The Body Beautiful. Athletes In The Buff For ESPN Magazine.

Athletes in the buff

Each year, in ESPN Magazine’s Body Issue, there’s a breathtaking photo editorial of athletes in the buff. These “bodies we want” are shot by numerous well-known photographers in varied styles. The elegant portraits capture these toned sports heroes wearing nothing but talent.

The 2014 ESPN BODY ISSUE lauds the magazine with multiple covers and inside there are 60 stunning photos.

The six covers of 2014 ESPN Body Issue IIHIH

Like I did in this past post from the 2011 ESPN Body Issue, I’ve selected 30 of my favorites to share with you today. My apologies in advance to the photographers whose images I cropped for this post.

US National Hockey Team forward Hilary Knight by Martin Schoeller:
US National Hockey Team forward Hilary Knight by Martin Schoeller IIHIH
US National Hockey Team forward Hilary Knight by Martin Schoeller2 IIHIH
Texas Rangers first baseman Prince Fielder by Alexei Hay:
Texas Rangers first baseman Prince Fielder by Alexei Hay IIHIH
Texas Rangers first baseman Prince Fielder by Alexei Hay2 IIHIH
Tennis Player Venus Williams by Williams + Hirakawa:
Tennis Player Venus Williams by Williams + Hirakawa IIHIH
Tennis Player Tomas Berdych by Max Vadukul:
Tennis Player Tomas Berdych by Max Vadukul IIHIH
Boxer Bernard Hopkins by Max Vadukul:
Boxer Bernard Hopkins by Max Vadukul IIHIH
Surfer Coco Ho by Morgan Maassen:
Surfer Coco Ho by Morgan Maassen 2 IIHIH
Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch by Carlos Serrao:
Seattle Seahawks runningback Marshawn Lynch by Carlos Serrao IIHIH
Snowboarder Jamie Anderson by Peggy Sirota:
Snowboarder Jamie Anderson by Peggy Sirota IIHIH
Snowboarder Jamie Anderson by Peggy Sirota IIHIH2
18 time Olympic Gold Medalist Swimmer Michael Phelps by Carlos Serrao:
18 time Olympic Gold Medalist Swimmer Michael Phelps by Carlos Serrao 18 time Olympic Gold Medalist Swimmer Michael Phelps by Carlos Serrao2 IIHIH
2014 USA National Boxing Champion Danyelle Wolf by Peter Hapak:
Boxer Danyelle Wolf by Peter Hapak2 IIHIH
Boxer Danyelle Wolf by Peter Hapak IIHIH
Snowboarder and Paralympic Medalist Amy Purdy by Paolo Kudacki:
Snowboarder and Paralympic Medalist Amy Purdy by Paolo Kudacki IIHIH
Seattle Reign Forward Center Megan Rapinoe by Peter Hapak:
Seattle Reign Foward Center Megan Rapinoe by Peter Hapak IIHIH
RallyCross Racer and Pro Skateboarder Travis and Lyn-Z Pastrana by Martin Schoeller:
RallyCross Racer and Pro Skateboarder travis and Lyn-Z pastrana by Martin Schoeller IIHIH
Oracle Team Skipper Jimmy Spithill by Steven Lippman:
Oracle Team Skipper Jimmy Spithill by Steven Lippman IIHIH
Oklahoma City Thunder Forward Center Sergei Ibaka by Peter Hapak:
Oklahoma City Thunder Forward Center Sergei Ibaka by Peter Hapak IIHIH
LA Galaxy Defender Omar Gonzales by Finlay MacKay:
LA Galaxy Defender Omar Gonzales by Finlay MacKay IIHIH
Guard /forward Atlanta Dream Angel McCoughtry by Art Streiber:
Guard: forward Atlanta Dream Angel McCoughtry by Art Streiber IIHIH
Atlanta Dream guard forward Angel McCoughtry by Art Streiber IIHIH
Cliff Diver Ginger Huber by Dean Treml:
Cliff Diver Ginger Huber by Dean Tremi IIHIH
Bobsledder Aia Evans by Williams + Hirakawa:
Bobsledder Aia Evans by Williams + Hirakawa IIHIH
BMX Rider Nigel Sylvester by Carlos Serrao:
BMX Rider Nigel Sylvester by Carlos Serrao2 IIHIH
BMX Rider Nigel Sylvester by Carlos Serrao IIHIH
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald by Richard Phibbs:
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald by Richard Phibbs IIHIH
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald by Richard Phibbs2 IIHIH

To see all of the images, uncropped, and learn more about each athlete visit ESPN here

Links to all the fabulous photographers:
Peggy Sirota
Carlos Serrao
Peter Hapak
Martin Schoeller
Morgan Maassen
Finlay Mackay
Williams + Hirakawa
Art Streiber
Richard Phibbs
Alexei Hay
Max Vadukul
Steven Lippman
Paolo Kudacki
Dean Treml

If you never saw the equally fabulous photos of athletes from the 2011 ESPN Body Issue, check those out here.