Last week, ESPN the Magazine came out with their Body Issue. Every year, athletes from a wide variety of sports take it down to the bare minimum — literally — in order to show the world just how fantastically in shape they are.
It would be absolutely dishonest of me to say that I haven’t looked through these pictures more than once a day since the issue came out.
As every single one of us (don’t lie, even you) look at athletes with a primal eye, we don’t need to be reminded that these people are in peak physical condition. That’s why we’re looking. You know what, though? They work their asses off for it.
I have the utmost respect for them, as they’re willing to put everything they have towards becoming the best in their field. The bodies that they’re showing us are part of the benefit.
These pictures are so beautifully done, so tasteful, I can’t help but just stare at some of them with a slack jaw. Each defined cut of an abdominal, every trapezius or deltoid or quadricep that stand out even among all the other muscles leave me in awe. These women are toned and strong, yet feminine. The men are powerful and cut, yet not in the almost extraterrestrial body builder way.
Each image makes me want to work that much harder. I’ll never be a professional caliber athlete, but in my own realm of remaining fit, these pictures are motivating to me in a much different way than the weekly “ooh, he’s pretty” type of reaction. They make me want to stay healthy, to work harder and become stronger, faster, better at everything I try to do.
I love that these athletes are so willing to disrobe to let our voyeuristic tendencies speed right past the surface and out into the open.
Today, and every day since this came out, I am motivated.
To see the gallery of photos, go here. You might not want to leave that site any time soon.
