British sprinter Amy Hunt and several other female athletes have publicly condemned a recent sports gambling advertisement featuring actress Sydney Sweeney for its portrayal of women in sports. The ad, which has gone viral online, shows Sweeney nude while covering herself with pieces of sporting equipment, prompting backlash around the sexualization of female athletes.
Following her performance at the Ultimate Championship in Budapest, where Hunt ran a season-best of 22.10 seconds to finish fourth in the 200m final, she addressed the advert directly during a post-race BBC Sport interview. Hunt contrasted Sweeney’s image with the reality of competitive athletes by referencing Melissa Jefferson-Wooden’s winning time of 21.47 seconds, the fourth fastest ever for the distance, emphasizing “muscles, hard work, blood, sweat, tears” as the true representation of women in sport.
Widespread Athlete Backlash
The advertisement has provoked strong reactions not only from Hunt but from numerous female athletes across multiple sports, who have spoken out against their sexualization and the undermining of their athletic achievements. The movement to challenge the portrayal began with American gymnast Gracie Kramer, who posted training footage with the caption underscoring that real women in sport look very different from the ad’s depiction.
Notable voices include four-time Olympic swimming champion Ariarne Titmus of Australia, who described the advert as “a kick in the face” to women devoted to their sport and to fans who appreciate athletic excellence rather than sexualized imagery. Similarly, British cyclist Sophie Capewell, rugby players Lisa Neumann and Ellie Boatman, and Australian water polo Olympian Tilly Kearns shared their own experiences and frustrations related to the issue.
Sydney Sweeney’s Role and Public Reaction
Actress Sydney Sweeney, known for her role in the television series Euphoria and films such as Anyone But You and The Housemaid, became the focal point of the controversy due to her starring role in the advert. While the campaign’s creators intended to merge sports imagery with gambling promotion, many viewers and athletes consider it reductive and damaging to the image of women in competitive sports.
