As We See It

Hometown Olympian Amanda Bingson bares all on ESPN’s Body Issue—and starts an uplifting conversation

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Former UNLV athlete and Olympic hammer thrower Amanda Bingson graced one of the covers of ESPN’s Body Issue this year.

“I don’t have traps bulging out to my ears; I have a neck. I don’t have a six-pack,” says Olympian and USA Track & Field hammer thrower Amanda Bingson in her recent interview for ESPN: The Magazine’s Body Issue. “I’m just dense. I think it’s important to show that athletes come in all shapes and sizes.”

The sports publication did just that last week, featuring the Silverado High School/UNLV graduate on one of the issue’s six covers. In the company of sculpted sports figures like fellow Las Vegan Bryce Harper of the Washington Nationals and Olympic swimmer Natalie Coughlin, Bingson ignited a national conversation about body image in sports. The national record-holder received an onslaught of social-media support for her body-positive comments (and complete badassity). A few gems:

“I want to learn to be comfortable in my own skin, and seeing yours, that helps me more than you ever know. Thank you for showing me how amazing the human body is.”

“Thank you for the ESPN photo shoot. My daughter is built like you, and you have become her new athletic inspiration!!!”

“I don’t care who you are, if you don’t think @AmandaBingson is the most BAMF person in the @espn #BodyIssue I don’t want to be your friend.”

We couldn’t agree more. Rock on, Amanda!

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