<\/p>\n
British sprinter Amy Hunt says she is concerned about the controversial advert starring Sydney Sweeney being part of a “barrier” to girls’ participation in sport.<\/b><\/p>\n
The advert for a sports betting company features the American actress naked but covering parts of her body with various pieces of sporting equipment.<\/p>\n
After running a season’s best 22.10 seconds in the 200m final at the Ultimate Championship in Budapest on Sunday, Hunt said: “This is what women in sport look like.”<\/p>\n
Hunt, 24, is among several female athletes who have spoken out against the advert’s messaging.<\/p>\n
“When we’re trying to provide role models for young people and young women in sport, we really want to show that it’s about what your body can do, not so much what it looks like,” Hunt told Good Morning Britain.<\/p>\n
“When we see the the stats of 64% of young girls dropping out of exercise and sport before they reach the age of 16, we don’t need to place any kind of barrier whatsoever in their way in terms of providing the opportunity and the empowerment for them to still exercise, whatever that looks like – professional or kind of just going to do a Parkrun with your friends.<\/p>\n
“So it’s about empowering young girls and young women and young people to show that you really can just get out there, and you don’t have to worry what you look like. You don’t have to worry about what you’re wearing.”<\/p>\n
Hunt has enjoyed a breakthrough season, winning won four gold medals at the European Championships in Birmingham last month.<\/p>\n
She said “sport is not pretty”, describing how she is often sick during sessions or in tears if does not go to plan.<\/p>\n
Hunt said the responses to Sweeney’s advert have eclipsed the controversy.<\/p>\n
“The reaction has almost outweighed the moment because the first thing I saw was all of the positive compilations of women in sport,” she said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n