Texas AG probes Strongwoman event over trans competitor
The Texas attorney general is investigating a strongwoman weightlifting competition after trans athlete Jammie Booker competed in a women’s field, touching off controversy. Organizers and Official Strongman said their rules require competing in the category matching biological sex recorded at birth and that Booker would not have been allowed had the issue been known; organizers say they have been unable to reach Booker (whose social accounts are now private) and Strongman Archives shows Booker had not entered women’s events prior to June 2025, while Andrea Thompson — ultimately awarded the World’s Strongest Woman title — called the episode “the most exhausting experience” and urged an end to backlash.
📌 Key Facts
- The controversy centers on competitor Jammie Booker and her participation in the event's women's category.
- Andrea Thompson, who was awarded the 'World’s Strongest Woman' title, called the episode “the most exhausting experience of my career” and urged an end to backlash against female competitors.
- Official Strongman posted a policy saying competitors may only compete in the category corresponding to the 'biological sex recorded at birth' and stated Booker would not have been allowed in the Women’s Open had the issue been known.
- Event organizers said they attempted to contact Jammie Booker but received no response and noted Booker’s social media accounts have been set to private.
- Strongman Archives records indicate Booker had not competed in women’s events prior to June 2025; it remains unclear whether she previously competed in men’s events.
📊 Relevant Data
Transgender women after at least one year of gender-affirming hormone therapy demonstrated 19% higher absolute handgrip strength than cisgender women, with values of 40.7 kg versus 34.2 kg.
Strength, power and aerobic capacity of transgender athletes: a cross-sectional study — British Journal of Sports Medicine
The higher handgrip strength in transgender women may be due to retained advantages from male puberty, such as greater muscle mass and bone density, which are not fully reversed by hormone therapy.
Strength, power and aerobic capacity of transgender athletes: a cross-sectional study — British Journal of Sports Medicine
Longitudinal studies show that transgender women experience a 3-5% decrease in absolute lean mass after 12 months of gender-affirming hormone therapy.
The Impact of Gender-Affirming Hormone Therapy on Physical Performance, Muscle Strength, and Endurance in Transgender Individuals: A Narrative Review — The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism
Thigh muscle area in transgender women decreases by 9% after 1 year and 12% after 3 years of gender-affirming hormone therapy, but remains higher than in cisgender women when not adjusted for height.
The Impact of Gender-Affirming Hormone Therapy on Physical Performance, Muscle Strength, and Endurance in Transgender Individuals: A Narrative Review — The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism
Hand grip strength in transgender women shows variable reductions of 4-7% over 12 months of hormone therapy, and when corrected for lean mass, is no different from cisgender women but lower than cisgender men.
The Impact of Gender-Affirming Hormone Therapy on Physical Performance, Muscle Strength, and Endurance in Transgender Individuals: A Narrative Review — The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism
📊 Analysis & Commentary (1)
"An opinion piece critiquing the politicized, bullying response to a contested strongwoman event involving a transgender competitor, arguing for clearer, evidence‑based sports rules rather than legal probes and public shaming."
📰 Sources (2)
- Andrea Thompson publicly reacted to being awarded the 'World’s Strongest Woman' title, calling the episode 'the most exhausting experience of my career' and urging an end to backlash against female competitors.
- Official Strongman published a detailed policy statement that competitors may only compete in the category corresponding to the 'biological sex recorded at birth' and said Booker would not have been allowed in the Women’s Open had the issue been known.
- Organizers said they attempted to contact Jammie Booker, have not received a response, and noted Booker's social media accounts have gone private.
- Strongman Archives indicates Booker had not competed in women’s events prior to June 2025; it remains unclear whether Booker previously competed in men’s events.