Sydney Sweeney's Novig ad sparks backlash from Olympic athletes

Sydney Sweeney's advertising campaign for the sports prediction app Novig, released September 9, has sparked outrage among elite female athletes who accuse the actress of sexualizing women in sports. Olympic gold medalist swimmer Brianna Throssell posted a video of her training on Instagram, writing "this is what women in sport look like," while French triathlete Mathilde Tilly called the ad "disgusting" and "shameful." Other athletes, including sprinter Bree Masters and gymnast Gracie Kramer, voiced similar criticism. Sweeney, who is also a Novig shareholder, defended the campaign as "simple and playful," citing her lifelong involvement in sports including soccer, softball, skiing, and MMA. Her explanations have failed to appease the athletes.