The World’s Strongest Woman competition has been thrown into turmoil after organizers revoked the 2024 title, saying the winner, Jammie Booker, failed to disclose that she was male at birth — a violation of the sport’s rules.
According to the New York Post, Booker, a Philadelphia-based competitor, was disqualified Tuesday, just days after dominating the Women’s Open category at the Official Strongman Games World Championship in Arlington, Texas.
In a statement posted to social media, organizers said they were blindsided.
“It appears that an athlete who is biologically male and who now identifies as female competed in the Women’s Open category,” the organization announced. “Official Strongman officials were unaware of this fact ahead of the competition, and we have been urgently investigating since being informed.”
They stressed that their rules require all athletes to compete based on their biological sex recorded at birth.
“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,” organizers added.
Booker’s disqualification immediately reshuffled the podium and confirmed what many competitors and fans had already been arguing — that runner-up Andrea Thompson of the UK was the rightful winner. Thompson made headlines over the weekend after storming off the podium, calling the initial outcome “bulls–t” as cameras rolled.
Organizers said final placements will now be officially corrected.
“We are clear – competitors can only compete in the category for the biological sex recorded at birth,” the group said. “Official Strongman is inclusive and proud to run events which do not discriminate against athletes based on personal characteristics. Any athlete is welcome. But it is our responsibility to ensure fairness.”
The backlash had already been building before the official ruling. Three-time champion Rebecca Roberts criticized the situation publicly, saying that athletes were kept in the dark.
“Transgender women, people born male, should not be competing in the women’s category,” Roberts said. “What happened this weekend wasn’t transparent. None of us knew. Not even the organizers knew. And when fairness is taken by surprise, trust in the sport begins to crack.”
“My message is simple. Trans people belong in sport, but women’s divisions must remain biologically born female-only,” she added.
Booker has not commented on the disqualification. Organizers said attempts to reach her since the event had been unsuccessful.
