British sprinter Amy Hunt has intensified her criticism of actress Sydney Sweeney's recent betting advertisement, asserting that the ad sexualizes women's sports and could deter young women from athletic participation.
Hunt, a prominent figure in British athletics, first voiced her objections after Sweeney featured in a promotional video for the bookmaker Novig. In the advertisement, Sweeney used sports equipment to cover herself while posing nude, a portrayal that has drawn widespread condemnation from various sectors of women's sports.
During a post-race interview at the World Athletics Ultimate Championship on Sunday, Hunt publicly criticized the advert. She reiterated and expanded on these concerns during an appearance on "Good Morning Britain" on Tuesday.
"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 stated. She highlighted statistics indicating that 64 percent of young girls stop participating in exercise and sports before the age of 16, emphasizing the need to remove barriers rather than add them.
Hunt argued that the focus should be on empowering young girls and women to engage in physical activity, regardless of how they look or what they wear. She expressed concern that the advert could negatively influence how men perceive female athletes.
"That was a big thing this year for us with the introduction of new broadcasting regulations, in showing the correct or the more appropriate angles of women competing," Hunt said. She stressed the importance of feeling comfortable and empowering others to do the same, noting that female athletes should have a choice in their attire and not feel pressured into wearing revealing clothing.
Hunt has received considerable praise for speaking out. She suggested that Sweeney's advertisement, while controversial, may have inadvertently amplified the conversation around women in sports. "The reaction has almost outweighed the moment," Hunt commented, noting the positive compilations of women in sports that emerged in response.
She clarified that her criticism is not personal against Sweeney but rather directed at the intention and message of the advertisement. Hunt believes the situation has evolved into a broader discussion celebrating women in sports.
Earlier, after finishing fourth in her 200m race, Hunt contrasted the reality of elite athletics with the imagery in Sweeney's ad. She described the sport as involving "muscles, hard work, sweat, blood, tears," and acknowledged that the experience of being a female athlete is often not glamorous or conventionally "sexy."
Hunt also shared a personal detail, mentioning that her period had started just before the championship, illustrating the unglamorous realities that female athletes often manage.