Growing up during a time when most UK households only had a few television channels meant that viewing options were limited. However, there was one yearly event that captivated audiences – The World’s Strongest Man competition. This televised spectacle showcased incredibly strong men who would lift heavy objects and perform extraordinary feats of strength. Names like Magnús Ver Magnússon became household topics of conversation.
In the modern era of streaming, The World’s Strongest Man remains a popular TV event, with an estimated global audience of 220 million in 2005. But in November 2022, something groundbreaking happened. Donna Moore, Andrea Thompson, and Rebecca Roberts, three women from the UK, joined their male counterparts in a mixed-gender relay race at Liverpool’s M&S Bank Arena. They effortlessly carried 100kg logs, showcasing the immense strength and skill that they possessed. This event, called The World’s Strongest Nation, was a milestone for women’s sports.
It comes as no surprise that the British team emerged victorious. For years, they had been producing the strongest women in the world. Between 2016 and 2021, three women dominated the sport – Rebecca Moore, a dedicated single mother and NHS worker from North Yorkshire, became a three-time world champion; Andrea Thompson, a mother of two from Suffolk, and Rebecca Roberts, a quality assurance analyst from North Wales, added to the country’s triumphs. Although Ukrainian Olga Liashchuk ended their streak with a narrow victory over Thompson in 2022, Roberts secured the title for the second time in May this year.
The British trio boasts an impressive record of competition wins and lifting records. When asked about their secret to success, Moore believes it’s a combination of determination and experience. She also speculates that their well-rounded skills contribute to their achievements, though Roberts, who is relatively new to the sport, remains an enigma.
In the following interviews, Roberts, Moore, and Thompson share their personal journeys to becoming the strongest women in the world. Their impact on the sport has been immense, and their stories inspire countless others.
Rebecca Roberts: From Overweight to Strongest Woman 2021, 2023
Rebecca Roberts, photographed at her home in Merseyside, recounts the unexpected turn of events that led her to the sport of strongwoman. It all began when she met her partner, Paul, through the dating site Plenty of Fish in May 2016. Initially, he helped her with training, recognizing her innate strength. Eventually, he entered her into the UK’s Strongest Woman competition, which she won in September of that year.
The competition took place in a car park in Kent and had more participants than spectators. Roberts won a tub of out-of-date protein powder as her prize, which paled in comparison to the lavish rewards given to male champions like Eddie Hall, who received a brand new motorbike and substantial cash winnings.
In the early days, Roberts struggled with self-consciousness due to her weight and lack of confidence. She would hide in the corner of the gym, dressed in black, to avoid attention. However, her journey in the sport helped her blossom into a confident individual who embraces who she is. Roberts takes pride in her body and mental strength. Her transformation has inspired numerous plus-sized women to enter the gym with confidence, grateful for the motivation Roberts provides. One particular incident, where a woman thanked her for giving her the courage to walk into work with her head held high, moved Roberts to tears. These meaningful interactions mean the world to her.
To excel in strongwoman, Roberts dedicates a significant portion of her life to training. Her daily routine starts with a 5:30 am walk, followed by her job as a quality assurance analyst from 7:30 am to 4 pm. She spends two to four hours training five times a week, often traveling an hour to access specialized equipment. Some days, she doesn’t return home until 10 pm. Fortunately, the sport has become more lucrative in recent years, with events like the 2023 Arnold Strongwoman competition offering $80,000 (£63,000) in prize money, an unheard-of figure just a few years ago.
In March 2022, tragedy struck when Paul was diagnosed with heart failure. Roberts continued training for the UK’s Strongest Woman competition as he underwent treatment in the hospital. She won the competition in late April, driven by a desire to make him proud. Throughout the year, Paul’s health improved, but on December 4, he suffered a fatal heart attack at 8 am. Roberts made a frantic call to emergency services and performed CPR on him until help arrived. Losing Paul was devastating as he was not only her partner but also her coach. They had built a life together, and he had completely transformed her life. When they met in 2016, Roberts was in a dark place, battling suicidal thoughts. Paul helped her find strength and purpose.
Her primary focus now is honoring his memory and continuing the legacy they built together. Roberts aims to be remembered as the strongest woman who ever lived.
Donna Moore: From Unhappiness to World’s Strongest Woman 2016, 2017, and 2019
Donna Moore, pictured at her home in North Yorkshire, never expected to stumble upon strongwoman as her passion. When she got married and had children at a young age, she found herself overweight and unhappy. Seeking a change, she joined a leisure center to attend fitness classes and gradually ventured into lifting weights at the gym. The support and guidance she received encouraged her to focus on becoming stronger.
After her first competition in 2012, Moore decided to fully commit to strength training. She relocated from Inverness to Yorkshire, where she rediscovered her independence and realized her dissatisfaction with her previous relationship. Lifting weights not only brought her joy but also helped her gain confidence. It prompted her to leave her unhappy relationship and create a better life for herself.
Juggling her role as an NHS worker and a mother, Moore prioritized the gym in her schedule. She would involve her children by taking them along or relying on her mother’s help. Moore believes that her dedication and efforts taught her kids valuable lessons about perseverance and reaching goals. They have always been her biggest supporters, just as she has cheered them on in their endeavors.
In 2013, Moore participated in her first World’s Strongest Woman competition in Finland, an experience she describes as “hell in Helsinki.” Despite feeling inadequate compared to the other competitors, it ignited a desire within her to improve and compete on their level. She found a new coach and continued her journey.
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