Overview
- The Official Strongman Games announced Tuesday that Jammie Booker was disqualified from the Women’s Open in Arlington, Texas, and that Andrea Thompson is the official 2025 champion.
- Organizers said they were unaware prior to the event that Booker was biologically male, removed Booker from results and prize listings, and reported unsuccessful attempts to contact the athlete.
- The organization reiterated its policy requiring competitors to enter divisions based on biological sex recorded at birth and said it will overhaul verification processes that had relied on self-declaration.
- Scrutiny followed a viral podium walk-off by Thompson and a resurfaced 2017 video appearing to identify Booker as a trans woman, while sponsor Iron Ape cut ties citing alleged misrepresentation to officials.
- Athletes and coaches, including Rebecca Roberts, Laurence Shahlaei, and Mitchell Hooper, questioned competitive fairness and noted that placements, prize money, pro cards, and national bids were affected.