Photo via BBC Sport

This is what women in sport look like - female athletes hit back

Top female competitors across multiple disciplines have condemned a widely viewed sports betting commercial featuring 29-year-old American actress Sydney Sweeney, known for Euphoria, Anyone But You, and The Housemaid. The viral clip presents an unclothed Sweeney obscuring her figure using athletic equipment, triggering widespread disapproval over the sexualisation of female competitors and prioritizing physical looks above genuine sporting success.

Former gymnast Gracie Kramer initiated an online response by sharing footage from her gym routines, explaining that competing in leotards subjected her to persistent degrading attention and motivated her to challenge ongoing objectification. Australian swim star and quadruple Olympic gold medalist Ariarne Titmus similarly denounced the promotional material as deeply disrespectful toward women committed to athletic excellence.

The demonstration gained further traction across sports, with British Olympic cycling gold medalist Sophie Capewell MBE, Australian water polo Olympian Tilly Kearns, and rugby figures Ellie Boatman and Lisa Neumann joining the public dialogue. 47-second triumph, the all-time fourth-best mark.

Pointing directly to Sweeney, Hunt cited the sheer physicality, determination, and intense effort demonstrated during the race as the genuine reflection of female athletics.