I had been thinking about this for a few days so when I mentioned it on facebook and a few of you had interest, I decided to jump right on it!
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If you are anything like me, you are totally inspired by the body types of the Olympic athletes. They are AMAZING and the pinnacle of intentional eating, focused training and perseverence!!
There are 26 sports in total in the Summer 2012 Olympics. (I’m only going to show a handful of them below) You might notice that each sport has sort of a “typical” build. Even thought they are using their full body and all it’s muscles to do their sport, each will focus on different muscles which give the different looks. (Let’s be honest. The still shots don’t do these bodies justice!)
Of course, there will be outliers to each sport but I think you get my point! 🙂
Let’s take a look, shall we? (I will just be viewing the female athletes!)
Swimmers
Team USA’s, Claire Donahue
Team USA’s, Allison Schmitt
Volleyball
Team USA.
Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh!
Marathoners
Our awesome women’s marathoners: Team USA, Kara Goucher and Shalane Flanagan
Check out those legs.
Rowing
Team USA.
Sprinters/Hurdlers
Team USA: Lolo Jones
I’m not gonna lie. I feel much better about my muscular thighs and quads after looking at them! (below!)
Whoa. Is there a gun show around here? LOL!
Gymnasts
I’m sorry but this is amazing. (Gabby Douglas)
Team USA
A few random points:
♦ This is a great chance to sit with your daughters and show them the beauty of the “non-Victoria Secret” body! These women are strong, beautiful, healthy and probably not a size 0! If your girls are involved in sports, chances are they have more muscle on them than their peers and that can be an interesting thing for them to sort through in high school. (I experienced this growing up)
♦ I’m sure many of you are aware of this but just in case you have body envy—these ladies have spent (at least) the past year or two training for the Olympics as their job. They have coaches, multiple practices a day, and people creating nutritional plans for them. Don’t be so hard on yourself when checking them out! 🙂
♦ This is where “not the norm” heights, weight and body builds are celebrated. (I was listening to the height and weight of the beach volleyball players and they are by no means “tiny”!) But these numbers make these Olympic athletes exactly what they are–Olympic athletes. The best of the best! If you are taller, built in a bigger frame, have more junk in your trunk or broader shoulders (to name a few) then celebrate that!
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Did I miss any sport that you would have liked to see included up here? Are you inspired to sprint, swim and jump now? Next week we’ll be talking about what the Olympics has done for your inspiration in your workouts!
I actually commented last night that of all the athletes the beach volleyball girls actually looked the closest to normal women. I realize they are tall and muscular but their bikini outfits also reaveal they don’t all have 6 packs.
I know I am such a nerd, but watching the Olympics has really been a motivator (in a good way) for me. When working out and wanting to quit on 5/7 Tabata circuits I push through because Olympians don’t give up and I don’t want to give up either.
Clare, you are awesome! Thank you for sharing this. Olympian bodies are beautiful! But, thank you for helping us be happy with the body that we do have and encouraging us in a healthy way to exercise, eat right, and most importantly our spiritual fitness.
This is a good one Clare.Yes there are obvious differences in “victoria secret” figures and “olympian”. Yet to me they are the same in that the figures/physiques are extreme. Both swing from oneside of the pendulum to another. We have been so conditioned by the world into attaining some kind of “perfect” figure either just being thin with big breasts or this total fat free muscular body. Seeing both can just leave some girls & women with the sense that their bodies don’t look good enough. Hope that made sense.
Made total sense. Great point!
Clare
I think it is amazing how our bodies are capable of adapting to and changing depending on what is required of them. I have always felt he same way about the Olympians- living sculptures! All so different and beautiful in their own unique way. I do like that you pointed out to be fair that they have been training hard for years. Their focus is on their sport- achieving a goal- getting stronger and faster. I think too many women go into workouts thinking about getting skinny or burning calories. There are so many greater things to be inspired by!
The Olympics have REALLY inspired me. Funny thing is I have only been able to watch one event. I wrote about it in my blog – Oscar Pistorious. That is ALL I have to say!!! 🙂 Great post Claire.
AH! Spelled your name wrong! Sorry CLARE! 🙂 If it makes you feel better EVERYONE spells mine wrong!