This blog supports Lance Armstrong's Livestrong foundation. Click the following link to know more about Livestrong:
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Almudena Cid (SPA, Gymnastics Beauty)
In an event where prepubescent girls reign supreme, Almudena Cid at 30 years old is a dinosaur - a beautiful one at that! The Spanish individual rhythmic gymnast is the oldest active competitor in the discipline.
Photo from WikipediaCid has been a member of Spain's gymnastics squad since 1994. To date, she has competed in a total of four Olympics (1996, 2000, 2004 and 2008) - reaching the finals in Atlanta and Sydney. The Spaniard placed 9th in her discipline in both 1996 and 2000, an impressive feat considering the hegemony of Eastern European athletes in the event.
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Magdalena Neuner (GER, Biathlon Beauty)
Biathlon, the winter sport, involves cross-country skiing and rifle-shooting. Magdalena Neuner is a biathlon prodigy, having won accolades at the highest stage at such a young age.
Neuner began her love affair with the sport at the early age of 9. Through the years, she won an astounding five World Junior titles. As a 20-year old, the German won an impressive three gold medals at the Biathlon World Championships, an auspicious start to her senior career.
Most recently, Neuner reigned supreme at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics. She won two gold medals at the pursuit and mass start events, and added a silver in as well in the sprint.
Photos from Wikipedia
Neuner began her love affair with the sport at the early age of 9. Through the years, she won an astounding five World Junior titles. As a 20-year old, the German won an impressive three gold medals at the Biathlon World Championships, an auspicious start to her senior career.
Photo from Wikipedia
Most recently, Neuner reigned supreme at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics. She won two gold medals at the pursuit and mass start events, and added a silver in as well in the sprint.
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Malia Jones (USA, Surfing Beauty)
I must admit that I am not comfortable at all with water. Although I am a self-taught swimmer, I prefer the safe confines of dry land. Hence, I have this aversion to all types of water sports. Surfing, in particular, I find daunting. The thought of riding the waves brings forth fears of unknown underwater creatures, undercurrents and drowning!
Thus, I have much respect for surfers.
Malia Jones is one such surfer. Born in California, but raised in Hawaii, Jones' exposure to competitive surfing started at an early age. At 15, according to Wikipedia, Jones won her first ever surfing title, and, consequently, landed her first surfing-related modeling gig as well.
Photo from sports-extremes.net
These two disciplines have gone hand-in-hand in increasing Jones popularity with the sports-mad American public. Since then, the 33-year old had graced countless magazine covers.
According to the treasure trove of information, Wikipedia, Jones is of Hawaiian, German and Anglo-Saxon descent. She is also a Spanish-Filipino mestiza.
Margherita Granbassi (ITA, Fencing Beauty)
Margherita Granbassi packs quite a sting - literally.
The Italian fencer is a veteran international campaigner. Competing in the foil, Grambassi became a world champion in 2006, edging out Valentina Vezzali, a five-time Olympic gold medalist and a Superb Senora in her own right. Two years earlier, Grambassi also won gold at the team foil event.
Click here to go to Margherita's official site
Aside from the 31-year old's twin World Championship golds, she had also won two bronzes from the 2008 Beijing Olympics, two more silvers from the World Championships and a silver in the European championships.
The Italian fencer is a veteran international campaigner. Competing in the foil, Grambassi became a world champion in 2006, edging out Valentina Vezzali, a five-time Olympic gold medalist and a Superb Senora in her own right. Two years earlier, Grambassi also won gold at the team foil event.
Photo from europastar.com
Click here to go to Margherita's official site
Aside from the 31-year old's twin World Championship golds, she had also won two bronzes from the 2008 Beijing Olympics, two more silvers from the World Championships and a silver in the European championships.
Monday, December 27, 2010
Dara Torres (USA, Swimming Legend)
The first time I learned about Dara Torres was during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. I was awestruck at the fact that a 40-year old is attempting to compete at the world's biggest stage, to say the least. But then again, Torres wasn't just in it for the ride. The mere fact that she qualified for the Swimming competition for the United States Olympic Team is proof of her extreme fitness level.
Photo from Wikipedia
Prior to Beijing, Torres was already an American swimming legend, winner of four gold medals, a silver medal and four bronzes spanning 4 Olympics - from Los Angeles 1984 to Sydney 2000. At age 15, Torres set her first American national record at her best event, the 50m freestyle. The California-raised Torres had nothing left to prove in the sport. But almost two decades since her competitive debut, Torres was at her 5th Olympic Games - a stellar feat in itself.
And lo and behold, the mother to a then-two year old daughter did not just come along to Beijing for the ride. There was to be no forgettable races as Dara did not fade quietly into the sunset. Instead, she fought fiercely, winning an astounding 3 silver medals in the 4x100m freestyle, the 4x100m medley and the 50m freestyle.
She lost the gold medal in her best event, the 50m freestyle, in the most infinitesimal of margins. Germany's Britta Steffen won by a 0.01s. Steffen was barely a year old during Torres' Olympic debut in the 1983 Los Angeles Games!
Indeed, Dara Torres is a Superb Señora!
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Miwa Asao 浅尾 美和 (JPN, Beach Volleyball Beauty)
For our next Superb Senora, we turn to the Land of the Rising Sun and the sport of Beach Volleyball.
In recent years, beach volleyball has grown exponentially in terms of popularity. From its awkward roots in the movie Top Gun (where Maverick and Goose played an intense pick-up game against Iceman and Slider, well not really. I just couldn't let writing about beach volleyball pass without referencing one of my favorite movies of all-time!), beach volleyball became an Olympic sport in 1996.
Aside from the appeal of the laid-back beach setting, where sand and sun commingle, the beach volleybelles themselves provide the centerpiece for the sport. In Japan, the emergence of Asao Miwa 浅尾 美和 has boded well in stirring much interest in beach volleyball. Brawns and good looks are a potent combination for any sport.
In recent years, beach volleyball has grown exponentially in terms of popularity. From its awkward roots in the movie Top Gun (where Maverick and Goose played an intense pick-up game against Iceman and Slider, well not really. I just couldn't let writing about beach volleyball pass without referencing one of my favorite movies of all-time!), beach volleyball became an Olympic sport in 1996.
Photos from Picasa, Huppages.com and Wikipedia
Aside from the appeal of the laid-back beach setting, where sand and sun commingle, the beach volleybelles themselves provide the centerpiece for the sport. In Japan, the emergence of Asao Miwa 浅尾 美和 has boded well in stirring much interest in beach volleyball. Brawns and good looks are a potent combination for any sport.
A Mainichi Daily News article on Asao credits the 24-year old with putting "beach volleyball on the map" but also expresses fear that Japan's foremost beach volleyball icon is "overexposed" in light of her commitments in the media and her "excessively skimpy swimsuits." In fact, Asao missed the 2008 Beijing Olympics since she and her partner were ranked 44th in the world at that time, below the required top 24 for Olympic competition.
In sport, an Anna Kournikova is needed to pave the way for a Maria Sharapova. Who knows? Asao is still relatively young. Her moment of (sporting) glory is yet to come. But for now, what makes her superb is her being larger-than-life icon for her respective sport.
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Kiira Korpi (FIN, Figure Skating Beauty)
Again, we turn to the wonderful world of winter sports for our next Super Senora. Mention the word figure skating and images from the movies "The Cutting Edge" and "Blades of Glory" come into mind.
Finland's Kiira Korpi is one of the most beautiful athletes I've ever seen. In Finland, she is often called as the "Ice Princess" or Jääprinsessa since her resemblance to the late Grace Kelly is uncanny, according to Wikipedia.
Finland's Kiira Korpi is one of the most beautiful athletes I've ever seen. In Finland, she is often called as the "Ice Princess" or Jääprinsessa since her resemblance to the late Grace Kelly is uncanny, according to Wikipedia.
Photos from Wikipedia
Korpi is not just a pretty face, mind you. She is Finland's top-ranked figure skater, winning the Finnish national championship twice. In major competitions, she won 3rd place at the 2007 European Championships and at the 2009 Winter Universiade.
Needless to say, Kiira dances around the ice with so much grace. She even makes Beyonce's If I Were A Boy seem tailored-made for an ice waltz.
Friday, December 24, 2010
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)