By Paula Mitchell
ESPN's annual "Body Issue 2012", a magazine dedicated to the art form of an elite athletic body that features high resolution photos of athletes in the nude, is hitting newsstands later this week on July 13.
The magazine will highlight several Olympians this year and feature a total of 27 athletes. Six covers have already been leaked, and all of them are equally tasteful and striking.
Check out the covers below:
Click here for more leaked ESPN Body Issue 2012 Photos.
The magazine sought to offer diversity, a good mix of female and male athletes, different body types and represent different sports, said Neely Lohmann, the magazine's deputy edito, according to ESPN's Front Row.
"We had an overwhelming number of truly amazing photographs to choose from this year, which is why there are six covers," she told Front Row on Tuesday.
The issue's six covers will be distributed randomly ESPN said. The chosen athletes include: New England Patriots star Rob Gronkowski, Toronto Blue Jays star Jose Bautista, New York Knicks star Tyson Chandler, Tennis Star Daniela Hantuchova, WNBA Los Angeles Sparks star Candace Parker and mixed martial artist Ronda Rousey.
In previous years, ESPN's "Body Issue" created a lot of buzz featuring female athletes like tennis player Serena Williams and U.S. goalkeeper Hope Solo, who has recently been tested positive for a banned substance called Canrenone in a urine test ahead of the Olympic games in London later this month. (Click to read more)
Here is the complete list of athletes who stripped down for the ESPN body issue 2012:
Carlos Bocanegra (soccer)
Daniela Hantuchova (WTA)
Rob Gronkowski (NFL)
Abby Wambach (soccer)
Tyson Chandler (NBA)
Candace Parker (WNBA)
Maurice Jones-Drew (NFL)
Jose Bautista (MLB)
Brad Richards (NHL)
Maya Gabiera (surfing)
Ronda Rousey (MMA)
Mike Smith (jockey)
Tim Morehouse (fencing)
Walter Dix (track)
Danell Leyva (gymnastics)
Suzann Pettersen (LPGA)
Ashton Eaton (decathlon)
Carmelita Jeter (track)
Anna Tunnicliffe (sailing)
Oksana Masters (paralympic rowing)
USA Volleyball Team:
Destinee Hooker
Stacy Sykora
Alisha Glass
Cynthia Barboza
Megan Hodge
Nellie Spicer
Heather Bown
