Natalie Coughlin is once again becoming a household name. The 12-time Olympic gold medalist and current American Record Holder in the 50 meter backstroke will have one more item for her shelf come July, ESPN’s Body Issue.
According to a piece by ESPN, coming next month, Coughlin will be featured as one of 24 athletes in the annual Body Issue. This will be the seventh addition of the magazine, which most recently featured Michael Phelps in 2014. Other swimmers who have been included in the special edition are Ryan Lochte (2009) and Jeff Farrell (2010).
Coughlin will be the first female swimmer to be featured. This year, Coughlin will be joined by Bryce Harper (baseball), Kevin Love (basketball), DeAndre Jordan (basketball), Ali Krieger (soccer), Aly Raisman (gymnastics) among others.
“Our goal is to continue to evolve the issue year after year,” ESPN The Magazine and ESPN.com editor in chief Chad Millman said in the piece. “The ability to capture both the strength and vulnerability of these extraordinary athletes through such powerful images and introspective interviews is incredibly moving.”
Coughlin said she appreciates the diversity and representation presented every year in the Body Issue. “One of the things I love about the Body Issue so much is that it celebrates the bodies that allow us to be successful in our sport,” said Coughlin. “As a sports fan, I love seeing the differences in body types.”
The magazine will include athletes from a range of sports, with a variety of heights, weights and body compositions. Not only will you see them bare all in the magazine, but you will see their pride in themselves, their sport, and of course, their bodies.