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A British athlete honored as the world's strongest woman says she was robbed of her victory celebration after it was revealed the original champion was a trans female who was not qualified to compete.

The British strongwoman was granted the championship retrospectively after US competitor Jammie Booker was removed from competition.

The champion explained to athletic press the event, held in the Texas city of Arlington, was overshadowed by an individual who wasn't eligible to participate.

"I was extremely disappointed and upset with what she's done," she stated. "She was untruthful and was quite deceptive, and took away a lot of things from a lot of women.

"The lady that finished 11th didn't get the chance to compete in the third day... to achieve the elite ranking in the world."

Event coordinators, the strongman organization, stated "competitors could only compete in the division for their birth sex recorded at birth", and that they had eliminated the athlete in question "who is male by birth."

Competition Background

Records indicate Booker participated in at least two other female strength events this season - winning the Rainier Classic in June and finishing second at North America's Strongest Woman in mid-summer.

Sports media could not reach the athlete and event officials said "efforts had been made to get in touch with the competitor... but a reply had not been obtained."

The champion, 43, ultimately became the world's strongest woman for the second time, having previously claimed the championship in two thousand eighteen.

But it was only after this year's event finished that she learned her opponent had been not qualified to compete.

"There was no indication at all during the event - no-one had any cause to question any issues," said the parent from East Anglia.

"It happened about several hours after that the first rumours started circulating, and then the officials contacted me.

"It's a significant accomplishment that's been marred by some dishonesty."

Event Details

Power competitions have no single regulatory authority, instead, independent groups run a variety of events.

The World's Strongest Woman title is awarded at the International Strength Competition, organized by a British company.

Over 400 competitors from approximately forty countries took part in this year's competition, which organisers characterize as "among the highest points of the power sports community."

The Competition included events across various sex, body mass and years categories.

Thompson and Booker were in the Female Open category and participated in half-dozen disciplines over three days, including the overhead press, timber frame carry and deadlift ladder.

Regulations and Qualifications

A statement from event officials stated: "Athletes are placed to male or female categories based on whether they are recorded as man or female at birth.

"It appears that an athlete who is biologically male and who currently self-identifies as female participated in the Women's Open division... officials were unaware of this situation ahead of the event."

In 2023, Texas introduced a law banning "biological men from competing against women competitors", although this only applies to higher education athletics in the state.

The champion thinks strongwoman events may implement gender verification in the coming years.

"I suppose it's going to have to go down that route... but our sport is still quite new. There's not enough money in it to have these procedures in operation. We rely on the integrity of the athletes."

Wider Sports Context

In recent years, a increasing quantity of athletic organizations have barred competitors who have gone through puberty as males from participating in elite female competition, amid apprehensions over fairness and safety, including global aquatics and athletics bodies.

In spring, major British athletic organizations were among a number of institutions to follow suit, after the Britain's highest court's ruling that the legal definition of a woman is based on biological sex.

The moves have been challenged by trans rights campaigners, who argue they could violate individual freedoms and insist participation should be prioritised.

Both global track and field and boxing bodies introduced chromosomal testing this year, claiming it is needed to protect the integrity of female sports.

An official from the global track organization has claimed that between 50 and 60 athletes who went through puberty as males have been finalists in the women's division in global and continental athletics competitions since the year two thousand.