Olympic medalist Novlene WilliamsMills, 35, gets into a sprinting pose as she poses naked inside the pages of this months ESPN The Magazine. Theres a term used in the NBA when a shooter suddenly gets into a groove and seemingly cant miss. As the player heats up, so does their confidence, and theyll. Fragile Men Of Twitter Cannot Handle ESPN Cover Stars Nude Photo Calm down, fellas. Its just a naked body. Suzann Pettersen posed nude in the 2012 edition of ESPN The Magazines Body Issue. Michelle Waterson, Caroline Wozniacki, Isaiah Thomas, Ezekiel Elliot in ESPN The Body pics. MMA star Michelle Waterson isnt really that big on looks. She knows that for someone in her profession, keeping cute as she puts it, isnt really possible. I do it fight because I love to do it. I could definitely be doing something else if I just wanted to look hot, she told ESPN. Despite the difficulties in maintaining your appearance when your job involves getting punched, kicked and elbowed on a regular basis, theres a reason the 3. UFC is nicknamed the Karate Hottie, a moniker she says is catchy. Now shes shown herself off to the world, stripping down for ESPNs annual Body Issue. Waterson started practising martial arts when she was 1. A trip to Thailand in college saw her fall in love with Muay Thai and when she came back to the States, a coincidental encounter with UFC star Donald Cerrone started her MMA journey. I remember watching these MMA fights and saying, Hey, I think Id rather be inside the Octagon than out, the strawweight fighter said. Always Use Selected Program To Open on this page. One of the fighters hes a really big name now in UFC, Donald Cerrone overheard me and came to my work because they needed another girl for a fight. He left a note for me that said, If youre serious about training, get your butt in the gym. I havent looked back since. The mother of one gave birth to her daughter six years ago but that hasnt stopped her from fighting. Shes won four of her past five fights, the latest a loss to Rose Namajunas in April this year. In fact, being a mum has only made her more resilient a necessary trait in all MMA fighters. On a scale of 1 1. Ive taken in the ring would rank a six, and childbirth is a 1. Now I know that if I can get through 1. I can get through a 2. Espn Magazine Swimsuit Edition' title='Espn Magazine Swimsuit Edition' />Waterson says. I was like, OK, youre fighting for a reason now. I was hungrier and more motivated because I had somebody to take care of. I would start visualising the fight as me being Mama Bear and someone was trying to take my cub. Initially embarrassed about her stretch marks, Waterson says shes now proud of them and is at peace with her body. For a long time, I was embarrassed about my stretch marks. Now I embrace them, because for me it was like this nest that I created to grow this little human in my body, and Im proud of that. They are like my battle wounds, Waterson said. Ive finally come to a place in my heart and my soul that has embraced my body and the things that it does for me and the way that it makes me feel. Im really at peace with who I am. That peace came after I had my daughter. I really gained an appreciation for the work that I put in to get my body where it needed to be. Tennis star Caroline Wozniacki also appeared in the ESPN Body Issue, saying she listens to what her critics have to say even if she doesnt agree with it. I think being in the public eye and getting judged for everything you do and however you look, I think that helped me, the 2. Sports life Michelle Waterson, Caroline Wozniacki stun alongside rugby, NBA, NFL stars for ESPN The Body. UFC star Michelle Waterson is the latest sports personality. The Hollywood Reporter is your source for breaking news about Hollywood and entertainment, including movies, TV, reviews and industry blogs. ESPN. Just saying, You know what People will have an opinion. Some people will love you some people will not. Ranked sixth in the world, Wozniacki is used to having both her professional and private lives on display, particularly the latest suitor on her arm or which designer sheath shes wearing. Wozniacki has fully embraced the skin shes in. Ive realised that I cant spend time stressing about something I dont have and just embrace what I do have, Wozniacki said. Its so in to have curves now. Its in to be looking healthy. If I dont look like a supermodel on the runway, thats OK because I look good in my own way. This isnt the first time Wozniacki has bared her bod in the name of empowerment, having stripped down for Sports Illustrateds Swimsuit edition last year. The Body Issue will this year feature 2. All Blacks Rugby star Malakai Fekitoa, NBA star Isaiah Thomas, UFC glamour girl Michelle Waterson and NFL star Ezekiel Elliott. Tomas, who had a breakout season to lead the Boston Celtics to the best regular season record in the Eastern Conference, was the first athlete featured by ESPN because of the star guards famously tiny frame in a league of monsters. Espn Magazine Swimsuit Edition' title='Espn Magazine Swimsuit Edition' />The 1. NBA after being overlooked as a high draft pick before falling to the 6. He revealed in a story to feature in the ESPN The Magazine Body Issue 2. I mean, the things that Im doing, if I were 6 5 or 6 6, it would be magnified even more, talked about even more, Thomas said. And thats how its been my whole career my whole life. Ive never been given a fair shake, even to this day. I always say nothings been given to me. I always took what I believe is mine, and I always took advantage of the opportunity that Ive got. And not to put anything against the bigger guys, but for the most part, theyre handed a lot. Us little guys in the gutter, were not handed anything. Were not given the benefit of the doubt. They always overlook us. If I were taller, the season I had would be getting even more attention. For sure. Theres no doubt about that. People always try to find something that I dont do well, or that the small guy doesnt do well, and put it against him. For instance, when youre smaller they always say youre a defensive liability. If somebody scores on a 6 5 guy, its like, Oh, thats good offence. If somebody scores on a 5 9 guy, its like, Oh, hes a liability hes too small. Its always something. If I were 6 3 or 6 5, Id be the best player in the world. No doubt about it. And thats not just me thinking that I mean, the world would think that. Interpersonal Skills Including Communication Skills Notes In Hindi Pdf. Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliots ride to the top of sport has been a little easier. He told ESPN after his striking shoot that he has never been scared of showing off his frame. Since I was younger, Ive never really liked to wear shirts. And I still dont like to wear shirts, so, I mean, youll find me with my shirt off a lot, he told ESPN. Chicago Cubs baseball star Javier Baez is also featured in the magazine, showing off his body while striking a pose with a bat. Among the artistically posed nude athletes in the magazine are Patriots Super Bowl hero Julian Edelman, San Jose ice hockey bearded cult heroes Brent Burns and Joe Thornton, husband and wife duo Zach Ertz NFL and Julie Ertz, and WNBA MVP Nneka Ogwumike. They were all overshadowed by Wozniacki, though, who was selected as the cover image for the 2.