparent. None of us knew. Not even the organizers knew. And when fairness is taken by surprise, trust in the sport begins to crack.'
The incident has ignited a broader conversation about transgender participation in women's sports, particularly in strength competitions where physical advantages can significantly impact results.
