Szabo's strides for equality

Gabriela Szabo, the Romanian runner who held off Sonia O'Sullivan for the gold medal in the 5,000 metres in Sydney last year, recently announced another money-making venture. She agreed to pose for Romanian Playboy for an undisclosed fee. In the ongoing struggle for equality and respect for women in sport, Szabo's decision to objectify herself as a sexual fantasy for Romanian men can hardly be said to be progressive. No doubt the photographs will be undertaken in the "best possible taste", in "context' and in a very "artistic and not pornographic way". It means, of course, that not only Sonia has to look at her backside.