Female athletes push back against actress Sydney Sweeney’s controversial gambling campaign
By BBC, September 14, 2026British 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 hit back at Sweemey
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.”
Controversial advert
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.
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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.”
Backlash
Australia’s four-time Olympic swimming champion Ariarne Titmus said, “Not only is it a kick in the face to every woman who has dedicated her life to perfecting her craft, but every woman who enjoys sports for what it really is.
“How do we live in a world where monetising a woman’s body and sexualising women’s sport is still a thing?”
British cyclist and Olympic champion Sophie Capewell,, rugby players Lisa Neumann and Ellie Boatman and Australian water polo Olympian Tilly Kearns also shared their stories.