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Strongwoman

A strongwoman is a woman who performs feats of strength in a show or circus, or a woman who competes in strength athletics. Traditionally, strongwomen have had a special appeal, as women involved in demonstrated feats of strength were exceptions.

Traditional strongwomen

Traditionally, strongwomen were featured as performers in a circus, or in vaudeville, music halls, or other venues, and engaged in feats of strength such as barbell lifting and human juggling.

Some famous traditional strongwomen include:

Miss Athléta (Athleta Van Huffelen), (1865 – 1927) born in Belgium.
Minerva (Josephine Blatt née Wohlford), (1869 – 1923) born in New Jersey.
Vulcana (Miriam Kate Williams aka Kate Roberts), (1874 – 1946) born in Abergavenny, Wales.
Miss Apollina (Elise Gillaine Herbigneaux), (1874 – Unknown) born in Belgium.
Charmion (Laverie Vallee née Cooper), (1875 – 1949) born in Sacramento, California.
Macarte Sisters, a British strongwoman trio act of the late 19th and early 20th-centuries: Julia (1878–1958); Adelaide (1879–1908) and Cecilia (1881–1939)
Marina Lurs (Maria Loorberg), (1881 – 1922) born in Estonia.
Anette Busch, (1882 – 1969) born in Estonia.
Katie Sandwina, (1884 – 1952) born in Vienna, Austria.
Marie Ford, (1900 – Unknown) born in New York.
Ivy Russell, (1907 – Unknown) born in Croydon, England.
Luisita Leers (Martha Luise Krökel), (1909 – 1997) born in Germany.
Mildred Burke, (1915 – 1989) born in Coffeyville, Kansas
Abbye "Pudgy" Stockton, (1917 – 2006) born in Santa Monica, California.
Joan Rhodes, (1920 – 2010) born in London, England.
Charmaine Childs, AKA Betty Brawn, (performed as a circus strong lady from 2002 to 2023) born in Rockhampton, Australia.

Modern-day strongwomen

In recent years, the term strongwoman has come to refer to the women who compete in events such as the annual World's Strongest Woman and Arnold Strongwoman Classic competitions. Strongwomen compete in the sport of Strongman and the sport has become popular with female strength athletes over the past decade that there are several state and nationally sanctioned competitions that prepare amateur female athletes for national competitions that allow for the opportunity to compete as professionals. In all these contests, the participants compete in similar types of events that can be found in a Strongman competition. Such events include, but are not limited to:

Deadlift with various implements such as a barbell, axle, loaded frame, car, etc., all of varying weights
Squat with varying weight, often the barbell or axle is loaded with wagon or truck wheels that are larger than standard weighted plates
Atlas Stones
Húsafell Stone
Loading Medley
Overhead press using various implements such as an axle, circus dumbbell, log, keg, or block – all of varying weights
Vehicle pull
Keg-tossing
Conan's Wheel
Farmer's Carry
Hercules Hold
Fingal's Fingers
Tire flip
Power stairs

Some notable modern strongwomen:

International Accolades

The table below summarizes the most decorated strongwomen in modern history with the most number of international wins in their careers (1st places only/ open weight and age categories only).

Active Retired

Additionally, the following 15 strongwomen have won 1 international competition (open category) each:

Edith Pongratz, Michelle Sørensen & Nina Geria (1 from 1 each); Annina Saine, Shayna Wirihana & Erin Murray (1 from 2 each); Liefia Ingalls & Annabelle Chapman (1 from 3 each); Hannah Linzay (1 from 5); Kati Luoto (1 from 6); Britteny Cornelius (1 from 9); Anna Harjapää (1 from 10); Heini Koivuniemi & Brooke Sousa (1 from 11 each); Andrea Thompson (1 from 15)

- As at 17 March 2024

Training

Women who compete in Strongman (strongwomen) must be well versed in the styles and techniques that are demonstrated in both powerlifting and Olympic weightlifting as the types of lifts that are performed in both sports are fundamental in strength sports and carry over into the techniques that have been developed for the events that make up a Strongman competition. In addition to developing the proper technique for the foundation lifts, strongwomen must also develop endurance through cardiovascular conditioning training. Being able to adapt to implements (straight barbells versus axle barbells, axle barbells versus logs, etc.) is important as the technique used for the different implements are nuanced and are not readily available at commercial gyms.