The Ten Hottest Female Athletes @ London 2012!

Posted on July 10, 2012 by Joe Plewes

For some inexplicable reason, you guys seem to have particularly enjoyed articles featuring scantily clad women. At Oddslife we’re well versed in giving people what they want, so following on from our top ten WAGs and our top ten Wimbledon women we have a selection of beautiful ladies set to adorn their country’s colours in London. To keep it interesting and to make sure you give all the different events a look this summer, we’re going for one girl from each discipline and we’ll give you a little idea of their chances of glory!

10. Lolo Jones, USA, 100m Hurdles

Injuries and bad form have curtailed Jones’ exploits in 2012, but the 29-year-old hurdler still managed to qualify in third at the recent US trials. That might mean a medal is too much to ask for, but she’s certainly got a high profile having appeared on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno. The Iowa-born athlete also holds the American record for indoor hurdles.

9. Kerri-Anne Payne, GB, Open Water Swimming

Kerri made the news back in July 2011 as the first British athlete to qualify for London 2012. An Olympic silver medallist at the inaugural Olympic event in 2008, the 24-year-old will hope to go one better in Hyde Park. Undoubtedly one of the toughest events going, Payne will be pleased to avoid the problem of jellyfish drifting onto the course, an issue experienced in 2007. The main problem at Hyde Park has instead been swans!

8. Casey Eastham, Australia, Field Hockey

A Gold medallist at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi, it may be difficult for Eastham and co. to repeat the feat. this summer as they face tough competition from favourites the Netherlands and Argentina – as well as our very own GB team!

7. Emma Coburn, USA, 3000m Steeplechase

Coburn is the American junior record holder and the only American to make the steeplechase final at the 2011 World Championships. At only 21, Coburn is a star in the making and her best chance of glory might come four years in the future in Brazil – but one to watch nevertheless!

6. Stephanie Rice, Australia, Swimming

Rice won three gold medals in Beijing but has had a rather interesting four years since, plastered on the front of magazines and caught up in a storm over that bane of the modern athlete: an ill-judged tweet. Despite concerns over a shoulder injury expect the 400m individual medley record holder to challenge at the top in London.

5. Alex Morgan, USA, Women’s Football

Seattle Sounders’ forward Alex Morgan has an impeccable goal scoring record for the US, netting 27 times in 42 appearances. With 17 of those coming this year alone, Morgan’s Van Persie-esque goal scoring streak means she is certain to be a threat!

4. Leryn Franco, Paraguay, Javelin

Franco is a javelin thrower with a difference. Having been runner-up in the 2006 Miss Paraguay contest (we’d like to see the winner), she is perhaps more famous for a her bronzed good looks than her javelin throwing; Franco came 51st at the Beijing Olympics.

3. Darya Klishina, Russia, Long Jump

Klishina finished a disappointing seventh at the 2011 World Athletics Championships with a jump of 6.50m but heads to London with a personal best of 7.05 and a chance of challenging for a medal. Boasting a number of lucrative modelling contracts, Klishina will hope this is the time for her athletic ability to make her famous rather than her blonde hair and long legs.

2. Francesca Piccinini, Italy, Volleyball

Piccinini has represented Italy at three Olympics already, and clearly to get in this list as a volleyball player she must be something special. Having done shoots for Playboy and Men’s Health, I think we can assume she is.

1. Jessica Ennis, GB, Heptathalon

Ok, so this might be a bit of controversial one looking at the rest of the list. But who cares? Jessica is ours and she’s the poster girl of London 2012.  Ennis is proven at the top level of her field, regained her no.1 ranking in May and all she needs is that gold medal. Come on Jessica!

So there you have it. I’d say the order is fairly interchangeable at the top and Jessica is definitely promoted on the back of patriotic sentiment, but who cares! If you have any better suggestions, leave a comment below and maybe we’ll get the list changed if we agree!