@Peter Hapak/ESPN
@Peter Hapak/ESPN
EUGENE, OR – JUNE 23: Lolo Jones reacts after qualifying for 2012 Olympics after coming in third in the women’s 100 meter hurdles final during Day Two of the 2012 U.S. Olympic Track & Field Team Trials at Hayward Field on June 23, 2012 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
DALLAS, TX – MAY 15: Wrestler, Jordan Burroughs, poses for a portrait during the 2012 Team USA Media Summit on May 15, 2012 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
SAN JOSE, CA – JULY 01: Gabrielle Douglas competes on the beam during day 4 of the 2012 U.S. Olympic Gymnastics Team Trials at HP Pavilion on July 1, 2012 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – JULY 07: Serena Williams of the USA hits a forehand return during her Ladies’ Singles final match against Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland on day twelve of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 7, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
Oksana Masters was featured in ESPN’s ‘The Body’ Issue. Masters is a Paralympic rower. (Martin Schoeller/ESPN)
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – MAY 20: Dwain Chambers of Great Britain (L) with Wallace Spearman of the USA after the Mens 150m during the Great City Games on May 20, 2012 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Scott Heavey/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – JUNE 09: Yohan Blake of Jamica races en route to winning the Men’s 100m National Race during the adidas Grand Prix at Icahn Stadium on Randall’s Island on June 9, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
EUGENE, OR – JUNE 29: Sanya Richards-Ross competes in the Women’s 200 Meter on day 8 of the 2012 U.S. Olympic Track & Field Team Trials at Hayward Field on June 29, 2012 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
EUGENE, OR – JUNE 22: Jeneba Tarmoh competes in a preliminary round of the women’s 100 meter dash during Day One of the 2012 U.S. Olympic Track & Field Team Trials at Hayward Field on June 22, 2012 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
EUGENE, OR – JUNE 23: Ashton Eaton reacts after breaking the world record in the men’s decathlon after competing in the 1500 meter run portion during Day Two of the 2012 U.S. Olympic Track & Field Team Trials at Hayward Field on June 23, 2012 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Michael Heiman/Getty Images)
DAEGU, SOUTH KOREA – AUGUST 29: David Oliver of United States looks on after competing in the men’s 110 metres hurdles semi finals during day three of the 13th IAAF World Athletics Championships at the Daegu Stadium on August 29, 2011 in Daegu, South Korea. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
EUGENE, OR – JUNE 30: Allyson Felix runs to victory in the Women’s 200 Meter on Day 9 of the 2012 U.S. Olympic Track & Field Team Trials at Hayward Field on June 30, 2012 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
EUGENE, OR – JUNE 23: Carmelita Jeter celebrates after winning the women’s 100 meter dash final during Day Two of the 2012 U.S. Olympic Track & Field Team Trials at Hayward Field on June 23, 2012 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Michael Heiman/Getty Images)
DAEGU, SOUTH KOREA – SEPTEMBER 04: Usain Bolt of Jamaica celebrates victory and a new world record in the men’s 4×100 metres relay final during day nine of 13th IAAF World Athletics Championships at Daegu Stadium on September 4, 2011 in Daegu, South Korea. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
EUGENE, OR – JUNE 30: Chaunte Lowe celebrates as she competes in the Women’s High Jump Final on day nine of the U.S. Olympic Track & Field Team Trials at the Hayward Field on June 30, 2012 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA – NOVEMBER 17: Track and field athlete Dawn Harper poses for a portrait during the USOC Portrait Shoot at Smashbox West Hollywood on November 17, 2011 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images for USOC)
Athletes not only get praise for their efforts on the field, in the water and the court, but also for their bodies! Many are fascinated by how the Olympic athletes of 2012 are able to stay in excellent shape, making them look much more attractive than the average person. ESPN magazine recently released its fourth annual “The Body“ issue, which showcases some of the world’s hottest athletes with the bodies to match.
One cover photo (out of six versions) that received a lot of attention was of New York Knicks player Tyson Chandler, in which he showed off his toned body and chiseled rib cage. In addition to Chandler’s face, his derriere was featured prominently, to a chorus of mixed reactions. Some readers online commented that they were shocked by the image, but others were vocal about their pleasure. After seeing the picture, web user Mia Mio said:
Nice pix! Chandler, you are an adonis! you got the body, flaunt it.
The titillation folks feel when they look at sexy Olympic athletes’ bodies seems to be universal. Fittnessblackbook.com states that athletes’ proportioned physiques, paired with their award-winning talents, can make them seem much more attractive than average. In an article from Psychology Today, it is revealed that a person’s personality, grace and body language is what makes them appealing. And clearly, much-hyped athletes like Chandler have much more charm and powerful expression through their bodies than most men and women. Given these facts, it’s obvious why most people consider Olympic athletes to be extremely sexy.
Yet, this ESPN Body issue also pushes the boundaries of how people typically define the terms “fit” and “beautiful.” The editors featured 23-year-old Paralympic rower Oksana Masters, whose legs were amputated as a child due to exposure from a nuclear power plant. Her nude photo encourages readers to consider how physical limitations and overcoming them can make an individual even more beautiful regardless of whether his or her body is perfect.
Beauty comes in all different shapes and forms in today’s athletes. Take a look at our slideshow of sexy black Olympians from around the world, and feel free to bask in the allure of these toned bodies.
Follow Chivone Smith on Twitter @misswriterinc.
