British sprinter Amy Hunt has expressed concern that a controversial advertisement featuring actress Sydney Sweeney could create a barrier for girls participating in sports. The ad, for a sports betting company, depicts Sweeney scantily clad and covering herself with sporting equipment.
Hunt, who recently achieved a season's best time of 22.10 seconds in the 200m at the Ultimate Championship in Budapest, stated, "This is what women in sport look like." She argued that the focus should be on what a female athlete's body can accomplish rather than its appearance.
"When we're trying to provide role models for young people and young women in sport, we really want to show that it's about what your body can do, not so much what it looks like," Hunt told Good Morning Britain. She cited statistics indicating that 64% of young girls stop exercising or participating in sports before the age of 16, emphasizing the need to avoid placing any obstacles in their way.
Hunt advocates for empowering young people to engage in physical activity without worrying about their appearance or attire. She described her own experiences in sports, noting that it is not always glamorous and can involve intense physical and emotional challenges.
Hunt has had a successful season, securing four gold medals at the European Championships in Birmingham last month. She observed that the public reaction to Sweeney's advertisement has overshadowed the advertisement itself, with many online compilations highlighting the achievements of women in sports.