British sprinter Amy Hunt is among the female athletes to speak out against a controversial sports gambling advert starring actress Sydney Sweeney.
The advert has gone viral online and features American Sweeney naked but covering parts of her body with various pieces of sporting equipment.
It has sparked a strong reaction, with many female athletes criticising its sexualisation of women in sport, and how they are being defined by their appearance rather than their achievements as sportswomen.
Hunt, who became a four-time European champion earlier this summer, referenced the advert after she ran a season’s best 22.10 seconds to finish fourth in the 200m final at the Ultimate Championship in Budapest on Sunday.
“Sydney Sweeney, this is what women in sport look like,” Hunt said in her post-race interview with BBC Sport.
Referring to Melissa Jefferson-Wooden’s winning time of 21.47 seconds, the fourth fastest ever over the distance, she added: “21.4. Muscles. Hard work, blood, sweat, tears. This is a beautiful evening.”
American actress Sweeney, 29, starred in the television series Euphoria and her films include Anyone But You and The Housemaid.
The backlash has included many other athletes from a range of sports posting videos of themselves competing or training, and describing the frustrations and struggles they have faced throughout their careers.
The trend was started by American gymnast Gracie Kramer, who posted a montage of herself training with the caption, “I don’t know what Sydney Sweeney was doing, but this is what women in sport look like.”
