High jumper Ella Junnila criticizes new athletics filming rules

Finnish high jumper Ella Junnila has voiced strong criticism of new broadcasting guidelines for women's athletics, arguing they go too far in restricting how the sport is filmed. The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and European Athletics (EA) issued directives in June to eliminate "sexualizing" close-ups and slow-motion shots of intimate body parts, emphasizing instead the athletes' strength and skill.

Junnila specifically pointed to high jumping as an example, where the guidelines have defined "negative" and "positive" camera angles. She believes many of the prohibited angles are actually beneficial for capturing the essence of the high jump, such as a view from behind the mat that showcases the entire jump. "It's a real shame if we lose these angles completely," Junnila stated, questioning the necessity of removing shots that she feels do not inherently cause problems.

Her primary objection lies in the overly negative framing of the guidelines, titled "Raising the Bar: Guidelines for Respectful Coverage of Women's Athletics." Junnila argues that the focus should be on athletics in general, not specifically women's athletics, as the current approach creates de facto separate rules for men and women, undermining the goal of equality. Despite her critique, she acknowledges the positive intent behind creating a safer working environment for athletes and understands the need for concrete rules in broad directives.

Junnila also shared personal experiences of harassment, including receiving edited video compilations and disturbing fan mail featuring glued-together images of herself. She noted that while such incidents are unpleasant, she has become desensitized due to the sheer volume of inappropriate content online. The athlete is currently focused on the European Championships in Birmingham, having trained specifically for the event with her coach Tia Hellebaut.