Controversy Erupts Over World’s Strongest Woman Contest

A significant uproar has emerged following the victory of Jamie Booker, a man who identifies as a woman, at the 2025 World’s Strongest Woman contest.

Booker, an American, has publicly identified as a “trans woman” since a 2017 video and recently outperformed Britain’s Andrea Thompson in Arlington, Texas.

Thompson immediately expressed her anger after losing to a transgender competitor, reportedly leaving the podium and stating, “This is unfair.”

Some other competitors claimed they were unaware of Booker’s transgender status prior to the contest.

Rebecca Roberts, another contestant, expressed her frustration on Instagram, posting a message that included, “‘Protect women’s sports.'” She emphasized that she harbors no “hate” towards transgender individuals but believes that transgender women should not compete in the women’s division.

Roberts stated, “It’s not about identity or politics; it’s about a clear physical difference that exists in strength sports. The women’s category was established for a reason, and compromising it affects the core of our sport.”

Thompson further criticized the lack of transparency regarding Booker’s participation, claiming, “None of us knew about it, not even the organizers. When fairness is compromised, trust in the sport erodes.”

She added, “My message is straightforward: Transgender athletes can participate, but the women’s category should be for biological women only.”

Supporters of Thompson contended that she was the rightful winner, insisting that Booker’s victory was unjust.

Lawrence Schallai, Thompson’s coach, publicly expressed pride in her performance, stating she dominated various challenges despite acknowledging areas for improvement.

Schallai commented, “This victory was not without its issues, and while I support individuals being true to themselves, sport exists for specific reasons, particularly concerning the women’s class.”

Booker faced criticism from the equipment retailer Iron Ape, which stated it believed Booker “misrepresented material information” to the event officials and subsequently severed ties.

Iron Ape’s owner, Colton Cross, clarified, “This isn’t about Jamie’s gender identity; we do not discriminate based on personal characteristics. However, we expect our athletes to uphold sportsmanship standards, and we must act decisively when those standards are breached.”

In the midst of the controversy, Mitchell Hooper, the 2023 World’s Strongest Man winner, expressed skepticism about Booker’s capabilities from the beginning, noting Booker’s size comparative to other competitors.

He remarked, “Whatever your identity may be, there comes a point when it’s essential to stand up for women’s sports.”

Despite the backlash, Booker shared a message on Instagram celebrating the win, addressing opponents as “badass women” and reflecting on the surprise of the outcome. He remarked that winning felt like “a pipe dream.”

Booker concluded his message with uncertainty about future competitions, stating, “I really don’t know what comes next.”