Team GB sprinter Amy Hunt’s nail tech reveals manicure behind gold medal wins
By Scratch Staff | 25 August 2026 | News & Events
Champion sprinter, Amy Hunt, has attracted recent media attention for a number of reasons. Competing at the European Athletics Championships, Amy scooped four gold medals in the 100m and 200m sprints, as well as women’s and mixed 4x100m relays. However, beyond her athletic prowess, it was her dazzling nail design that dominated headlines.
Featured image: Annabel Lee-Ellis for PA Images/Alamy
Known for her love of ‘glam’, Amy regularly competes in full make-up and, notably, with an eye-catching manicure. In July, at the 2026 Commonwealth Games, the athlete sported a stunning red 3D nail design, while a blue floral style characterised her stint at the World Athletics Championships in March.
Speaking to media after competitions, Amy has often mentioned how ‘getting glam’ helps her get in the zone. In an interview with BBC Newsbeat, she said: “The glam helps that mentality because sprinting is such a confidence game.”
Nailing it: on and off the track
The European Athletics Championships this August saw Amy showcase a mesmerising manicure. The blue and silver style was created by Italian nail artist, Asia Crivellaro (@nailsxasia).
The Padua-based tech has been doing nails since October 2024, and specialises in long, embellished enhancements. “I realised I wanted nails to be my career when I woke up every day excited and happy to work,” Asia tells Scratch.
Asia’s collaboration with the four-time gold medallist came about thanks to social media. “Amy was looking for someone in Padua to do her nails, and found me on TikTok,” Asia explains. “After contacting me on Instagram, she showed me her inspiration photo and we modified it based on her tastes.”
“There’s a lot of storytelling going on,” Amy said of the nail design in a video uploaded to Instagram by European Athletics (@europeanathletics). The nail look included several references to Birmingham – the location of the European Athletics Championships.
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“This is the Bullring,” Amy shared, pointing to her middle fingernail, which featured an isolated chrome circle inspired by the shape of the city’s biggest shopping centre, Bullring.
“This is like the jewellery quarter,” she added, gesturing to her gem-encrusted index fingernail. Amy explained that the blue and silver colour palette was an intentional choice, matching the colours of Birmingham City Football Club, as well as her race day earrings.
Asia Crivellaro reveals that the manicure took three hours to create, and she relied on dual forms and milky white acrygel for the length. “The design worked so well because nails mirror the wearer’s personality, and Amy has a fantastic one,” Asia comments. “I think a great set of nails comes down to the vibes of the person and the passion you put into it.
“I never dreamed that my nail work would be seen at the European Athletics Championships,” Asia says with a smile. “I hope I can use this as a launch pad to make a name for myself.”
She tells Scratch that doing Amy’s nails has been ‘the most significant moment’ in her career so far, adding: “I am so grateful for the opportunity.”
A history of self-expression
Amy Hunt isn’t the only athlete to embrace self-expression on the track. Intricate nail art is also a signature style of fellow runners, including Olympic 800m champion, Keely Hodgkinson, and 100m world champion, Sha’Carri Richardson.
They follow in the footsteps of renowned 1988 World Record holder, Florence Griffith Joyner (Flo-Jo), whose daring nail designs often exceeded four inches in length. The Olympic track and field star’s brightly coloured acrylic nails clashed with what was ‘expected’ from athletes at the time, leading to a deluge of media coverage.
Despite the attention, the star continued to sport eye-catching nail enhancements and still inspires athletes to this day. Here at Scratch, we hope the future of sport continues to allow athletes to express themselves through nail art – and we can’t wait to see which styles will grace the track next.
