In the last few weeks, the strength world has been buzzing about one story: a male athlete competing in the women’s division at one of the biggest strongman competitions in the world—and winning. That moment forced a difficult question to the front of the line: what do we do with trans-identifying athletes in strength sports, especially in women’s divisions, and how should Christians think about it? Before getting to the biblical issues, it’s important to understand exactly what happened at Official Strongman Games (OSG) and why it matters for female athletes.
OSG is one of the largest international platforms in strongman and strongwoman competition. Women who win their class there earn the title “World’s Strongest Woman,” making it one of the most meaningful titles in the sport. At this year’s OSG, a trans-identifying athlete, Jammie Booker, competed in the women’s division, won the events, stood on the podium, and was initially awarded the title. A few days later, OSG leadership revoked the win, removed Booker from the women’s results, and bumped the biological women up to their rightful placements. Administratively, they got it right after the fact—but the lingering question is how the situation happened in the first place.
It becomes especially striking when you look at the physical reality involved. Jammie Booker is reportedly around 6’6″ and roughly 400 pounds—an extremely large-framed male by any standard. As a male competitor, Booker had not qualified for OSG and likely wouldn’t have been competitive even at many local men’s shows, especially at superheavyweight. Yet in the women’s division, Booker dominated, and this was only the third competition entered as a “woman.” In strongman, that’s unheard of; most people are still trying to figure out a sandbag at their third show, not blowing away an international field. It’s a massive red flag, and not because anyone’s “offended,” but because the integrity of the category itself is compromised.
Many people assume that lowering testosterone or taking estrogen levels the playing field. It doesn’t. The advantage isn’t just hormone levels; it’s male puberty. Once a male body has developed through puberty, it carries larger bone structure, thicker joints, greater muscle mass potential, broader shoulders, longer limbs, and neurological wiring for speed, power, and strength. You cannot erase that with hormones later in life. A mediocre male athlete will often outperform elite women at the same bodyweight because the structure itself is different. That isn’t cruelty—it’s physiology.
Some argue that women in untested strength sports use PEDs, so it shouldn’t matter. But PEDs layered onto a female skeletal frame are still PEDs on a female frame. A biological female, even one running PEDs, does not suddenly become equivalent to a biological male who developed under testosterone from childhood through adulthood. The gap remains, especially when you’re hoisting hundreds of pounds overhead or moving massive implements.
Allowing males into women’s divisions destroys fairness and eventually destroys the category. Women lose podium spots, records, titles, and years of work to competitors who carry male advantages even if they’re average by men’s standards. And when women realize they can’t win, they stop showing up. The division collapses into a costume category, not a legitimate athletic one.
Federations got caught trying to appear “inclusive” without grappling with biological reality. In untested strength sports—where many athletes are already pushing physiological extremes—relying on self-identification or hormone levels is meaningless. Protecting women’s divisions may require clear rules limiting them to biological females and possibly one-time chromosome or sex verification for national or international contests. Is it awkward? Sure. Is it more awkward than the erasure of women’s sport? Absolutely not.
But Christians can’t limit the conversation to sport alone. We have to look at the deeper cultural and spiritual issue. Scripture is clear: God created humanity male and female, intentionally and with purpose. Rejecting one’s created sex is not a harmless personal preference; it’s rebellion against the design God called good. When people try to rewrite something as foundational as their sex, it leads to psychological distress, higher depression, higher suicide rates after transition, and widespread regret among those who detransition. Sin doesn’t merely “break rules”; it breaks people.
Two destructive paths often appear: verbal-only identity claims, which warp the mind even without medical intervention, and full medical transition, which is irreversible self-harm. Both are fueled by deception, and both harm not just the individual but the communities that affirm the lie. Much of this is driven by environment—especially algorithms. People who are mentally fragile or isolated often spend huge amounts of time online. Algorithms feed them more of what they linger on, creating an echo chamber that normalizes and even celebrates gender confusion. Parents must be vigilant, adults must be honest about their own screen habits, and Christians must avoid naivety about what constant online immersion does to the mind.
So how should Christians respond? Not with cruelty. Not with mockery. Not with internet bravado at the expense of real people. But also not with affirmation of lies wrapped in the language of “kindness.” Truth without love is harsh, but love without truth is a lie. When someone struggling with identity comes to you, they are an image-bearer, not a culture-war punching bag. They need compassion, clarity, and the gospel—not silence or flattery.
Where do we go from here? In strength sports, women’s divisions need protection, and federations must acknowledge biological reality. In the church, we must hold fast to God’s design, call people to repentance and restoration, and guide the confused with patience and truth. And for all of us, we must guard our hearts against the environments and influences shaping our imaginations. God has already spoken about who we are. This isn’t just about one competition in one year—it’s about whether we will honor the Creator’s design, protect the vulnerable, and speak truth in an age determined to replace reality with ideology.
To hear more of this conversation, watch our podcast episode here.