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World's strongest woman 'didn't like sport'
TL;DR
Andrea Thompson, the world's strongest woman, discovered weightlifting while trying to lose weight before a wedding. She reclaimed her title in 2025 and holds multiple strength records.
Key points
- Andrea Thompson is the world's strongest woman.
- She discovered weightlifting to lose weight before a wedding.
- Thompson reclaimed her title in 2025.
- She holds records in multiple weightlifting categories.
- She was a judge at a recent competition in Colchester.
Mentioned in this story
Andrea ThompsonColchester
UK Armed Forces strongest man and woman competition
Andrea Thompson won the world's strongest woman title in November [Lauren Carter/BBC]
The world's strongest woman has explained how she discovered weightlifting when she decided to shed some pounds before a wedding.
Andrea Thompson, from Melton near Woodbridge in Suffolk, reclaimed the title in 2025 and holds records in Hummer tyre deadlift, elephant bar deadlift and log lift.
On Wednesday, the 43-year-old was on the judging panel at the UK Armed Forces strongest man and woman competition in Colchester.
She said it was "such an inspiration" to see younger women competing, whereas she had "never been great at sport" in her younger years.
She started getting fit for her sister's wedding more than a decade ago.
"I've never really been great at sport, mainly field events like javelin and shot put at school, but never really stuck to anything," she explained.
But she had her "stubbornness" to thank for her eventual success.
"I'm competing against women who are half my age. I've got two teenage girls so my life is very busy outside of the gym," she said.
Maj Lucia Phillips won the main female title at the contest [Lauren Carter/BBC]
Q&A
How did Andrea Thompson become the world's strongest woman?
Andrea Thompson became the world's strongest woman by discovering weightlifting while preparing for a wedding and later reclaiming her title in 2025.
What records does Andrea Thompson hold in weightlifting?
Andrea Thompson holds records in the Hummer tyre deadlift, elephant bar deadlift, and log lift.
Where did the UK Armed Forces strongest man and woman competition take place?
The UK Armed Forces strongest man and woman competition took place in Colchester.