The 2025 World’s Strongest Woman final has sparked controversy following the gold medal win by Jammie Booker, an athlete alleged to be transgender. Booker, an American, defeated Great Britain’s Andrea Thompson in the competition.
During the medal ceremony, Thompson reportedly walked off the podium in frustration, while Booker celebrated her victory. Thompson has since been hailed by her coach and some peers as the “true World’s Strongest Woman.”
Three-time champion Rebecca Roberts claimed that even the event organizers were unaware of Booker’s background prior to the competition. According to reports, Booker had publicly identified as a transgender woman in a 2017 YouTube video, describing herself as a “21-year-old trans woman with a history of abuse, struggling to stay true to herself under the rule of her religious parents.”
Following the event, Roberts posted on Instagram urging the protection of women’s sports. She 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. Transgender women, people born male, should not be competing in the women’s category.”
Roberts emphasized that the issue is about physical differences in strength-based sports, not identity or politics. She added that transparency in competitions is essential to maintain trust in the sport.
Her message concluded with support for Thompson:
“Congratulations to Andrea Thompson… the true World’s Strongest Woman 2025.”
The controversy has reignited global debate over transgender athletes competing in women’s sports, with advocates on both sides calling for clearer rules and policies to ensure fairness while respecting athletes’ rights.
