The world of competitive strongwoman events has been rocked by a major controversy, resulting in a British athlete being rightfully crowned champion after the initial winner was disqualified for being a biological male. Andrea Thompson, a 43-year-old from Melton, Suffolk, has spoken out about the 'dishonesty and deception' after her second-place finish at the Official Strongman Games World Championships 2025 was overturned.
A Victory Marred by Controversy
The event, held in Arlington, Texas, saw American Jammie Booker, 28, narrowly beat Thompson to claim the title. Footage from the trophy ceremony showed Thompson visibly frustrated, heard saying 'this is bull****, can we go?' before storming off the stage. At that moment, she blamed herself for the loss. 'I was just angry with myself,' Thompson told the Daily Mail, reflecting on her initial disappointment. 'The video and pictures that are going around of me looking really miserable are just me being frustrated and upset with myself.'
It wasn't until the following Monday that the truth emerged. Thompson received a link to an adult website containing an alleged photograph of Booker, revealing that her competitor was biologically male. 'I was like oh my goodness, what is this?' she said. The online speculation quickly escalated, with fans and fellow athletes uncovering a 2017 YouTube video where a person believed to be Booker stated, 'I'm a 21 year old trans [woman] with a history of abuse.'
Organisers Take Action and Crown Rightful Winner
The Official Strongman Games launched an immediate investigation. They stated they were 'unaware' that Booker was 'biologically male' before the competition and had she declared it, she would not have been permitted to compete in the women's category. The organisation's rules are clear: competitors must participate in the category matching their biological sex recorded at birth.
After giving Booker a 24-hour window to respond to the allegations with no reply, the organisers disqualified her. A new league table was issued, officially placing Andrea Thompson in first place with 43 points. Australia’s Allira-Joy Cowley was awarded second place with 37 points, and Canada’s Jackie Osczevski came third with 32.
Thompson expressed her frustration that her podium moment was stolen. 'I should have got that top spot,' she said. '[The videos show] me looking really miserable, and the way that she's celebrating, I should have been celebrating.' She also highlighted the knock-on effect on other athletes, whose rightful placements and celebratory moments were also taken away.
Broader Implications for Women's Sport
Thompson was quick to defend the event organisers, insisting they had no prior knowledge. The deception was carried out during the registration process, where all contestants must fill out a form and tick a checkbox declaring their biological sex. 'It’s definitely a frustrating situation,' Thompson stated. 'I’m annoyed that she’s deceived and been so dishonest. In her application, in coming into a female sport knowing that she’s not biologically female, that she’s already got that advantage on everybody.'
She voiced concerns about the future of women's sports, worrying that such incidents could discourage young girls. 'Little girls and children come up to us... if they see that a man is coming into our sport and taking over those positions, that doesn’t look good for our future,' she said. The incident raises difficult questions about verification processes in sport, with Thompson pondering whether DNA testing or other checks may become necessary.
In the wake of the scandal, one of Booker's sponsors, Iron Ape, severed ties with her, accusing the athlete of having 'misrepresented critical information' to officials. Thompson, a Guinness World Record holder for the heaviest log lift by a female, is now looking ahead to her next competitions in Singapore and beyond, her rightful title finally restored.
