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: • Becca Swanson, powerlifting world record holder

• Jan Todd, powerlifting world record holder

• Bev Francis, powerlifting world record holder

• Aneta Florczyk, 2003, 2005, 2006 and 2008 World's Strongest Woman

• Donna Moore, 2016, 2017 and 2019 World's Strongest Woman, 2018 Arnold Strongwoman Classic Champion

• Olga Liashchuk, 2022 World's Strongest Woman, 2019 and 2020 Arnold Strongwoman Classic Champion, most decorated strongwoman of all-time.

• Jill Mills, 2001 and 2002 World's Strongest Woman

• Victoria Long, 2022 and 2023 Arnold Strongwoman Classic Champion

• Michelle Sorensen, 1997 World's Strongest Woman

• Nina Geria, 2011 World's Strongest Woman

• Kristin Rhodes, 2012 World's Strongest Woman

• Kati Luoto, 2013 World's Strongest Woman

• Liefia Ingalls, 2017 Arnold Strongwoman Classic Champion

• Andrea Thompson, 2018 World's Strongest Woman

• Rebecca Roberts, 2021 World's Strongest Woman

• Tatiana Kashirina, weightlifter

• Chen Wei-ling, weightlifter

• April Mathis, powerlifter

• Sara Schiff, powerlifter

• Tamara Walcott, powerlifter

• Bonica Brown, powerlifter

• Robin Coleman, strongwoman

• Heini Koivuniemi, strongwoman

• Lindsey Quinones, strongwoman

• Lidia Gynko, strongwoman

• Niina Jumppanen, strongwoman

• Gemma Taylor-Magnusson, strongwoman

• Anna Rosen, strongwoman

• Jackie Young, strongwoman

• Joanne Barter, strongwoman

• Annika Eilmann, strongwoman

• Emmajane Smith, strongwoman

• Brooke Sousa, strongwoman

• Jessica Fithen, strongwoman

• Cynthia Morrison, strongwoman

• Rhianon Lovelace, strongwoman

• Lyudmila Gaiduchenko, grip strength specialist

• Amy Wattles, grip strength specialist

• Elizabeth Horne, grip strength specialist

• Jaana Tanner, grip strength specialist

• Adriane Blewitt, grip strength specialist

• Beth Phoenix, wrestler

• Ronda Rousey, wrestler

• Nyla Rose, wrestler

• Janae Kroc, powerlifer and bodybuilder

• Amber DeLuca, strongwoman, bodybuilder, powerlifer and pornstar

• Elizabeth (Aunty Liz) Mason-Shahlaei

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).

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.

Competitions
This is a list of Strongwoman Competitions. Some also include men.
 * Maidens of MightStrongwoman Challenge 2019
 * California's Strongest Women
 * Connecticut's Strongest Man and Woman
 * May Flowers of Power Competition
 * Central Valley Strongest Man and Woman
 * Central Valley Strongest Man and Woman
 * War on the Shore Strongman/Strongwoman Classic
 * Minnesota State Strongman & Strongwoman Championships
 * Texas Strongest Woman
 * Official Strongman Games