The Official Strongman Games stripped the winner of its women’s competition after officials discovered the winner was “biologically male.”
This year’s games were hosted in Arlington, Texas, over the weekend. Jammie Booker initially was declared the winner, but officials said they were “unaware” that Booker was born male and “now identifies as female.”
“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 Woman’s Open category. We are clear – competitors can only compete in the category for the biological sex recorded at birth,” the Strongman Games wrote on Instagram Tuesday.
As a result, Booker was disqualified, and the title went to Andrea Thompson, a weightlifter from the U.K.
Booker’s Instagram biography cites “she/her” pronouns. It also includes a list of Booker’s accolades, which include “Pro strongwoman, world’s strongest woman 2025, North America’s strongest woman, Rainier classic, and personal trainer.”
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“The Official Strongman World Championships is an event which is rightly one of the pinnacles of the strength world,” the Strongman Games added. “We are disappointed on behalf of all those who fairly and legitimately took part that the attention has been taken away from their efforts which deserve celebration, no matter how they performed or where they finished. We stand with them and stand with fairness.”
Thompson confirmed that “no one, including the @officialstrongmangames team had any clue what was about to transpire” and “no one had any reason to suspect otherwise” in an Instagram post. While on the podium in second place, Thompson was photographed with an unhappy look on her face, while Booker smiled and held up a trophy.
“Firstly, this has been the most exhausting experience of my career,” Thompson wrote on Instagram Tuesday. “What should be a momentous occasion has sadly been overshadowed by scandal and dishonesty from someone who was welcomed into our crazy sport. A sport which encourages women to celebrate themselves without being judged on how society says they should be.”
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“I am not only frustrated with not being able to celebrate a win, but also for the ladies who had their time to shine on the podium or reach the final day, taken away from them,” Thompson added. “Whilst I cannot say it won’t ever happen again, I am confident that we will work something out to prevent it in the future. For now, ladies, keep showing up. Take up space. Be loud. Be proud. Show your daughters how amazing you are.”
Booker has yet to address her disqualification publicly. Strongman Game officials said they also failed to reach Booker after the competition.