Attractive Olympian: Teenage Gymnast, Video Game Cover Model Nastia Liukin

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.

Nastia Liukin's accomplishments -- and the expectations they've created -- seem almost too much for someone who turned 18 just two months ago. Although she lost most of 2007 to an ankle injury, she has still managed to win nine World Championships medals, tied with Shannon Miller for the most in U.S. history.

Nastia Liukin Photos

BOSTON - JUNE 07: Shawn Johnson (L) and Nastia Liukin prepare for the uneven parallel bars during day 3 of the Visa Championships at Agganis Arena June 7, 2008 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

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BOSTON - JUNE 07: Nastia Liukin finishes her vault during day 3 of the Visa Championships at Agganis Arena June 7, 2008 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

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BOSTON - JUNE 07: Nastia Liukin competes on the uneven parallel bars during day 3 of the Visa Championships at Agganis Arena June 7, 2008 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

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BOSTON - JUNE 07: Nastia Liukin competes on the uneven parallel bars during day 3 of the Visa Championships at Agganis Arena June 7, 2008 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

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BOSTON - JUNE 07: Nastia Liukin competes on the uneven parallel bars during day 3 of the Visa Championships at Agganis Arena June 7, 2008 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

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BOSTON - JUNE 07: Nastia Liukin competes on the balance beam during day 3 of the Visa Championships at Agganis Arena June 7, 2008 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

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BOSTON - JUNE 07: Nastia Liukin competes on the balance beam during day 3 of the Visa Championships at Agganis Arena June 7, 2008 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

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BOSTON - JUNE 07: Nastia Liukin competes in the floor exercise during day 3 of the Visa Championships at Agganis Arena June 7, 2008 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

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BOSTON - JUNE 07: (L-R) Nastia Liukin poses with the silver medal, Shawn Johnson poses with the gold medal and Chellsie Memmel poses with the bronze medal after day 3 of the Visa Championships at Agganis Arena June 7, 2008 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

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Perhaps it's her pedigree. Both of her parents were world-class gymnasts who emigrated from Russia when she was a toddler. They opened a gymnastics training center in Texas, and Nastia began tumbling by age three. Now, finally age-eligible for the Olympics, will anchor a U.S. team that is expected to challenge the team of her parents' homeland and the other front-runners.

Of course, successful athletes who also happen to be attractive young blonde women are afforded additional opportunities in America, and Nastia enjoys sponsorship from AT&T, adidas, and others. You may also have seen her cameo in 2006's box-office non-smash Stick It, and she also graces the cover of the Beijing 2008 video game for Xbox (see it here). Let's hope there's no Madden-like curse for Olympians.

Breaking Down the Basics

Full name	Anastasia Valeryevna Liukin
Age	18
Hair	Blonde
Eyes	Blue
Height	5'3"
Education	Student at SMU
MySpace page	Far less annoying than average teenager's
Favorite TV shows	Gossip Girl, The Hills (just as annoying as average teenager's)

Presentation of Medals

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

Attractive Olympians

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

Laure Manaudou: The French swimmer and Gold medal winner in the 400m freestyle holds the world records for the 400m freestyle and 200m freestyle.

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Anna Bessonova Ukrainian rhythmic gymnast won bronze at the 2004 games and earned gold at the World Championships in '07.

TATYANA MAKEYEVA/AFP/Getty Images

Demetrius Andrade The reigning world AIBA boxing champion at 152 pounds, Andrade was a Golden Glove winner in '06 and '07.

Matthew Stockman/Getty Images

Alicia Sacramone: A member of the United States gymnastics team since 2003, Sacramone has earned seven medals from three world championships.

Matthew Stockman/Getty Images

Ana Ivanovic: Serbian tennis player reached the semifinals of Wimbledon in 2007 and the 2008 Australian Open final.

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

Apolo Anton Ohno: U.S. short track speed skater won TV's Dancing With the Stars, and has earned five Olympic medals, including gold in the 500m at the 2006 games.

Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

Kris Freeman: Competed for the U.S. Ski Team in cross country at the 2002 and '06 games, finishing 14th in Salt Lake City.

Matthew Stockman/Getty Images

James Blake: No. 9 pro tennis player in the world says he plans to represent the U.S. at the Beijing games.

Vince Bucci/Getty Images

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)

6-18-2008 @ 2:20AM

divineleo said...

these are getting ever more desperate with each passing day, are we going to have to watch as the attractive factor slowly diminishes to sea level on 8.08.08? This doesn't have to be a daily feature, maybe wait until you can actually find any more attractive Olympians, if there are any left, you've covered men, women and all races. What's next, in July, Paralympians and late July, Special Olympians?

6-19-2008 @ 6:09AM

maurice d'argent said...

i don't care if Nasty Liukin does a naked hula on a balance beam, no person of conscience gives a flyin fock for the Beijing olympdics as long as Tibet remains china's hostage.

6-19-2008 @ 7:40AM

Samwise24601 said...

She is not all that. Just another case of hype to get people to watch the games in a year a lot os us won't.

6-19-2008 @ 7:58AM

J W said...

I am getting tired of people saying just because you have blond hair and blue eyes that you are attractive. She really isn't attractive, and her looks have nothing to do with her skills. Shouldn't we focus on that?

6-19-2008 @ 7:59AM

Gymnast said...

OK, she is great! But, I think you are failing to give credit to the gymnast that beat her just a couple of weeks ago at US Championships. Shawn Johnson has won back to back National titles. I think it is a little premature to put Nastia so far ahead of Shawn. I guess we will have to wait to see how things play out this weekend and in August.

6-19-2008 @ 8:22AM

Bob said...

This is ridiculous! You put this young woman out there as possibly "the best ever" when she isn't even the "best" right now. Or did I miss a re-alignment of how they give out the medals? I was under the impression the Gold went to the person at the top of the medals platform, with the silver and bronze awards standing to either side.

6-19-2008 @ 8:29AM

Lisa said...

I don't care how attractive or unattractive an Olympian is. What is important is the skill and hard work they do. I can promise people that an olympian will not win a medal due to them being cute or not. They will win a medal cause they did good.

6-19-2008 @ 8:46AM

Cissy said...

I don't care a flip about watching the Olympics this year. It's in CHINA, for pete's sake. The land of cheap, lead laden crap.

7-02-2008 @ 10:48AM

oiyi said...

because she is good looking she must be better then others. She is flashy with a pink what a flake.

6-19-2008 @ 9:01AM

gymnastics fan said...

Perhaps they should get their facts straight before writing this story, especially when they say Nastia may be the best ever. Shawn Johnson has beat her in every head to head competition but one. In fact, Shawn just won her second National Championship (back to back) two weeks ago. Even when Shawn was in the Junior Division of the National Championships, her score was better than all of the Seniors, Nastia included. Shawn is also the reigning World Champion and she has won all of her competitions, since becoming a senior, but one. Shawn also has endorsements with Adidas, GK, Coca-Cola, Hy-Vee Food Stores. I find it very troubling that none of this information was included in the piece. If you are talking about "attractiveness" and showmanship, Shawn has a much better smile and personality than Nastia. Nastia comes across as very sour and she rarely smiles. When she does smile, it comes across as very forced and phony. She also glared at her Dad, (her coach) on camera at the Tyson Cup when he was talking to her. It didn't look very good. Shawn is always smiling a thousand watt smile and always comes across as very humble and genuine...qualities that advertisers look for when they are handing out endorsements. If you are talking about marketability, Shawn is by far the better pick.

6-19-2008 @ 9:03AM

richard sommer said...

nasty on the balance beam,what a dream.

6-19-2008 @ 9:04AM

Richard said...

Nadia Comaneci is NO.1.
Nastia turned 18. She will not get more than one gold medal.
Nadia was 14 years old, she had gotten many medals.
Still Nadia's number is 1. She is a real STAR gymnast.

6-19-2008 @ 9:18AM

Pat Farrar said...

I find it offensive that you are only interested in attractive olympians. What about the fat, the ugly, or the just plain plain? The ones you've showcased haven't really been "all that", anyway. I want to know if they are good at what they do, not how they looked doing it. Can you say "shallow"?

6-19-2008 @ 9:39AM

Brady said...

Couple of things:

1) She wears too much make-up (Texas)

2) She needs a face lift, tummy tuck, breast enhancement, botox treatment, skin peal, electrolysis, and a few other nips and tucks.

Then she will be GOLD >>>>>>>>>>

6-19-2008 @ 10:14AM

CARLEYN BENTHAM said...

THIS GIRL WORKS HARD AT WHAT SHE DOES. MORE POWER TO HER TO ALL YOU WHO ENVY HER AND POST NEGATIVE REMARKS BECAUSE OF YOUR JEALOUSY, RESMEMBER YOU ARE ADVERTISING YOUR ADVERSION TO DEDICATION AND HARD WORK WE ALL SHOULD STRIVE TO BE THE BEST AT WHAT WE DO INSTEAD OF SITTING ON YOUR DUFFS AND MAKE NEGATIVE REMARKS TO THOSE WHO DO. AMERICAN YOUTH SEEM TO ADMIRE FAILURE. LAZY???????? THIS ATTITUDE WILL ADD TO THE FAILURE OF A ONCE GREAT PROUD COUNTRY, ONCE GREAT, BECAUSE, WE TOOK PRIDE IN OUR FELLOW AMERICANS SOME OF YOU ADVERTISE WHAT A SORRY LOT YOU ARE

6-19-2008 @ 9:47AM

Michael Gauthier said...

She is very good. IO have watched several meets on ESPN. She is ver talented, and I hope she does win Gold in China. As her looks go, she is cute. Those of you who disagree are obviously looking for someone who is Black, and can't stand the fact she is not only cute but white.

6-19-2008 @ 6:22PM

Mike said...

So a Russian girl is taking the spot of a REAL American, born and raised girl for the Olympics, isn't that just American. It's the actual reason why we are running out of resources here in OUR country, you let way too many in for crap like this.

6-19-2008 @ 10:09AM

AlexAnder said...

Don't you get it? She's possibly the BEST ever because she's attractive. That's the media for you-sickening. Let's not give anyone else a chance let's go ahead and give out the gold medal now. lol

6-19-2008 @ 10:24AM

Stephanie said...

Hm. Shawn Johnson isn't in the 92 attractive photos and yet she seems to be continually better than team mate Nastia Liukin. I don't even like her because here in Iowa, everyone loves her simply because she's from Iowa. Yet, I gotta admit, I agree that being called attractive could hinder your ability to perform well. I happen to find Shawn more attractive anyway.

6-19-2008 @ 10:34AM

Melinda said...

OK she is good, but whomever wrote the article / selected the pictures doesn't know enough about the sport to comment accurately...

As a former gymnast, her talents are unmistakable, but there are others who are equally as good and looks are the only factor in sports...come on!
...in gymnastics and other sports technique and form are everything (not your hair). Also, if I were her, I'd be horrified at some of pictures selected....those with unpointed toes, bent legs (when they aren't supposed to be bent) and unbalanced postures are not something you want captured...yes they happen....but not to be on display for 18 million people ... I hope the entire team brings home gold....as for individual achievement....all of the women who are selected are winners! Anonymous