Nelly Korda, Suni Lee, Eileen Gu, and Gabby Thomas Shine in Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue 2025

Reversing back in 2025 with the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue would be It will highlight an amazing collection of athletes redefining what it means to be beautiful and building sports heritage. This year the magazine is featuring four amazing women: runner Gabby Thomas, freestyle skier Eileen Gu, dancer Suni Lee.

These players, who are known for their work around the world, went to Boca Raton, Florida, for a photoshoot with the famous photographer Ben Horton. This is the start of a new era for Sports Illustrated. The magazine will now honor the strength, confidence, and toughness of the new crop of female all-stars.

Why the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue is important

The yearly Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue isn’t just a way to show off how pretty you are anymore. It’s now a sign of strength and acceptance, backing a wide range of ideas about what it means to be pretty and fit. It encourages young girls to see themselves as leaders as well as players by showing women from a range of backgrounds. Editor-in-chief MJ Day says that this year’s version is all about honoring women who fight against gender stereotypes, fight for equality, and encourage others to do the same in sports and in life.

Meet the Swimming Suit Stars of 2025

Gabby Thomas: The Record Breaking Sprinter

Gabby Thomas’s first Olympics were in Tokyo in 2021. She won a bronze medal in the 200-meter race and a silver medal in the 4×100-meter relay. Her job has gone through the roof since then. Thomas got three gold medals in Paris last summer.

She won in the 200m, the 4x100m, and the 4x400m. Because of this, she is now one of the best sprinters in track and field. The pink one-piece Thomas wore to the shoot made her look great. Her new style fit her well and made her look great.

Suni Lee: Gymnastics Icon and Role Model

Renowned worldwide, Suni Lee received a gold medal in gymnastics at the Tokyo Olympics. She had to use much strength and effort to reach the top in her sport.

Showing her Olympic ring tattoo at her picture shoot in a brown bikini by St. Agni, Lee felt proud. Though just 21 years old, she already boasts many accolades. Young dancers and supporters all around will take after her.

Nelly Korda: Golf’s Top Female Player

Nelly Korda was just named NPGA Player of the Year for 2024. Nobody else excels in golf than her. She is a model for young golfers who aspire to perform since she has won five times consecut on the LPGA Tour.

Her selection for the Swimsuit Issue was a chic white two-piece from Vitamin A featuring chains on it. It had both a classy and a tough, sporty look. The fact that she is in the magazine shows that women’s golf is getting more popular and recognized around the world.

Eileen Gu: Freestyle Skiing’s Prodigy and Style Icon

It was the first time a Chinese athlete won a gold medal at the X Games, and Eileen Gu won three. She is known as both a skiing superstar and a culture icon. As seen in her Swimsuit Issue cover, her bold, confident style on the slopes flows right into her fashion choices.

The bold red one-piece by Norma Kamali that Gu is wearing shows the grace and confidence that are her traits. It shows that sports and style can go together.

Setting New Standards for Beauty and Giving Women More Power

Each of these athletes adds something different to the Swimsuit Issue, which gives readers a wider view of what it means to be strong and beautiful. The fact that the magazine chose to feature world-class athletes makes the point that today’s beautiful people are strong, confident, and tough.

According to standard ideas of beauty, these women are not beautiful. However, Sports Illustrated shows that showing a variety of people can inspire youth.

What These Athletes Represent: Strength and Confidence

Gabby Thomas, Suni Lee, Nelly Korda, and Eileen Gu are all amazing players who lead the way for young women around the world, not just in their own sports. Being in the Swimsuit Issue shows that they want to change what it means to be strong and beautiful in today’s world. They show that being strong and sure of yourself are just as important to beauty as how you look.

Behind the Scenes of the 2025 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Shoot

Leading photographer Ben Horton oversaw the 2025 shoot at Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Scenes behind-the-scenes revealed how different every athlete was, freely embracing their own techniques and personalities. It shows how powerful teamwork can be and how much these players enjoy their work, both on and off the field.

The Impact of Featuring Women Athletes in Fashion Media

The Swimsuit Issue of Sports Illustrated has always been a place to break rules and celebrate variety. Top athletes are featured in the magazine, which combines sports and fashion in a way that makes women feel strong and sure of themselves.

They can reach more people if they work with the media and sports together. This gives them more power outside of sports and in society. Young fans can look up to them as strong and great role models.

Public Reception and Social Media Buzz

As soon as the 2025 lineup with Thomas, Lee, Korda, and Gu was revealed, there was a huge response on social media. Fans praised the inclusion of accomplished women in sports. People are starting to value athletes for their skills and personal journeys instead of just looking good. This reaction shows how society is changing.

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A New Era of Representation in Sports Illustrated

The 2025 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue is not just a magazine; it makes a point. By featuring these athletes, Sports Illustrated celebrates a wider idea of what it means to be beautiful and strong, one that includes athleticism, confidence, and toughness. This lineup inspires young athletes and women everywhere to play to their unique skills. It’s a big change in how women are shown in sports.