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Amy Hunt, a British sprinter, discussed on Good Morning Britain the controversy surrounding an advertisement featuring actress Sydney Sweeney that has faced significant backlash from female athletes for allegedly sexualizing women’s sport. Hunt clarified that her criticism isn’t personal against Sweeney but rather highlights the importance of presenting sports as empowering and aspirational for young girls without focusing on appearance. She emphasized the need to address high dropout rates among young female athletes due to societal pressures, advocating for a portrayal of athleticism that reflects its true nature, including its demanding and sometimes unglamorous aspects.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-15,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Amy Hunt, a British sprinter who won four gold medals at the European Athletics Championships, criticized Sydney Sweeney's ad for Novig as sexualizing women’s sports. During an interview on Good Morning Britain, Hunt emphasized that showcasing what female athletes' bodies can do is more important than their appearance. She noted the high percentage (64%) of young girls dropping out of exercise and sport before age 16, urging to avoid placing barriers in their way.
Sweeney's ad features her partially naked with sports equipment covering parts of her body, which drew strong backlash from female athletes like Ariarne Titmus, Gracie Kramer, and Sofie Fella. These athletes described the advertisement as disrespectful and oversexualizing women’s sport. Hunt addressed Sweeney directly after a race in Budapest, stating "Sydney Sweeney, this is what women in sport look like," referring to muscle, hard work, sweat, blood, and tears.
Sweeney responded to the backlash by sharing photos of nude athletes on her Instagram Stories, including Serena Williams, Ronda Rousey, Megan Rapinoe, Caroline Wozniacki, and Rob Gronkowski. Despite this, critics continued to argue that the ad undermines efforts to empower young girls in sports. Hunt clarified that the criticism was not personal but aimed at the advertisement’s intention of sexualizing women's sport rather than celebrating their athletic achievements.
Written for “Sydney Sweeney Ad Backlash” on 2026-09-17,
grounded in this article and the 13 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
The model judged this article politically coded and scored it -0.65, but all 3 of its quote(s) are attributed speech - words the article quotes from someone, not the article's own narration, so the score is not published.
Written under an earlier scoring contract, which gave a paragraph
rather than checkable quotes. Re-analysing this article replaces it.
Leaning score withheld for article 9869: attributed speech only · logged 2026-09-15
Amy Hunt says backlash against Sydney Sweeney ad is ‘nothing personal’
asserted
backlash → say → ad
The ad has received significant backlash from several female athletes, who felt it was “sexualising women’s sport”.
asserted
it → receive → sport
Speaking on Good Morning Britain on Tuesday, British sprinter Hunt discussed the response to the ad, which she said had ended up being a celebration of female athletes.
asserted
she → speak → athletes
She said: “I think the reaction has almost outweighed the moment because the first thing I saw was all of the positive compilations of women in sport.
“
asserted
I → say → sport
It’s actually kind of moved.
asserted
It → move → ?
It’s separated itself from the moment entirely, and it’s not anything personal against that actress.
asserted
it → separate → actress
“It’s more the kind of intention, and it’s just moved into a completely different spin now, where we’re able to kind of have all these different things celebrating women’s sport.”
asserted
we → ’ → sport
However, when asked by presenter Susanna Reid why the ad had caused so much backlash, she replied: “I think 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.
asserted
it → ask → looks
“I think when we see the stats of 64% of young girls drop 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.
asserted
that → think → friends
“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 about what you look like, you don’t have to worry about what you’re wearing.
asserted
you → ’ → what
She added: “Sport, it’s not pretty, and I think that’s the thing to get to the level that we’re at.
asserted
we → add → that
It’s shown to people that being aspirational and trying to be elite is something amazing, and you should really want to be the best version of yourself you can be.”
asserted
you → show → yourself
“And that doesn’t always look attractive, and that doesn’t always look nice.
asserted
that → look → ?
Sometimes it looks like throwing up in the corner of the track, or I’ve had sessions this year where I’ve been crying afterwards.”
asserted
I → look → sessions
During Tuesday’s episode of This Morning, host Cat Deeley called the ad “old-fashioned and not very clever”.
asserted
Deeley → call → ad
Hunt was among those who expressed opposition to the ad when she finished fourth in the 200m final at the Ultimate Championship in Budapest on Sunday.
asserted
she → express → Sunday
In a post-race interview with BBC Sport, she said: “Sydney Sweeney, this is what women in sport look like.”
asserted
women → say → sport
Australian Olympic swimmer Ariarne Titmus also criticised the ad, writing on Instagram that it “infuriated” her and was a “kick in the face to every woman who had dedicated her life to perfecting her craft”.
She also urged Sweeney to “do better”.
asserted
She → criticise → Sweeney
Following the backlash, Sweeney shared several photos of athletes posing nude on her Instagram Stories, including Serena Williams, Ronda Rousey, Megan Rapinoe, Caroline Wozniacki and Rob Gronkowski.
asserted
Sweeney → follow → Williams
Press Association has contacted representatives for Sydney Sweeney for comment.
asserted
Association → contact → comment
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