Female athletes push back on Sydney Sweeney ad with training videos
Female athletes are criticizing Sydney Sweeney's gambling advertisement for its sexualization of women, with British sprinter Amy Hunt leading the backlash after finishing fourth in the 200m final at the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest. Hunt told BBC Sport that women in sport are defined by hard work and dedication, referencing winner Melissa Jefferson-Wooden's time of 21.47 seconds. The Novig campaign features Sweeney mostly nude while mock-playing sports, prompting athletes across disciplines to post training videos highlighting their career struggles and achievements. Sweeney responded by posting images of athletes in similar poses from ESPN's Body Issue, including Serena Williams and Ronda Rousey. The actress, who holds an equity stake in Novig, previously faced backlash over a 2025 American Eagle campaign.