Amy Hunt says Sydney Sweeney advert could create barrier for girls in sport
The British sprinter says women in sport should be represented for what their bodies can do, rather than how they look.
British sprinter Amy Hunt has criticised a controversial sports betting advert starring Sydney Sweeney, saying it could become a barrier to girls’ participation in sport.
The advert features the American actress naked while covering parts of her body with sporting equipment. Hunt said sporting role models should focus on women’s physical capability rather than 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.
Hunt cited a claim that 64% of young girls leave exercise and sport before reaching 16, although that figure is not independently verified in the supplied material. She said there should be no additional barriers to participation, whether girls are pursuing elite competition or recreational activities.
The 24-year-old said sport was physically demanding and “not pretty”, describing moments of illness and disappointment during training and competition. She has also welcomed positive compilations celebrating women in sport that emerged after the advert prompted criticism.
Hunt ran a season’s best 22.10 seconds in the 200m final at the Ultimate Championship in Budapest and won four gold medals at the European Championships in Birmingham last month.
