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.

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,^[1] circus dumbbell,^[2] 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:

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.^[3]

• Maidens of MightStrongwoman Challenge 2019^[4]
• 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

See also

• Female bodybuilding
• Power training
• Sthenolagnia
• Strength training
• Strongman (strength athlete)

References

External links

• Media related to Strongwomen at Wikimedia Commons