This picture, of 18 year old pole vaulter Allison Stokke, has demonstrated how easy it is to puncture the pretense of a mainstream media and bloggosphere who don’t treat every human interest story as a beauty pageant.
Stokke is, in the moment of this photo, perfect. An Olympian ideal with the kind of physique you only earn via an all-consuming dedication to top-flight athletic competition. The public response? ‘Is she legal?’ type posts from new-found fans of track and field who don’t want her to vault their poles so much as land on them.
Pathetic.
Understandable but pathetic.
Stokke’s trying to be recognized for what she can achieve (and unlike Anna Kournikova, Stokke is good and going to Berkley to study and compete). To deny her valid recognition and replace it with lust is a huge disservice. If and when she’s a national star, commenting on her looks won’t undermine what she’s famous for. Treating her like Next Dook Nikki shooting a cheerleader set because she happens to be gorgeous isn’t fair (and I know the pain of being beautiful, I live it every day).
So to give Stokke respite, here are five beautiful athletes who you can lust after entirely guilt free because they’ve already made it (and whom checking out online will mark you as a sports fan, not a pervert).
Biba Golic
Ping-pong’s newest chantuse. New balls please.
Malia Jones
Surfer, knows how to ride the foam.
Nikki Gudex
Mountain Biker. Lightweight, comfortable, full-suspension.
Tatiana Grigorieva
Pole vaulter. Obviously.
Lokelani McMichael
Triathlete. Clearly a three input young lady.
All available, barely dressed, on basic cable and work safe websites everywhere.
(Looking at these shots I’m wondering why don’t male athletes have to undress for photos and put on their ’slut’ face?)
Interestingly, Stokke’s father represented a state trooper who jerked off on a stripper during a routine traffic stop, and a sheriff’s son who was convicted of participating in a videotaped gang rape:
http://tinyurl.com/2zfc6d
Everyone is entitled to a defense, but Mr. Stokke makes some terrible mocking and belitting statements about the victims.
C’mon, give Anna Kournikova a litte credit. Her lack of success on the WTA tournament circuit in women’s singles is a bit of a mystery since she was a superb juniors player as well as a great professional doubles competitor.
In women’s singles, her highest ranking was #8 and she made it to the Wimbledon semis once; she was certainly deserving of being on the WTA circuit.
Viviane - Is it fair to blame the daughter for the fathers choices and isn’t everyone entitled to a defense? I’d say defending the unpopular makes him a lawyer who understands the most fundamental principle of justice. I’m not defending Mr. Stokke, I’m just thinking out loud about his daughter.
TinMan - You’re right, but she’s over-rated and played-out. She’s such an obvious choice it really doesn’t need to be mentioned.
Point well made and well taken regarding Allison Stokke. And hilarious comment about the daily pain of being beautiful
Here’s some news for you about Anna Kournikova, though: she was - and probably still is - one of the best tennis players in the world. She would crush me, and no doubt you. Never mind the fact
oops… pardon the premature finish (thank goodness that’s the 1st time I’ve ever finished prematurely)…
As I was saying… Never mind that Kournikova never one a singles tournament as a pro. Neither have scores of other male and female pros. Forget, even, that she was at one time the number one-ranked doubles player in the world. To even JOIN the ranks of the pros, you have to be incredible. Dismissing her talent is like dismissing the talent of Michelle Wie and Danika Patrick who, like Anna, have never won big as pros. Many folks apparently resent that these women happen to be athletes in addition to being hot.
Mark - Kournikova would make me her bitch in short order but she’s no William’s sister. As far as Rubgy’s concerned, I think the results would be pretty clear.