The Body Issue


The Body Issue is an edition of ESPN The Magazine that features dozens of athletes in nude and semi-nude photographs, which is intended to rival the annual Swimsuit Issue from Sports Illustrated. The first issue debuted on October 19, 2009.
The 2009 edition had six alternative covers featuring Serena Williams, Carl Edwards, Adrian Peterson, Dwight Howard, Gina Carano and Sarah Reinertsen. The Serena Williams edition sold the most copies. The 2009 issue was a financial success, achieving double the normal edition sales, greater sales than any bi-weekly issue in over two years and 35 percent more ad sales than comparable issues, which led to plans for extended marketing of the 2010 edition.
The edition included the regular sports coverage. In the bodies section athletes were featured on and off the field. Even a picture during a knee surgery was included. The "Bodies We Want" section was a feature of the best bodies in the world of sports all posed nude but with strategic coverage of private parts. Another section showed the damage done to the human body in athletics such as Laird Hamilton's cracked heel and Torry Holt's crooked middle finger. One action photo captured six members of Major League Soccer's D.C. United simulating a free kick defensive wall while covering their genitalia.
The 2019 issue was announced as also being the final print edition of the magazine.

2009

Some of the 2009 covers were revealed on shows such Monday Night Football and Good Morning America. The 2009 edition included the following:
The 2010 edition included the following:
The 2011 edition included the following:
The 2012 issue featured the following athletes:
The 2013 issue featured the following athletes:
The 2014 issue featured the following athletes :
The 2015 issue featured the following athletes :
The 2016 issue featured the following athletes :
The 2017 issue featured the following athletes :
The 2018 issue featured the following athletes :
The 2019 issue released on September 4, 2019 and was the final printed issue of the ESPN Magazine. It featured the following athletes :