Nudity in Sports: A Pictorial History

Even before Michelangelo sculpted the statue of David, one of mankind's great masterpieces, humans have been fascinated by the human form. The body has been recreated and admired through art, our fascination with the physical self standing the test of time.

As technology has advanced, we have been granted the means to capture the body on film as it actually is, the camera providing a more perfect mirror of reality than the statue or paintbrush ever could.

And so, with the news that Brooklyn Decker recently released a tasteful, sexy gallery of topless photos, we at Bleacher Report felt that now was the time to celebrate the art of displaying the human form on film. Thus, we present to you Nudity in Sports: A Pictorial History.

It is no secret that athletes possess the sort of toned and chiseled frames needed to withstand the many rigors of competitive sport. On this slideshow, we celebrate that fact. 

 

 

25. Sarah Reinertsen

Reinersten was the first female leg amputee to ever complete the Ironman Triathalon in 2005, an incredible feat on so many levels.

She appeared in ESPN the Magazine's 2009 Body Issue.

Honestly, as inspirational as Lance Armstrong's story is, for Reinersten to not only complete the Ironman, but to do so as an amputee is remarkable to me.

Kudos to you, Sarah Reinersten.

 

Photo from ESPN

24. Claire Bevilacqua

As you will see, ESPN the Magazine's Body Issue is the source for several of these photos. Thus, I now present the conversation between two completely theoretical ESPN executives, Bill and Ted, as they brainstorm and devise the Body Issue concept.

Bill: Ted, I've got an idea I'm really excited to share with you.

Ted: Oh man, if this is as good as your Interactive Tuesday idea, I am going to love it!

(Bill and Ted's Theoretical ESPN Adventures will resume after the next slide)

 

Photo from ESPN

23. Lauren Jackson

Lauren Jackson is one of the most talented, accomplished and beautiful women in the WNBA.

She also has the propensity for modeling au naturel, using her hair as a shawl.

It's a good look.

22. Natasha Kai (Soccer)

(We now return you to Bill and Ted's Theoretical ESPN Adventures)

Bill: So you know how—despite the fact ESPN the Magazine's content is totally "hip" and "happening," and geared toward a younger crowd that enjoys our "celebrification" of athletes—we are lagging behind Sports Illustrated in subscriptions?

Ted: Yeah, for whatever reason, people seem to enjoy the interesting articles they provide. Apparently, people enjoy well-researched, quality writing. Who knew?

 

Photo from ESPN

21. U.S. Women's Softball Team

Bill: Beats me, Ted. And you know how they charge huge—and I mean, HUGE—advertising rates for their Swimsuit Edition?

Ted: Do I know? I lose sleep over the advertising revenue the Swimsuit Edition brings them. That's my Holy Grail. I would leave my wife for those rates. Heck, I'd leave my secretary.

Bill: I know, Ted, me too. But I think I've devised a way we can top them. I believe it can be done, but we've got to go big, bold, controversial. We've got to go with...

Ted: (gasps) Nudity! My God, Bill, it's brilliant!

(Bill and Ted's Theoretical ESPN Adventures will resume after the next slide)

 

Photo from ESPN

20. Federica Pellegrini

Since most of you probably can't read Italian, I'll translate for you.

We put bronzer on this lovely swimmer because her beauty must be immortalized like a finely-sculpted statue. We must spend our days sending love notes to this newest talking statue of Rome. Federica, for you we only write praise!

Um, ignore the obvious question mark on the picture, or the fact that there only appears to be one sentence on the photo. It just, you know, translates funny and what not.

 

Photo from Vanity Fair Italy

19. U.S. Women's Water Polo Team

(We now return you to Bill and Ted's Theoretical ESPN Adventures)

Bill: That's right, Ted, we've got to go with nudity.

Ted: But Bill, we're ESPN. We're the Worldwide Leader. We are the epitome of class and journalistic integrity.

(Both laugh)

Ted: Alright, so maybe not that last part.

 

Photo from ESPN

18. The LPGA's Christina Kim, Anna Grzebien and Sandra Gal

 Bill: (wipes brow) Ah, journalistic integrity, you kill me, Ted. More like the Worldwide Leader in Self-Promotion. But to get back on topic, the way to do this is to simply shift the focus from the idea of nudity to the idea of the athlete's body.

Ted: Go on...

Bill: See, if we say admire the incredibly toned and muscular bodies of athletes that we could never have, it will seem classier. So we will still rope in big numbers because nudity sells, but we will change the focus so it will seem classier.

Ted: And instead of having the usual suspects, like Maria Sharapova, we can mix in less mainstream athletes, males, even some older folks to drive the point home. Including males will satisfy the female demographic, that's a definite plus!

(Bill and Ted's Theoretical ESPN Adventures will resume in two slides)

 

Photo from ESPN

17. Amy Acuff

Acuff, an Olympic high jump specialist, proudly displays the flag of her country.

I think there is some sort of deep symbolism here, as though Acuff is saying we must wear our liberty and display it to the world, for without it, we are naked and vulnerable.

That, or she is a hot Olympian from America, and they wanted to cover her with as little as possible while driving home the Olympic theme.

Yeah, it's probably the latter.

16. Gabrielle Reece

The former volleyball player is one of many athletes featured on this slideshow to pose for Playboy.

I'll give Playboy this—when doing shoots with athletes, they tend to connect it to the sport they play in some manner, however subtle. Which makes it far more artistic, I think, than simply having them sit on a chair without a shirt on.

Though I'm not entirely sure how water and volleyball connect, unless they are somehow connecting water to the "beach" aspect in beach volleyball.

Somehow I highly doubt that.

 

Photo from Playboy

15. Serena Williams

(We now return you to Bill and Ted's Theoretical ESPN Adventures)

Bill: Exactly. And you know I want some Serena in this.

Ted: Aw hells yeah, man, that would be dope.

Bill: Ted, please don't forget that you are still an old, wealthy white man, and you sound silly when you talk like that.

Ted: My bad.

 

Photo from ESPN

14. Biba Golic (Ping Pong)

Bill: Well, it is settled then. We'll call it the uh, um, hold on, its coming to me...

Ted: The Body Issue!

Bill: Ohmigod, I love it. Nobody will see that name and go, "Oh, an issue focusing on nudity, and they call it the Body Issue, which is ironic because publications such as this one and the SI Swimsuit Edition often give women body issues of their own."

Ted: No, people aren't clever enough to draw that conclusion.

(Stay tuned for the dramatic conclusion to Bill and Ted's Theoretical ESPN Adventures)

 

Photo from ESPN

13. Lavinia Milosovici

Here, the former Romanian gymnast begins her morning with a bit of nude stretching.

Strangely enough, that is how I like to start my morning as well, though I assure you those pictures won't be popping up on the Internet anytime soon.

12. Nicole Reinhardt

Sadly, we had to crop certain parts of this photo out, as Olympic kayaker Nicole Reinhardt wasn't shy in exposing herself.

I knew that the Olympics had rowing, though I didn't realizing kayaking was a part of the games as well.

And I certainly didn't expect to see a beauty like Reinhardt representing the sport in Playboy.

 

Photo from Playboy

11. Diana Taurasi

(We now return you to the dramatic conclusion of Bill and Ted's Theoretical ESPN Adventures)

Bill: Well Ted, we've done it once again. We truly are visionaries.

Ted: We will be rolling in the moneys, Bill. Show me the moneys!

Bill: Ted, why do you say moneys? Seriously, you always do it, and it really annoys me.

Ted: Oh. I always thought it was sort of cutesy and endearing.

Bill: Ted, you're a crusty old white man, for heaven's sake, start behaving like one!

Ted: (sheepishly) You're right. Sorry Bill.

 

Photo from ESPN

10. Gina Carano

Bill: Holy Hannah, Ted, I just got another idea!

Ted: Go on...

Bill: So you know how LeBron James is going to be a free agent in 2010?

Ted: Go on...

Bill: And you know how teams are already clearing cap space for him, creating a ridiculous amount of hype and anticipation for the 2010 summer?

Ted: Go on...

Bill: What if we broadcast the press conference when he makes his announcement? We could hire a hack reporter to ask him dumb questions, maybe have him donate to some charity to lessen the blatant narcissism of the whole thing, and even have cameras stationed in Cleveland in case he leaves and breaks the city's heart.

Ted: I love you, Bill. Seriously, I am completely in love with you. That is brilliant. Let's high five now, and maybe hold one another.

Fin

 

Photo from ESPN

9. Kim Kardashian

Though I focused mainly on athletes, I had to include a few WAGs in here. And if Kim Kardashian is decorated in silver paint, like a sexy Tin Woman, well, she's going to make the list.

And now you know who has the Tin Man's heart.

 

Photo from W Magazine

8. Amanda Beard

This photo of Amanda Beard is not only sexy, but it is simply the coolest picture on the list. That is fantastic photography right there.

 

Photo from Playboy

7. Ashley Harkleroad

I can't show you the nude aspects of this photo—or any of the other pictures from the Playboy shoot with the former tennis player—but use your imagination.

Or Google Images, if you must. Either should suffice.

 

Photo from Playboy

6. Lolo Jones

I feel like on this slide I should point out that in no way, shape or form was there anything ironic about me poking fun at ESPN for the Body Issue, all while posting pictures from that very issue on a slideshow entitled Nudity in Sports: A Pictorial History.

Not the faintest trace of irony whatsoever.

Also, Lolo Jones is simply gorgeous, and bears some resemblance to Rashida Jones, which is always a good thing.

 

Photo from ESPN

5. Hope Dworaczyk

Jason Kidd's ex-girlfriend showed off her love of basketball in Playboy, allowing the magazine to paint her in a hot Mavericks uniform.

Painting sexy bodies > fat guys painting their faces and chests.

It's simple math.

 

Photo from Playboy

4. Roberta Mancino

Roberta Mancino will literally jump off of anything, so long as it involves danger.

She has also been known to pose in the nude for some truly gorgeous shots.

She has even combined the two, skydiving naked with only the necessary equipment.

What a woman.

3. Brooklyn Decker

Ah, and here we have the lovely lady that inspired this slideshow, Brooklyn Decker.

Andy Roddick, I am so jealous of you right now.

 

Photo from Egotastic and Mark Squires Photography

Brooklyn Decker (cont'd)

My jealousy has yet to wane.

Somehow, the fact that these are in black and white makes them that much sexier, as if it was even possible to make Brooklyn Decker any hotter.

But there is that vintage aspect of the black and white photograph, the whimsical nostalgia it evokes, that—paired with Decker's beauty—simply takes your breath away.

 

Photo from Egotastic and Mark Squires Photography

2. Leryn Franco

This was the June photo for a 2007 calender released by the stunning Paraguayan javelin thrower, Leryn Franco.

If I were to give this particular photo a title, it would have to be "June Swoon."

On to the next slide, I'm feeling faint...

1. Bia and Branca Feres

I've been tongue-tied in life many times. But it is rare that a photo can leave me type-tied.

The Feres twins, synchronized swimmers from Brazil, have that power.

So all I can really type—to borrow the Portuguese word for stunning—is impressionante.

Muito, muito impressionante.

 

Photo from VIP Brazil

 

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