U.S. actress Sydney Sweeney is attracting attention to her latest ad campaign, for a sports betting site, but not in a particularly positive way. After appearing nude with various sports equipment in the ad, numerous pro female athletes are upset with Sweeney for risking undoing, to some degree, decades of work to advance public perception of women’s sports.
Demi Vollering, two time Tour de France winner among other major victories, is one of those voices.
“It’s sad that women still need to have this conversation”
“For a very long time, women have fought to be seen for what they can DO, not only for how they look,” Vollering posted online. The accompanying video, a montage of Vollering’s numerous achievements on the bike, was captioned by the words “Respectfully…” then “This is what women in sports look like.”
Vollering knows what is at stake. Before winning her third Liège-Bastogne-Liège title this spring, the Dutch star pointed out that, when she started racing, the idea of a women’s version of the men’s race was just a dream. She quickly added that women’s professional racing is still a long way from being treated equally. By organisers, promoters and even cycling’s own governing body, the Union Cyclistes Internationale (UCI), there is a long, if gradually decreasing, list of ways in which women are not given the same opportunities in pro road racing as men.
“Maybe it’s good that it started a conversation,” Vollering added, in reference to Sweeney’s ad. “But it’s also sad that women still need to have this conversation.”
“What do we want the next generation to see?”
Women’s pro racing is, despite lingering inequalities, enjoying a phenomenal period of growth. Vollering argues that makes the current moment potentially pivotal.
“Women’s sport is growing incredibly fast. With that comes an opportunity, and I think also a responsibility, for athletes, brands, media and sports organisations,” The FDJ Suez racer argues. “What do we want the next generation to see?”
“Women’s sport deserves so much more” says Demi Vollering after Liège win
Read Vollering’s full post. Then, if you’re also pissed off by Sweeney’s actions, take positive action. Tour de Gatineau is starting this week and, with world championships in Quebec less than two weeks away, a particularly star-studded field is in Quebec early to contest the Canadian two-day race. Show you care about women’s racing, not racey photoshoots, and follow the race live (or here, on Canadian Cycling Magazine). Here’s how to watch from home.
For what it’s worth, the rapid growth of online sports betting (and so-called “prediction markets”) isn’t great, either.