The 2015 ESPN BODY ISSUE will be released online on July 6 and hit newsstands on July 10th. This year’s issue features a variety of men and women in the issue. One of the fittest couples in the world, Gabby Reece and Laird Hamilton will appear in the issue along with a number of other top athletes. Gymnast Aly Raisman, Skateboarder Leticia Bufani, WNBA star Brittney Griner and Olympic Swimmer Natalia Coughlin are just a few females featured in the issue.
2015 ESPN Magazine’s BODY ISSUE Roster Announced
Odell Beckham Jr
Leticia Bufoni
Amanda Bingson
Anthony Castonzo
Todd Clever
Natali Coughlin
Dallas Friday
Brittney Griner
Laird Hamilton
Bryce Harper
Todd Herremans
Jermaine Jones
DeAndre Jordon
Ali Krieger
Khutana Lorig
Kevin Love Chantae McMillan
Jack Mewhort
Sadena Parks
Aly Raisman
Gabby Reece
Tyler Seguin
Paige Selenski
Stan Wawrinka
Bryce Harper‘s on-field body of work this season includes a .345 batting average and 24 home runs.
The star Washington Nationals outfielder’s off-field body of work includes a wish fulfilled: Harper is one of 24 athletes in the ESPN The Magazine Body Issue, online on July 6 and on newsstands July 10.
“I’ve always wanted to do the Body Issue,†Harper said. “I want to put baseball out there.â€
Harper is joined by NBA stars Kevin Love of the Cleveland Cavaliers andDeAndre Jordan of the Los Angeles Clippers, New York Giants wide receiverOdell Beckham Jr., two-time WNBA All-Star Brittney Griner, USA women’s soccer star Ali Krieger, Olympians Aly Raisman and Natalie Coughlin, and newly crowned French Open champion Stan Wawrinka.
“I’m proud of my body, I’m proud of my sport, I’m proud of being a professional athlete,†said Krieger, whose team is currently in the knockout rounds of the Women’s World Cup. “Being naked is just another aspect of that.â€
This is the seventh annual edition of the Body Issue. It will include photos, personal interviews and videos of the athletes, including NHL star Tyler Seguin and three members of the Indianapolis Colts offensive line: Anthony Castonzo, Todd Herremans and Jack Mewhort.
“I’ve always been a big kid,†said the 23-year-old Mewhort, who is listed at 6-foot-6, 308 pounds. “That’s why when I got this call I was like ‘they want to see me naked?’ I thought I was getting Punk’d.â€
Others in the issue include professional wakeboarder Dallas Friday, rugby player Todd Clever, skateboarder Leticia Bufoni, golfer Sadena Parks, archer Khatuna Lorig, soccer player Jermaine Jones, U.S. Olympians Paige Selenski (field hockey), Amanda Bingson (hammer) and Chantae McMillan (heptathlon), along with the husband-wife team of surfer Laird Hamilton and former beach volleyball player Gabby Reece.
“Our goal is to continue to evolve the issue year after year,†ESPN The Magazine and ESPN.com editor in chief Chad Millman said. “The ability to capture both the strength and vulnerability of these extraordinary athletes through such powerful images and introspective interviews is incredibly moving.â€
“One of the things I love about the Body Issue so much is that it celebrates the bodies that allow us to be successful in our sport,†said Coughlin, who has won 12 Olympic swimming medals. “As a sports fan, I love seeing the differences in body types.â€
Lead photo via ESPN.