ESPN Body Issue 2013: Most Intriguing Athletes Posing in This Year's Issue

For the last few years, ESPN The Magazine has released an annual "Body Issue" celebrating the physical form of the top athletes in sports. This year's class of models features some interesting selections.

These pictures often serve different purposes for every person involved. For many in smaller sports, it is a way of gaining notoriety with the general public. For others, it is a way to show off both physically and mentally as they prove they are not afraid to pose naked.

Still, the most interesting view is that of the public to see how they react to different athletes throughout the pages. The images themselves remain to be seen, but these people should make headlines by simply being involved in this issue.

Colin Kaepernick

The San Francisco 49ers quarterback has had an uneasy ride to becoming a superstar. After taking over for Alex Smith as the team's starter during the regular season, he had to prove himself more than usual because the job was only available due to injury.

However, the bigger issues have been off the field. He recently received some flack for wearing a Miami Dolphins hat to a party, which is something he refused to apologize for. He also had to deal with being questioned about his tattoos by Sporting News columnist David Whitley. Now, he is once again refusing to apologize by showing them and more off to the public.

Kaepernick has shown on the field that he is a different kind of quarterback, with an ability to throw the ball and run it at an elite level. And he is now showing that he's a different kind of football player in general with his off-the-field activities.

Sydney Leroux

As the United States women's national team continues to grow in popularity, the individual players have started to gain more recognition. Of course, posing in magazines like this has helped.

Goalkeeper Hope Solo posed for the Body Issue in 2011, and Abby Wambach took her turn last year. Additionally, Alex Morgan wore only body paint in Sport Illustrated's Swimsuit Issue.

These three players were already the most popular on the team, but their willingness to showcase their bodies helped gain even more recognition on a broader scale.

Sydney Leroux is simply next in line. The 23-year-old forward is one of the best scorers on the team and has the pure skill to become an elite player for the American squad. 

Despite this ability, she's not as universally known as the three aforementioned players. Posing in this issue will help get her name out there, and she should soon be in the group of the more famous players on the team. 

Gary Player

Whether you want to see this or not, you cannot deny that it will be interesting.

Gary Player is one of the best players in golf history, with nine major championships under his belt. He is also 77 years old and will be by far the oldest person ever to pose naked in the history of this issue.

Despite his age, he still plays regularly and takes care of his body. This should encourage other people watching the years go by to stay in shape as well, as Player will prove it is possible.

It also showcases his entertaining personality as someone who won't let what other people think bother him.

This picture might be one that people skip over while looking through the magazine, but you have to respect the man for putting himself out there.

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