Attractive Olympian: Swimmer Natalie Coughlin

Olympic athletes often don't get paid to do anything other than look good. In that vein, Attractive Olympians handicaps which athletes may rake in endorsement deals after the Olympics.

Natalie Coughlin is the first woman to break the one-minute barrier in the 100-meter backstroke, an 11-time U.S. national champion, and the only female swimmer other than Dara Torres to win five medals at a single Olympiad. For most of the last seven years, she has been the best female backstroker in the world.

Coughlin (pronounced COG-lin) has impeccable credentials as a world-class athlete, but here at FanHouse we ask the tough questions. Sometimes that forces us to look past a person's laundry list of professional accomplishments and say, "Yes, but is she attractive?"

We examine attractive Olympians carefully and ask you, the reader, to unapologetically indulge in superficial matters. Another photo, analysis, and the all-important poll after the jump.

So, let's break it down.

Height......5'8"
Eyes..........Blue
Hair.......... Blonde-ish
Smile........Straight-toothed, infectious
Cheeks.... Totally pinchable
Dimples?........Oh yeah
Still attractive with a swim cap on?... Totally
Evening gown poolside? ..... Check.
Shoulders.......... Daunting

*When judging, assume that Gold suggests a future a of GoDaddy-level of endorsements, and Bronze points toward appearances in local circulars.

Attractive Olympians

Nastia Liukin Two-time world champion gymnast is a six-time world medalist and a four-time U.S. National Champion.

Matthew Stockman/Getty Images

Jennie Finch: Pitched the USA to gold in 2004. She and her teammates have many fans, none more so than Terrell Owens of the Dallas Cowboys.

Mark Davis/Getty Images

Becky Hammon: The WNBA star from South Dakota will play for the Russian women's basketball team in August.

Jennifer Pottheiser, NBAE / Getty Images

Luciana Aymar Named International Hockey Federation's World Player of the Year four times ('01, '04-'05, '07), helping Argentina to a bronze and silver in the last two Olympics.

ANTONIO SCORZA/AFP/Getty Images

Leisel Jones Won silver in the 100-meter breaststroke in her home country of Australia in 2000, and earned bronze and silver in the 100m and 200m, respectively, in Athens.

Paul Broben/Getty Images

Yan Zi: Tennis player from China ranks 13th in the world on the WTA tour, and partnered with Zheng Jie to win the Australian Open and Wimbledon in 2006.

Michael Steele/Getty Images

Sally McLellan: Australian Hurdler and Sprinter was a semifinalist in both the 100m and 100-meter hurdles at the 2007 Worlds.

Mark Dadswell/Getty Images

Kim Gevaert: Belgian record holder in the 60m, 100m, 200m and 400m races and won a relay bronze at the 2007 Worlds.

MICHEL KRAKOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images

Adam van Koeverden: Canadian canoe-kayak racer won gold in the 500m and bronze in the 100m the the Athens games in 2004.

Martin Rose/Bongarts/Getty Images

Maria Sharapova: This will be the first Olympics for the Russian tennis star, who has won three Grand Slam titles.

Brad Barket/Getty Images for IMG

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

3-25-2008 @ 5:01PM

August West said...

Finally, Oympics coverage for my generation!

/in best David Cross voice

3-25-2008 @ 6:02PM

Farthammer said...

I went to HS with Natalie. She was, and still is "cute." Which is not to be confused with "hot."

Please keep in mind that me saying she is cute instead of hot has no bearing on my willingness to engage in relations with her, which is a firm "yes I am willing."

3-25-2008 @ 8:55PM

PostmanR said...

Ufford is back!

3-26-2008 @ 10:45AM

Nick Dallamora said...

Can this get its own tag? I want these on my homepage.

3-26-2008 @ 10:37AM

Oh. I see that it did.

Carry on.

Will Brinson said...

This is a really good idea.

3-26-2008 @ 2:25PM

mslp08 said...

The title is misleading. "Attractive FEMALE Olympians" Not that I expected anything different. Try giving these Olympians merit based solely on their athletic talent, not their sex appeal. Whereas a male Olympian is judged only for his athletic success, media must factor in sex appeal to the equation to determine the value of a female Olympian.

3-26-2008 @ 2:28PM

Matt Ufford said...

"Not that I expected anything different." Wah wah wah!

How about waiting a day or two for the series to develop, mslp08? Male athletes will be judged just as superficially, if you can wait that long to continue being annoying.

3-26-2008 @ 5:28PM

Jay Ramirez said...

Not impressed. Next swimmer.

3-26-2008 @ 8:07PM

greg mescall said...

What about the USA Men's and Women's Water Polo Team? Check them out at www.usawaterpolo.org or click here http://usawaterpolo.org/index.php?customernumber=898222892151&pr=2008_Bound4Beijing

3-26-2008 @ 11:47PM

George said...

About 40 times better-looking than that horse-headed Amanda Beard,that is one ugly arse woman.

3-27-2008 @ 12:59AM

mike said...

Boycott China!

3-27-2008 @ 9:15AM

OR you could try writing something actually worth while instead of contributing to the media's obsession with all things vain. Since your level of maturity is equivalent to that of a toddler's (and I quote, "Wah, wah, wah"), try to learn to take some constructive criticism and maybe you can earn yourself a credible career as a writer :)
And no, much to your pleasure I'm sure, I have no desire to wait and read another worldly internet article, which I hope wasn't the end result of a college education. Though a college degree isn't worth much anymore.

George B Vieto said...

I won't confuse these ladies to the contestants in the Miss Latina America but it will have to do.

michael said...

mslp08....you said "Try giving these Olympians merit based solely on their athletic talent, not their sex appeal." Maybe read the article before passing judgement. Natalie Coughlin is the first woman to break the one-minute barrier in the 100-meter backstroke, an 11-time U.S. national champion, and the only female swimmer other than Dara Torres to win five medals at a single Olympiad. For most of the last seven years, she has been the best female backstroker in the world.

3-27-2008 @ 10:35AM

PT TEITEL said...

IS SHE GOING FOR THE PLAY BOY PAYMENT.

4-19-2008 @ 7:20PM

Floyd said...

Like your selections but is there room for a GB Olympic team (Heptahlete) Bronze medal winner(2004)
over 6' tall true beauty...KELLY SOTHERTON ?

See UK Athletics,net