Naked ambition: Britain's Olympians strip down as they prepare to make history in Beijing
By Arthur MartinLast updated at 12:19 AM on 04th August 2008
By Arthur MartinLast updated at 12:19 AM on 04th August 2008
Muscles taut and face locked in concentration, this is Rebecca Romero, who will be representing Britain in the Olympic games later this month.With a carefully placed arm and thigh to protect her modesty, she appears to be in perfect physical condition ahead of what will be a gruelling race in Beijing.The 28-year-old, who won a sliver medal in rowing at the 2004 Olympics in Athens, only took up cycling seriously in March 2006 after doctors recommended the sport to combat muscle fatigue she was experiencing.
Easy rider: Rower-turned-cyclist Rebecca Romero shows off her enviable physique on her bike
After reinventing herself as one of the world's top cyclists she will now seek to make history in China as the first British woman to win Olympic medals in two separate summer sports.
Romero's previous experience of cycling consisted of working in a bike shop as a teenager.
The athlete, who modestly describes herself as 'generally a lazy person', is now favourite to win the gold medal in the 3000m individual pursuit race in which she is already world champion.
After reinventing herself as one of the world's top cyclists she will now seek to make history in China as the first British woman to win Olympic medals in two separate summer sports.
Romero's previous experience of cycling consisted of working in a bike shop as a teenager.
The athlete, who modestly describes herself as 'generally a lazy person', is now favourite to win the gold medal in the 3000m individual pursuit race in which she is already world champion.
The naked truth: Triple jumper Phillips Idowu shows off his toned body in all its glory
'I am a really sore loser and I probably will be gutted if I get anything less than the gold medal in Beijing,' she said.
Romero also suggested she might be tempted to take up a third sport after the Games.
She said: 'I might think about raising the bar a bit more. It might have to be a winter sport as I might not be able to wait for another Olympic cycle.'
Only one other Briton has achieved the feat of winning medals in two sports.
Welshman Paul Radmilovic won medals in swimming and water polo in the 1920s, two sports which are arguably more closely related than cycling and rowing.
In the modern Olympic era, the only athlete to have achieved it is American Tim Shaw, who won a swimming silver medal in Montreal in 1976 and a water polo silver in Los Angeles eight years later.Enlarge
Making waves: Swimmer Gregor Tait goes for a skinny dip
Triple jumper Phillips Idowu and swimmer Gregor Tait also posed naked for award-winning photographer Nadav Kander.
The images will be used as part of an advertising campaign for Powerade, the official sports drink of the Beijing Games.
Idowu, 29, who has been hailed as one of Britain's best hopes of a track and field gold medal, said: 'This is definitely one of the more unusual shoots I've taken part in, but also one of the most enjoyable.
'Nadav made us all feel really comfortable, and we had a lot of fun. The Inner Gear for an athlete - how we train, what we eat, drink and when we sleep - is as important as what we wear, and it's great that a campaign like this brings it to life.'
Striking: Phillips Idowu poses in one of the powerful images which will form the basis of an advertising campaign during the Olympics
Cathryn Sleight, marketing director for Coca-Cola Great Britain which produces Powerade, added: 'Everyone is used to seeing athletes in competition or winning, but we wanted to give people the chance to see the real make-up of an athlete and their muscle and power, celebrating the body and spirit and the hard work that goes into training for all athletes whatever your level
'I am a really sore loser and I probably will be gutted if I get anything less than the gold medal in Beijing,' she said.
Romero also suggested she might be tempted to take up a third sport after the Games.
She said: 'I might think about raising the bar a bit more. It might have to be a winter sport as I might not be able to wait for another Olympic cycle.'
Only one other Briton has achieved the feat of winning medals in two sports.
Welshman Paul Radmilovic won medals in swimming and water polo in the 1920s, two sports which are arguably more closely related than cycling and rowing.
In the modern Olympic era, the only athlete to have achieved it is American Tim Shaw, who won a swimming silver medal in Montreal in 1976 and a water polo silver in Los Angeles eight years later.Enlarge Making waves: Swimmer Gregor Tait goes for a skinny dip
Triple jumper Phillips Idowu and swimmer Gregor Tait also posed naked for award-winning photographer Nadav Kander.
The images will be used as part of an advertising campaign for Powerade, the official sports drink of the Beijing Games.
Idowu, 29, who has been hailed as one of Britain's best hopes of a track and field gold medal, said: 'This is definitely one of the more unusual shoots I've taken part in, but also one of the most enjoyable.
'Nadav made us all feel really comfortable, and we had a lot of fun. The Inner Gear for an athlete - how we train, what we eat, drink and when we sleep - is as important as what we wear, and it's great that a campaign like this brings it to life.'
Striking: Phillips Idowu poses in one of the powerful images which will form the basis of an advertising campaign during the Olympics
Cathryn Sleight, marketing director for Coca-Cola Great Britain which produces Powerade, added: 'Everyone is used to seeing athletes in competition or winning, but we wanted to give people the chance to see the real make-up of an athlete and their muscle and power, celebrating the body and spirit and the hard work that goes into training for all athletes whatever your level
