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. Modern day strongwoman competitions test athletes' physical strength and endurance through a variety of heavy lifts and events.

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) – Belgium (1865–1927) Marie Sirois – Quebec, Canada (1865–1920) Minerva (Josephine Blatt née Wohlford) – New Jersey, US (1869–1923) Vulcana (Miriam Kate Williams aka Kate Roberts) – Abergavenny, Wales (1874–1946) Miss Apollina (Elise Gillaine Herbigneaux) – Belgium (1874 – Unknown) Charmion (Laverie Vallee née Cooper) – California, US (1875–1949) Macarte Sisters – Great Britain Julia (1878–1958), Adelaide (1879–1908) and Cecilia (1881–1939) (Maria Loorberg) – Estonia (1881–1922) Anette Busch – Estonia (1882–1969) Katie Sandwina – Vienna, Austria (1884–1952) Marie Ford – New York, US (1900 – Unknown) Ivy Russell – Croydon, England (1907 – Unknown) Luisita Leers (Martha Luise Krökel) – Germany (1909–1997) Mildred Burke – Coffeyville, Kansas, US (1915–1989) Abbye "Pudgy" Stockton – Santa Monica, California, US (1917–2006) Joan Rhodes – London, England (1920–2010) Reba Rakshit – Kolkata, India (1933–2010) Jan Todd – Pennsylvania, US (born 1952) Bev Francis – Australia (born 1955) Charmaine Childs (aka Betty Brawn) – Australia (born 1965) Becca Swanson – Papillion, Nebraska, US (born 1973)

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:

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).

# Name Country Active Competitions Wins Win % 1Olga Liashchuk Ukraine 2014– 23 9 2Donna Moore UK / England 2012– 29 7 3Aneta Florczyk Poland 2003–2008 8 6 4Inez Carrasquillo Puerto Rico 2021– 14 5 5Victoria Long USA 2019–2024 6 4 6Rebecca Roberts UK / Wales 2017– 18 4 7Jill Mills USA 2001–2005 3 2 8Anna Rosén Sweden 2002–2012 8 2 8Jessica Fithen USA 2018–2021 8 2 10Kristin Rhodes USA 2008–2018 9 2 11Lucy Underdown UK / England 2020– 12 2 12Andrea Thompson UK / England 2013– 27 2

Competitions International Championships: World's Strongest Woman Arnold Strongwoman Classic Rogue Invitational Shaw Classic Women's Open World's Ultimate Strongwoman Extinct Games Ultimate Strongman Women's World Championship Natural World's Strongest Woman Continental Championships: Europe's Strongest Woman North America's Strongest Woman Africa's Strongest Woman Pacific Strongest Woman National Championships: Iceland's Strongest Woman America's Strongest Woman Britain's Strongest Woman Canada's Strongest Woman Finland's Strongest Woman Germany's Strongest Woman Russia's Strongest Woman Australia's Strongest Woman

See also Female bodybuilding Power training Sthenolagnia Strength training Strongman

References

External links