Female athletes as sex objects

[Smiling JOe]

Here is a twist going in the opposite direction:

AFP News brief

Pedal power takes Islamic shape in Iran

"Iran is to start manufacturing "Islamic bicycles" for women that conceals their figure, the government newspaper Iran reported on Thursday.
"This bike has a cabin which conceals half of the cyclist's body," the newspaper said. Elaheh Sofali, an architect of the project, told Iran it would encourage women's sports in the Islamic republic.


Faezeh Hashemi, a daughter of former president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, was instrumental in encouraging women to take to the saddle in the 1990s when she was in charge of women's participation in the Olympics.
But she was opposed by Islamic hardliners."

 

[RiverOtter]

People were recently upset that Olympic swimmer Amanda Beard (7 medals so far, heading to her 4th Olympics this summer) posed nude for Playboy. She has already posed (partially clothed) for the SI swimsuit issue, FHM, etc.

Does her decision to pose nude or partially clothed hurt female athletes who want to be known for their athleticism instead of their looks?

OR

Is having an athlete personified as beauty or physical perfection a HUGE step in the right direction for setting a good example for young girls who are constantly bombarded w/ images of impossibly thin and unhealthy models?

I don't know about any of that but this chick sure is hot and she is an athlete

 

[Smiling JOe]

I think all women's athletic uniforms should look like all of the ones pictured above. I would much rather watch them, than a bunch of sweaty guys playing 8 weeks of NBA finals.

 

[Santiago]

This thread is useless without pictures.

 

[Miss Kitty]

I don't know about any of that but this chick sure is hot and she is an athlete

FINALLY! A decent pic of me!

 

[TNJed]

I don't know about any of that but this chick sure is hot and she is an athlete

And Gabrielle Reese is married to surf legend Laird Hamiliton. Talk about a good gene pool.

 

[Allifunn]

No opinion... I just read the articles ;-)

typical

As long as it's not my daughter, I won't stop a woman from taking her clothes off in front of the camera if that's what she wants to do. Just don't tell me it is to display self-confidence or setting a good example for younger girls. If it wasn't about sex, they wouldn't show the areola. Nothing is athletic about a whatever is left of ones short and curlies.

ummmm....I thought you were..... well....I guess not....snap

 

[RiverOtter]

And Gabrielle Reese is married to surf legend Laird Hamiliton. Talk about a good gene pool.

The guy is in his mid 40s, 6'4", over 200lbs and 5% body fat He is a bad man

 

[Smiling JOe]

The guy is in his mid 40s, 6'4", over 200lbs and 5% body fat He is a bad man

Hey, I'm two out of four, and I'm feeling pretty good.

 

[Bobby J]

The guy is in his mid 40s, 6'4", over 200lbs and 5% body fat He is a bad man

Not to steal the thread but can you believe that is Laird surfing PipeLine on a paddleboard! That is sick!