Sydney Sweeney Advert Sparks Debate: Female Athletes Respond
BBC Sport Reports on Controversial Ad featuring Sydney Sweeney
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"This is what women in sport look like – Hunt," a powerful statement by British sprinter Amy Hunt, as she responded to the controversial Sydney Sweeney advert. The advert, featuring Sweeney naked with sporting equipment, sparked a wave of criticism from female athletes worldwide.
Hunt, a four-time European champion, expressed her sentiments after a remarkable performance at the Ultimate Championship in Budapest, running a season’s best 22.10 seconds in the 200m final.
"Sydney Sweeney, this is what women in sport look like," Hunt stated, referencing Melissa Jefferson-Wooden’s winning time of 21.47 seconds, a remarkable achievement.
American actress Sweeney, known for her roles in Euphoria, Anyone But You, and The Housemaid, has attracted significant online backlash for the advert.
The movement gained momentum with athletes from diverse sports sharing their stories, highlighting the struggles and dedication behind their achievements. Gracie Kramer started the trend with a powerful montage, declaring, "I don’t know what Sydney Sweeney was doing, but this is what women in sport look like."
Reactions included:
- Ariarne Titmus, Australian four-time Olympic swimming champion: "Not only is it a kick in the face to every woman who has dedicated her life… but every woman who enjoys sports for what it really is."
- Sophie Capewell MBE, British cyclist and Olympic champion: "How do we live in a world where monetising a woman’s body and sexualising women’s sport is still a thing?"
- Other notable voices included rugby players Lisa Neumann and Ellie Boatman, and Australian water polo Olympian Tilly Kearns.
