Simone Biles and Aly Raisman’s Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Photos Are All Kinds of Inspiring
Olympic darlings Simone Biles and Aly Raisman (who is living proof you can find love online) brought serious joy into our lives in 2016 and served as an unfaltering source of fitspiration. Now, they’re back at it again, inspiring us all to be our best with their stunning photos in the latest Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue (which features Kate Upton back as the cover model for the third time).
The 19-year-old four-time Olympic gold medalist Simone made her SI debut alongside three-time Olympic gold medalist Aly as part of this month’s highly anticipated “diversity” issue (which also includes a 63-year-old Christie Brinkley posing alongside her daughters), and needless to say, the shots are breathtaking. Simone shared a couple of her fave photos on Twitter yesterday, and with over 13,000 likes already, it’s safe to say we’re not the only ones feeling the love!
| @SI_Swimsuit pic.twitter.com/vvnYhx1hzv
— Simone Biles (@Simone_Biles) February 17, 2017
Posing in a number of bikinis and one-piece suits from MIKOH, Agent Provocateur and OYE Swimwear and allSisters, Simone dazzles in her outdoor Texas shoot, which shows off her muscles (and is seriously making us rethink our unicorn Starbucks order).
Last month, the pint-sized gymnast teased her epic SI feature on Instagram, writing: “So happy to be a part of the Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition. Where athletes bodies can be beautiful too.”
“No matter what anyone tells you, have confidence in your own body. OWN IT,” she concluded.
Catching up on some reading…. @SI_Swimsuit pic.twitter.com/uzRce676z6
— Alexandra Raisman (@Aly_Raisman) February 16, 2017
Aly Raisman’s shots were also bringing some serious heat, but as Aly told E!, it was made all the more special for her due to the mag’s inclusive theme. “This is the most diverse issue they’ve ever had, so to be a part of that is incredible,” she shared. “You have so many beautiful women but we come from all over the world, with different stories, all different styles, all different heights, and we all get along. We’re all supporting each other and I think it really represents girl power.”
It was also a milestone for Aly personally, who captioned the above pic as follows: “WOWWW what an honor to be featured in @si_swimsuit 2017. THANK YOU to @mj_day and the SI team for including me in this issue. I’m very proud of my body and how hard I have worked to look like this. I of course like everyone else have my days where I feel insecure and not at my best BUT I think it is much more important we love our bodies and support each other. It is 2017 and there is NO perfect or ideal body type. SI Swim celebrates women for being unique and beautiful in our own way which is why I am so happy to be a part of it.”
We are LOVING the fact that SI chose to be more inclusive this year (the issue also includes everyone’s favorite body-positive model Ashley Graham and Hunter McGrady, along with sports star Serena Williams): Check out all the lovely ladies here.
What do you think of the girls’ SI photoshoot? Tweet us @BritandCo.
(Photo via Eamonn M. McCormack + Michael Tran/Getty)