Gladiators star Jodie Ounsley has voiced criticism of actress Sydney Sweeney's recent naked betting advertisement, joining a chorus of athletes who argue the promotion objectifies women in sports.
Sweeney, 29, appeared in a promotional video for the bookmaker Novig, using sports equipment to cover herself. The advert has drawn widespread condemnation, particularly from female Olympians and athletes.
Ounsley, 25, who transitioned from a professional rugby career to the rebooted Gladiators series, stated, "We've worked hard to earn respect for the sport we play and not how we look." She elaborated in an interview with Talk Sport that the advert "is more focused on female bodies and how they look rather than the actual sport and what our bodies can do and you know what we can achieve in sport." Ounsley added, "It's just great to be celebrated for what we can actually do rather than how we look."
Her comments echo those of British sprinter Amy Hunt, who appeared on Good Morning Britain to criticize the campaign. Hunt emphasized the importance of showcasing what bodies can do in sport, rather than how they look, especially given that "64 per cent of young girls drop out of exercise and sport before they reach the age of 16." She argued that such advertisements can create barriers, and the focus should be on empowering young people to participate in sports without concern for their appearance.
Other athletes have also spoken out against the advert. Four-time Australian Olympic swimming gold medalist Ariarne Titmus expressed her "infuriated" feelings, calling the advert "a kick in the face to every woman who had dedicated her life to perfecting her craft." Titmus questioned why, in the current era, "monetising a women’s body and sexualising women’s sport is still a thing?"
American gymnast Gracie Kramer posted a response on social media with the caption "this is what a woman in sport looks like," which gained significant traction. Fellow Australian Olympian Matilda Kearns shared a video montage of the Australian women's water polo team training and competing, stating, "I absolutely f**king hate Sydney Sweeney's new sports ad." She added, "Here's some real women's sports content."
In response to the criticism, Sweeney shared a series of Instagram Stories highlighting female athletes, including Serena Williams, Ronda Rousey, Sue Bird, Megan Rapinoe, and Caroline Wozniacki, who have appeared nude or semi-nude in magazine photoshoots. She also noted that some male athletes have similarly posed for publications.