The 32 Best Photos Ever From ESPN's The Body Issue

ESPN the Magazine's annual edition of “The Body Issue” was launched in 2009 to compete with the annual Sports Illustrated Swimsuit edition.

The Body Issue differs greatly from SI's Swimsuit issue because it focuses on athletes and not supermodels.Thinkprogress.org notes "the bodies, even if otherworldly, seem healthier and less prone to damaging stereotypes."

Each year ESPN publishes multiple editions of "The Body Issue" with a different athlete featured on each cover. 

The magazine 's covers have featured athletes as diverse as NBA superstar Dwight Howard, Paralympic athlete Esther Veeger, and Ironman Triathlete amputee Sarah Reinertsen. This year's covers include senior citizen Gary Player, who at 77, looks marvelous and a beautiful picture of Kerri Walsh Jennings with child.

ESPN “The Body Issue” may not be as big a seller as SI’s Swimsuit issue, but it is certainly a better celebration of athletic beauty. So without further ado, here are all the athletes that have graced the covers of “The Body Issue”

1. Serena Williams - Tennis

Photo Credit : James White, ESPN The Magazine

2. Carl Edwards - NASCAR

Photo Credit : Sarah A. Friedman, ESPN The Magazine

3. Sarah Reinertsen - Ironman Triathlete

Photo Credit : Sheryl Nields, ESPN The Magazine

4. Dwight Howard - Basketball

Photo Credit : Olugbenro Ogunsemore, ESPN Magazine

5. Gina Carano - Martial Arts

Photo Credit : Patrick Giardino, ESPN The Magazine

6. Adrian Peterson - Football

Photo Credit : Sarah A. Friedman, ESPN The Magazine

7. Diana Taurasi - Basketball

Photo Credit : Sheryl Nields, ESPN The Magazine

8. USA Women's Water Polo Team

Photo Credit : Art Streiber, ESPN The Magazine

9. Amare Stoudemire - Basketball

Photo Credit : Peggy Sirota, ESPN The Magazine

10. Camilo Villegas - Golf

Photo Credit : Martin Schoeller, ESPN The Magazine

11. Esther Vergeer - Tennis

Photo Credit : Finlay Mackay, ESPN The Magazine

12. Tim Howard - Soccer

Photo Credit : James Dimmock, ESPN The Magazine

13. Gretchen Bleiler - Snowboarding

Photo Credit : ESPN The Magazine/Francesco Carrozzini

14. Blake Griffin - Basketball

Photo Credit : ESPN The Magazine/Francesco Carrozzini

15. Hope Solo - Soccer

Photo Credit : Francesco Carrozzini for ESPN The Magazine

16. Jose Reyes - Baseball

Photo Credit : ESPN The Magazine/Francesco Carrozzini

17. Oksana Masters - Rowing

Photo Credit: Martin Schoeller (via ESPN)

18. Tyson Chandler - Basketball

Photo Credit: Peggy Sirota (via ESPN)

19. Ronda Rousey - Martial Arts

Photo Credit: Peggy Sirota (via ESPN)

20. Jose Bautista - Baseball

Photo Credit: Peggy Sirota (via ESPN)

21. Candace Parker - Basketball

Photo Credit: Ture Lillegraven (via ESPN)

22. Rob Gronkowski - Football

Photo Credit: Peggy Sirota (via ESPN)

23. USA Women's Volleyball Team

Photo Credit: ESPN

24. Daniela Hantuchová - Tennis

Photo Credit:ESPN/Jeff Lipsky

25. Colin Kaepernick - Football

Photo Credit: Richard Phibbs, ESPN The Magazine

26. Kerri Walsh Jennings - Volleyball

Photo Credit:Richard Phibbs. ESPN The Magazine

27. Gary Player - Golf

Photo Credit: Peter Hapak, ESPN The Magazine

28. Courtney Force - Racing

Photo Credit:Williams + Hirakawa, ESPN The Magazine

29. Giancarlo Stanton - Baseball

Photo Credit: Peggy Sirota. ESPN The Magazine

30. Sidney Leroux - Soccer

Photo Credit:Peter Hapak. ESPN The Magazine

31. Kenneth Faried - Basketball

Photo Credit:Carlos Serrao. ESPN The Magazine

32. Tarah Gieger - Motorcross

Photo Credit: Peter Hapak, ESPN The Magazine