Racy photo of young figure skater stirs controversy at Canadian newspaper

A racy photo of a young figure skater published on the front page of one of Canada's most important newspapers has stirred controversy.

An upskirt photo of 17-year-old Canadian figure skater Kaetlyn Osmond prompted a note from the Globe and Mail newspaper's public editor saying the choice of image was "unacceptable."

The photo was taken of Osmond at the World Figure Skating Champion in London, Ont.

“Some readers described the photo as too revealing, although it was a typical skating costume. Others said surely you could have found a more dignified photo and I agree with those readers,” editor Sylvia Stead wrote about the incident, reported the National Post.

“The readers and I both thought the photo could be embarrassing to anyone.

Osmond, by contrast, said on Twitter to an editor at the newspaper:

Her next tweet was more tempered:

Reaction to photo: it's not a bad pic. It could have been better, it also could have been worse.I'm excited to be on the cover pic isn't bad

Osmond came in eighth at the World Figure Skating Championship that took place in Canada over the weekend.