Chopping down stereotypes: Women compete at French woodcutting championships

Women are breaking barriers—and logs—at the Stihl Timbersports French Championships, where they competed in high-intensity events like chainsaw cutting and axe splitting. The annual event, long seen as a male-dominated arena, is now showcasing the strength and skill of female athletes.

Among the competitors is Julia Barwicki, 21, who began woodcutting as a teen after receiving an axe for Christmas. "I started when I was 15 or 16," she says.

With each swing and saw cut, these women are not only vying for victory but also challenging stereotypes and inspiring a new generation of female competitors in the world of lumber sports.