IndyCar racer Helio Castroneves, billiards player Jeanette "The Black Widow" Lee (who has a home in Indianapolis), Gymnast Alicia Sacramone, snowboarder Gretchen Bleiler, goalie Hope Solo, the NBA's Blake Griffin, MLB's Jose Reyes and the NFL's Steven Jackson lead the list of athletes posing nude for ESPN The Magazine's third annual "Body Issue."
More than 20 athletes will appear naked or barely-clothed (with private parts strategically covered) in the "Bodies We Want" section of the 2011 issue, said ESPN The Magazine editor-in-chief Chad Millman. The mag's third "exploration and celebration of the athletic form" hits newsstands Oct. 7.
Other female athletes baring their bodies for photographers: the WNBA's Sylvia Fowles; LPGA rookie Belen Mozo; track and field star Natasha Hastings; hockey player Julie Chu; tennis player Vera Zvonareva; surfer Steph Gilmore; tattooed roller derby player Suzy Hotrod and bowler Kelly Kulick.
The other male athletes: speedskater Apolo Ohno; NHL player Ryan Kesler; UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones; boxer Sergio Martinez; marathoner Ryan Hall and paralympian Jeremy Campbell.
"This is an issue in the short time we've been doing it that's become pretty anticipated," says Millman. "In terms of the athletes we've attracted, we feel like the group is really strong."
The first two risque issues featured athletes ranging from Serena Williams, Dwight Howard and mixed martial artist Gina Carano to amputee triathlete Sarah Reinertsen and the USA Women's Water Polo team.
