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Lindsey Vonn, Olympic Athletes: Sports Illustrated Swimsuit 2010

by Sudha Krishna | February 9, 2010 at 03:16 pm

35996 views | 9 Recommendations | 8 comments

Lindsey Vonn, a champion down hill skier, is among the Olympic Athletes featured in the Sport Illustrated Swimsuit 2010 issue.

The popular Vonn has already graced a recent Sport Illustrated Cover and is clearly popular not just for her skiing skills but for her photogenic qualities.

The other Olympic Athletes who are featured in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit 2010 issue are:

Olympic Athletes Featured in Sports Illustrated Swimsuit 2010 issue

Clair Bidez, a 22 year old snowboarder from Vail, Colorado

Lacy Schnoor, a 24 year old aerial skier from Salt Lake City, Utah

Hannah Teeter, a 22 year old snowboarder from Belmont, Vermont

Some have critiqued Sports Illustrated in the way the magazine sexualizes women, especially female athletes. A case in point is Lindsey Vonn's most recent cover for Sports Illustrated. It depicts her bent over on her skies with dramatic mountains as the backdrop.

Dr. Nicole LaVoi studies the roles of Women in sport and she recently made this observation to the Vancouver Sun

"When females are featured on the cover of SI, they are more likely than not to be in sexualized poses and not in action–and the most recent Vonn cover is no exception," she said.

"Picture this as a way to frame what I’m trying to get at: Picture a male ski racer in a similar pose on the cover of SI, smiling at the camera. Would we see that? How would you react to that picture, verses the picture of Vonn?"

"LaVoi takes an academic approach to backing her argument, claiming researchers have shown, over the last 60 years only about four per cent of all SI covers have portrayed women."

With Lindsey Vonn's participation in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit 2010 issue it is clear that she has her own views on this issue.

Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue Video

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158

at 12:52 on February 10th, 2010

There is nothing wrong with being a good athlete and being good looking.

Charmomalay (not verified)

at 12:16 on February 11th, 2010

I am a mom of a girl, competetive, snowboarder. I don't mind the binkini shoot of the olympic girls - they have worked really hard for these bodies, and spend 90% of their time covered head to toe in thinsulate and fleece. Good for them for getting their "girly" side out there. Much better than the 13 year old gymnists with their butt cheeks hanging out.... At least these are young women, not young girls. So Lindsay, Clair, Hannah and Lacy - you go slay it these next two weeks! You rock.

Britani (not verified)

at 19:17 on February 11th, 2010

I absolutely agree!!! I was impressed to see that Sports Illustrated featured very beautiful and athletic young women. It was refreshing to see. I can definitely appreciate an athletic physique...I wish these Olympians the best of luck in Vancouver.

yipyap (not verified)

at 12:55 on February 15th, 2010

I completely agree that there is nothing wrong with the human form.... However, these two women have their heads in the sand insofar as....did we see any images of the MALE athletes that were just as revealing? All I saw were images of the WOMEN! And these were supposedly not sexual???? Please. Women in bikinis and furry hats and snowbunny boots?!! If these girls had any backbone and wanted to make a stand, they should have signed a contract that said that the only way they would allow their images to be used was if they first saw that images of the MALE athletes, in similar provocative poses, would ALSO be shown in that same magazine. The problem is the CONTINUED proliferation of naked images of WOMEN ONLY, being used to sell magazines. The only time you see half-naked men is for gay magazines, or else in a frivolous hot firemen calendar for women. But there is still a HUGE double-standard. Women are very much continually sexualized, and these two women who posed only CONTRIBUTED to it. Their little argument that the body is nothing to be ashamed of does NOT change the fact that their photos were INDEED sexualized, while I saw NO such photos of MEN!!!