{{Short description|Female performer of feats of strength}} {{for|the ''South Park'' character|List of South Park Elementary staff#Strong Woman}} {{Refimprove|date=February 2018}} [[Image:Charmion-strongwoman.png|thumb|360px|right|Charmion (1875–1949), vaudeville strongwoman and trapeze artist]] 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) *{{ill|Marina Lurs|ru|Лурс, Марина}} (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== <!-- Deleted image removed: thumb|360px|right|Cynthia Morrison, Strongwoman, Escape Artist,Jousting Champion, Knife Thrower. --> 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: {{columns-list|colwidth=25em| * 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 or other natural stones * Loading Medleys * Overhead press using various implements such as an axle,<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://strongman.org/events/axle-press/|title=Axle Press |work=Strongman.org|access-date=2017-10-15|language=en-US}}</ref> circus dumbbell,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://barbend.com/get-stronger-single-handedly-starting-strongman-circus-dumbbell/|title=Get Stronger Single-Handedly: Starting with the Strongman Circus Dumbbell |date=2016-06-20|work=BarBend|access-date=2017-10-15|language=en-US}}</ref> log, keg, or block * Vehicle pull * Keg-tossing * Sandbag to shoulder * Conan's Wheel * Farmer's walk * Hercules hold * Fingal's fingers * Tire flip * Power stairs}}
'''Some notable modern strongwomen:'''
{{columns-list|colwidth=12em| *Amber DeLuca *Amy Wattles *Andrea Thompson *Aneta Florczyk *Angelica Jardine *Anna Rosén *Annabelle Chapman *Annika Eilmann *Britteny Cornelius *Brooke Sousa *Camilla Fogagnolo *Cori Butler *Donna Moore *Elizabeth Horne *Elizabeth Spraggins *Emmajane Smith *Gabi Dixson *Gemma Taylor-Magnusson *Hannah Linzay *Heini Koivuniemi *Inez Carrasquillo *Jaana Tanner *Jennifer Lyle *Jessica Fithen *Jill Mills *Kati Luoto *Kristin Rhodes *Lidiia Hunko *Liefia Ingalls *Lucy Underdown *Lyudmila Gaiduchenko *Melissa Peacock *Michelle Sørensen *Nicole Genrich *Niina Jumppanen *Nina Geria *Olga Liashchuk *Pauline Mass *Ragnheiður Jónasdóttir *Rebecca Lorch *Rebecca Roberts *Robin Coleman *Samantha Belliveau *Sandra Bradley *Shayna Wirihana *Susan Holland-Keen *Tamara Walcott *Victoria Long }}
=== 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). {{legend2|#E0FFFF|Active|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}} {{legend2|#F9F9F9|Retired|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}} {| class="wikitable sortable" style="display: inline-table;width: 100%;" |- ! # ! Name ! Country ! Active ! Competitions ! Wins ! Win % |- style="background:#E0FFFF;" | 1 |Olga Liashchuk | {{flagicon|UKR}} Ukraine | 2014– | 23 | 9 | align=center | {{Percentage | 9 | 23 | 2 |pad=yes}} |- style="background:#E0FFFF;" | 2 |Donna Moore | {{flagicon|UK}}{{flagicon|ENG}} UK / England | 2012– | 29 | 7 | align=center | {{Percentage | 7 | 29 | 2 |pad=yes}} |- | 3 |Aneta Florczyk | {{flagicon|POL}} Poland | 2003–2008 | 8 | 6 | align=center | {{Percentage | 6 | 8 | 2 |pad=yes}} |- style="background:#E0FFFF;" | 4 |Inez Carrasquillo | {{flagicon|PUR}} Puerto Rico | 2021– | 14 | 5 | align=center | {{Percentage | 5 | 14 | 2 |pad=yes}} |- | 5 |Victoria Long | {{flagicon|USA}} USA | 2019–2024 | 6 | 4 | align=center | {{Percentage | 4 | 6 | 2 |pad=yes}} |- |- style="background:#E0FFFF;" | 6 |Rebecca Roberts | {{flagicon|UK}}{{flagicon|WAL}} UK / Wales | 2017– | 18 | 4 | align=center | {{Percentage | 4 | 18 | 2 |pad=yes}} |- | 7 |Jill Mills | {{flagicon|USA}} USA | 2001–2005 | 3 | 2 | align=center | {{Percentage | 2 | 3 | 2 |pad=yes}} |- | 8 |Anna Rosén | {{flagicon|SWE}} Sweden | 2002–2012 | 8 | 2 | align=center | {{Percentage | 2 | 8 | 2 |pad=yes}} |- | 8 |Jessica Fithen | {{flagicon|USA}} USA | 2018–2021 | 8 | 2 | align=center | {{Percentage | 2 | 8 | 2 |pad=yes}} |- | 10 |Kristin Rhodes | {{flagicon|USA}} USA | 2008–2018 | 9 | 2 | align=center | {{Percentage | 2 | 9 | 2 |pad=yes}} |- style="background:#E0FFFF;" | 11 |Lucy Underdown | {{flagicon|UK}}{{flagicon|ENG}} UK / England | 2020– | 12 | 2 | align=center | {{Percentage | 2 | 12 | 2 |pad=yes}} |- style="background:#E0FFFF;" | 12 |Andrea Thompson | {{flagicon|UK}}{{flagicon|ENG}} UK / England | 2013– | 27 | 2 | align=center | {{Percentage | 2 | 27 | 2 |pad=yes}} |}
Additionally, the following 23 strongwomen have won 1 international competition (open category) each: Nina Geria, Michelle Sørensen, Edith Pongratz and Angéline Berva (1 from 1 each); Annina Saine, Shayna Wirihana and Katie Blunden (1 from 2 each); Annabelle Chapman and Liefia Ingalls (1 from 3 each); Erin Murray (1 from 5); Kati Luoto and Joe Kimitaunga (1 from 6 each); Cherry Muchindu (1 from 7); Angelica Jardine and Hannah Linzay (1 from 8 each); Britteny Cornelius and Jennifer Lyle (1 from 9 each); Anna Harjapää (1 from 10); Heini Koivuniemi, Brooke Sousa, Samantha Belliveau and Melissa Peacock (1 from 11 each).
- As of 7 March 2026
== 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 == '''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 (strength athlete)
==References== <references />
==External links== *{{Commons category-inline|Strongwomen}}
* Category:Women's sports