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.Last month, Amy Acuff cleared 6'3½" at the USA Track and Field Indoor Championships in Boston to claim another gold medal as she works toward what will be her fourth Olympics this summer in Beijing. The former UCLA standout has been among the best high jumpers in the nation for the last 15 years, and though she has never medaled in a World Championship or Olympic games, her longevity (and her looks) have raised the awareness of her sport.
But who cares about trivial things like a decade and a half of accomplishments in competitive sports? This is a BLOG, and therefore we must judge her superficially, as we judged swimmer Michael Phelps yesterday. Sure, gracing the pages of men's magazines both low-brow and high-brow -- to say nothing of that cover shot to above right -- might suggest she's attractive. But what we really need to do is have an Internet poll determine her beauty.
Below, enjoy more pictures, ground-breaking analysis, and a democratic judgment on Amy Acuff's beauty.
Breaking Down the Basics
Sorry, No Photos
Presentation of Medals
*When judging, assume that Gold suggests a future a of Calvin Klein-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 3)
3-29-2008 @ 12:55AM
paprindle said...
I'd do her.
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3-29-2008 @ 2:23PM
Barb Strand said...
She's lovely, I wish I went that far in my career. You go girl. I now Have three girls that I encorage to shoot for the stars. You are an inspiration. When someone is lovely, many people ingnore their importance. You have overcome. I don't want my beautiful blonds to think they are no more than their looks. Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!
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3-29-2008 @ 2:33PM
Tina said...
IT shouldn't matter if a chick has made it to playboy or not.. Seriously.. WHO gives a damn about that except for immature men, who are just in to the outside of the body.. and YES.. most men are like that.. SHALLOW HAL ring a bell.. but here it is.. IF a person is gifted in WHATEVER.. than write an article ABOUT THAT.. not about HER BEING or HIM BEING SEXY or not.. THAT IS NOT AT ALL WHAT IT.. and I MEAN IT is all about...I can't stand that the internet, and the media, promote sex.. EVERYTHING seems to be about it nowadays.. not about the actual thing, that is being promoted.. YOU are promoting a person, who chose to pose in a playstupid boy.. man I just can't stand that...
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3-29-2008 @ 2:56PM
doc said...
huh... i didnt know there was a gold digger competition in the olympics. ya learn something every day..
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3-29-2008 @ 3:26PM
drycreekred said...
This is an amazing woman. She is a gifted athlete as well as an amazing woman. Her credit should be on what she has accomplished for the past four Olympics, not for the fact she posed in Playboy or any other magazine. This goes to say that she is a talented woman in many ways. Go girl!
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3-29-2008 @ 3:38PM
Bob said...
Give her everything she can earn, qualify for, or win. The lady has done a great job of inspiring and too bad the rest of America wasn't like her. maybe our future generations will get off the couches and follow her lead. And needless to say I would not have any trouble looking up to her considering I am only 5'10". But in today's world of beauty coming first she chose to take the opportunity her beauty gave her but relied on her athletic gifts and her brain to gain respect in her sport and her profession. That is a real woman.
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3-29-2008 @ 3:36PM
Grammartized said...
She's tall, blonde, thin and beautiful. Gosh she must not have a brain or be able to put sentences together right? What crap.
To Paprindle: You're an ass, nuff said.
And Doc? Spoken like a true neanderthal who hasn't learned the art of proper grammar (or manners). Don't hate her because she's everything you'll never have in your lifetime.
I hope she gets her gold medal in this Olympic, it will be a wonderful accomplishment.
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3-29-2008 @ 3:46PM
archerandlion said...
Wow, mommy may I have a playdate with her?
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3-29-2008 @ 4:41PM
Patrick Douglass said...
Judge !!!!
In this day and age it is nice to know there are people that are honest and open, for instance. A typical Beach on a warm Summer day, there are skimpy swimware on women and men. I have seen more displayed boobs,thigh's and Yes even some Beaver shots. We never give this a second thought !!! NOW !!!! if we see an athelete in a cover of a Mag or in Playboy and nude, Heaven forbid, they should be condemmed for life, maby we should stone them as was tried with Mary of Magdelene, Please dont Judge these people so harshly for if we do, we will be also harshly Judged, I do beleave Adam and Eve were naked in the Garden of Eden. They sined and it was then they realized they were naked. God made Man and then Women, We the people make a beautiful body Sinfull. SHAME ON US. I judge a person for there piticular accomplishment, no matter what it is or what they have done. Dont Condem others or we condem ourselfs, out of our own mouths or our minds. God is LOVE, and this is in any Religion
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4-01-2008 @ 3:28PM
ajm33771 said...
damn what the modern day graphic artists can do with the head of a human and the body of a giraffe! lol what in the 'ELL! she looks like a carnival side show. lol
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3-29-2008 @ 4:16PM
Patrick Douglass said...
How WONDERFULL THERE ACCOMPLISHMENTS ARE IN SPORTS.
In life outside sports, learn to seperate the two and the Wisdome to know the diferance.
I have seen more Nudity on many Beache's all over this Great Country. The Pictures shown are Gods Creation and the Person has made it Wonderfull to look at. Dont make this UGLY. Dont Condem yourself.
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3-29-2008 @ 4:15PM
cesium said...
Beautiful woman - clearing the bar and in pictures
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3-29-2008 @ 4:13PM
David said...
I hope she doesn't win any medals! She should be ashamed for being associated with Playboy!
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3-29-2008 @ 4:51PM
Patrick Douglass said...
Judge there accomplishments in sports.
Dont be so negative about Nudity, Adam and Eve had no CLOTHES EITHER. We are born Naked, is that a Sin? We sin by our thoughts of these pictures.
I think of the Beauty of the Human Body, and how we keep God's Creation in good shape, and How these women are keeping the creation in great shape.
GET A LIFE, This is GREAT.
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3-29-2008 @ 4:23PM
chris said...
iv met both her and tye harvey at a track and field clinic in de la salle
hate to break it to all of you but shes not that hot
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3-29-2008 @ 4:30PM
Richard Espinoza said...
There is nothing wrong with Play Boy. At least Play Boy is not Porn. There is a big differents between Play Boy and Pron. Play Boy is art not pronography.
If you know your history and everyone should, Women during the time of B.C area and even during the A.D area Women would pose nude for paintings. Reason ?
The humen body is an art of expresstion.
At least Amy Acuff did not pose for Huseler or Club Magizine. Anyone who thinks Play Boy is bad, is not smart at all.
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3-29-2008 @ 4:44PM
Patrick Douglass said...
Amy,
This F-16 Fighter Pilot is so proud of you, I know my last 26 years in the Military are not in Vain. You are displaying the most precious gift in life I fight for every day of my life, it is one word, FREEDOM. God Bless you.
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3-29-2008 @ 4:38PM
inyocountycaman said...
Too much emphasis on the role. Instead of identifying with someone or others, just achieve what is possible for you? Or, has Socialism (regulated capitalism) defeated this possibility? And, what can a photograph possibly "do" for me? I have never bought a Playboy, etc and don't intend on starting now. Is a waste of money. Her accomplishment(s), however, are remarkable!
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3-29-2008 @ 5:04PM
Patrick Douglass said...
Amy, you are a wonder of the world, you broke no Laws, You didn't violate any of the ten commandments, Wow if someone says anything bad about you this is a Sin, you are truly Great !!!!
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3-29-2008 @ 4:56PM
Patrick Douglass said...
I am happy for you, you are a wonderfull woman, I would be proud to stand beside you anywhere, Loads of Hug's from My wife and me. Pat & Ruth
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