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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\u2019s sports.<\/p>\n
Demi Vollering, two time Tour de France winner among other major victories, is one of those voices.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor a very long time, women have fought to be seen for what they can DO, not only for how they look,\u201d Vollering posted online<\/a>. The accompanying video, a montage of Vollering\u2019s numerous achievements on the bike, was captioned by the words \u201cRespectfully\u2026\u201d then \u201cThis is what women in sports look like.\u201d<\/p>\n Vollering knows what is at stake. Before winning her third Li\u00e8ge-Bastogne-Li\u00e8ge title this spring, the Dutch star pointed out that, when she started racing, the idea of a women\u2019s version of the men\u2019s race was just a dream<\/a>. She quickly added that women\u2019s professional racing is still a long way from being treated equally. By organisers, promoters and even cycling\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n \u201cMaybe it\u2019s good that it started a conversation,\u201d Vollering added, in reference to Sweeney\u2019s ad. \u201cBut it\u2019s also sad that women still need to have this conversation.\u201d<\/p>\n Women\u2019s pro racing is, despite lingering inequalities, enjoying a phenomenal period of growth. Vollering argues that makes the current moment potentially pivotal.<\/p>\n \u201cWomen\u2019s sport is growing incredibly fast. With that comes an opportunity, and I think also a responsibility, for athletes, brands, media and sports organisations,\u201d The FDJ Suez racer argues. \u201cWhat do we want the next generation to see?\u201d<\/p>\n\u201cWhat do we want the next generation to see?\u201d<\/h2>\n
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