A MOTHER-OF-TWO has made a triumphant return from the United States after claiming the World’s Strongest Woman title.

Donna Moore, 37, of Colburn, near Catterick, proved victorious at the annual strongwoman contest for the second year running.

A former winner of Queen of the Vikings competition in Sweden, she travelled to North Carolina to compete in the contest considered the pinnacle for female competitors.

She said: “This year’s event was far harder than before due to the number and the standard of competitors.

“More people have become interested in the sport as both viewers and entrants. It is great to see it growing in popularity.”

Ms Moore has been crowned Britain’s Strongest Woman and England’s Strongest Woman on two occasions.

She was also named the Arnold World Strongwoman Champion twice in 2016 and once this year.

The gruelling World’s Strongest Woman competition comprised six events over two days.

Day one included a log lift, car deadlift and yoke run, which sees entrants carry a frame weighing around 42 stone on their back for 15m.

It ended with a medley event, where competitors carry items including a 15 stone sandbag with the winner being the one clocking the fastest time.

The second day featured a truck pull, taking a loaded car over a set distance, and concluded with the atlas stone event – which she holds the world record for.

In this event, competitors must lift five circular stones which increase from 100kg to 160kg onto five high platforms.

The devoted mother took up the sport while living in Inverness and her passion for the sport grew after moving to North Yorkshire.

She began going to the gym after her doctor told her she had to improve her fitness.

In 2012, she was encouraged to take part in a deadlift challenge at her local gym in Scotland.

There she won the Women’s Best Lifter and Women’s Best Deadlift award.

By competing in front of a worldwide audience, she hopes to send a positive message to other women who want to participate.

"I began competing to test my body and see what it can do, and it is such an empowering feeling.

“I want to raise the profile of women in the sport and show the rest of the world that we can be strong.

“You can still be healthy and still be a woman. Lifting weights should not be seen as a bad thing.”

She is training for competitions in 2018 in the hope of winning more titles.

Follow her on Twitter @Donnamoore05D