Amy Hunt warns betting advert could deter girls from sport
The British sprinter says role models should highlight what women’s bodies can do, rather than how they look.
British sprinter Amy Hunt has warned that Sydney Sweeney’s Novig betting advert could become a barrier for young girls considering participation in sport.
Speaking to Good Morning Britain, Hunt said sports role models should focus on women’s physical capabilities rather than appearance. She said young people should feel able to exercise without worrying about how they look or what they are wearing.
The advert features Sweeney wearing little or no clothing while covered with sports equipment. It has drawn criticism from female athletes, including former US gymnast Gracie Kramer and Australian boxer Skye Nicolson.
Hunt said elite sport was not always attractive or comfortable, describing the physical and emotional demands involved in reaching a high level. She previously posted that “this is what women in sport look like” after finishing fourth in the 200m at the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest.
Sky Sports reported that Hunt cited a statistic claiming 64 per cent of young girls leave exercise and sport before turning 16. The figure has not been independently verified, and the advert’s direct effect on participation has not been demonstrated.
Hunt said the response from women in sport had produced positive compilations that, in her view, had overtaken any negative impact from the advert. Sweeney later shared images from ESPN Magazine’s BODY Issue, including nude images of Serena Williams and Megan Rapinoe, in what was described as a possible response to the criticism.
