Andrea Thompson wins world’s strongest woman after trans athlete was disqualified

Britain’s Andrea Thompson has been crowned world’s strongest woman after it transpired the original winner was a transgender woman who was not eligible to compete. Thompson, 43, was awarded the title by event organisers Strongman two days after the event was held in Arlington, Texas from 20-23 November. Strongman only permits competitors to take part in a category which matches their biological sex recorded at birth. Thompson had finished second to the American athlete after the six weightlifting events in the Woman’s Open category. Strongman said in a statement, external its officials were “unaware” the original winner was “biologically male and now identifies as female” and had now “disqualified the athlete in question”.