Hailey & Sierra Partridge
There aren't many who can fill the shoes—or any other article of clothing—of current Mega-It-Girl Brooklyn Decker. Maybe that's why when the makers of Decker's 2010 film Just Go With It needed a surfing body double, they called Sierra.
Sierra and twin sister Hailey have broken out of the world of competitive surfing to stand on the brink of major modeling and, at least in Sierra's case, doubling-for-models, fame. Definitely making a splash!
Christina Jones, Synchronized Swimming
At the 2008 Olympics, Christina approached a fellow U.S. Olympian and said, "I'm really sorry, but can I get a picture with you?"
"Girl, why are you sorry?" asked Kobe Bryant. "Can I get a picture with you? You're an Olympian!" Smart man, that Kobe.
After the games, Jones left the big-O of the Olympics for O, the Cirque du Soleil show in Vegas, where she performed for a season. Now back competing in synchro, she's aiming for the 2012 Games, spicing up her routines with Cirque-style music, including a recording of herself at 13 singing "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star." More like, "Twinkle Twinkle Humongous Star" if you ask us.
Sania Mirza, Tennis
Never heard of Mirza? Then you're not among the one-of-every-five people on earth who love her model's body, gorgeous smile and celebrate her as the first Indian star in international tennis. Already a national hero, she married Pakistani cricket star Shoaib Malik in 2010, after which she became the year's most searched woman's tennis player on Google.
Mirza, whose international ranking peaked at 27 in 2007, had to stop playing matches in India because of controversy from religious groups over her tennis outfits. But she continues to play professionally around the world. India's loss is our gain!
Tanith Belbin, Ice Dancing
Canadian-born Tanith is so hot, somebody oughta pass a law. Actually, somebody did. Specifically, the U.S. Congress passed, and President George W. Bush signed, a special act that naturalized Belbin as a U.S. citizen prior to the 2006 Olympics so she could compete for the U.S. ice dancing team.
Her silver medal in those games came in the middle of a five year run of Golds at the U.S. Championships. Since retiring in 2010, Tanith has been going for the gold as an in-demand TV commentator and model.
Lauren Fleshman, Track & Field
We fell for Lauren's California-girl looks and champion body after her star-making turn in Nike's delightfully naughty online-only "Bear Butte" ad, a skit of Olympic-level runners at an in-the-buff training camp, all under only the barest of pixilations. Wearing nothing—and we mean nothing—but Nikes and a red visor, Lauren gives a brief, funny interview behind a maddeningly placed guitar.
So forgive us, Lauren, for when we heard about your other YouTube moment, describing your U.S. 5000-meter championship as "just balls. All that was was balls," what popped into our head was: Don't they ever wear clothes?
Serena Williams, Tennis
Serena fits into women's tennis the same way she fits her famously skimpy outfits: busting out all over.
Not just too good, Serena is too much for Tennis: Too much muscle, too much serve (hers would have been the world's fastest, for men or women, as recently as the 1970s), too much hair, too much skin, too much sexy, too much winning (13 Grand Slams plus 12 in doubles) and too much money ($32M career winnings, the most of any woman in any sport, behind only three men in tennis).
In a sport of Wilting Mileys, Serena is Warrior-Beyoncé.
Dara Torres, Swimming
In the sport that produces the hardest of hard bodies, nobody is harder than Dara Torres. She set her first U.S. record in the 50 freestyle when she was 15. In 1981! Torres won medals at the Olympics in 1984, 1988, 1992, 1996 and 2008. And she's angling to make the 2012 team, where most of the team will be younger than her Olympic career.
If she makes it to London, she will be by far the most accomplished woman swimmer in U.S. history. She'll be 45 at the Games. And still super-hot.
Swin Cash, Basketball
The WNBA star was born "Swintayla," which is Swahili for "astounding woman," and nothing about this 6'1" Pittsburgh native fails that lofty name.
On the court, Cash has claimed two college national championships, including an undefeated senior season; three WNBA titles with two teams, including an undefeated playoff run with Seattle in 2010; and an Olympic Gold medal, making Cash one of the rare women to capture the college-pro-Olympics Triple Crown.
Off the court, her her tall, willowy figure and sharp features are nothing short of, well, astounding. What's in a name? In this case, everything.
Willow Koerber, Mountain Biking
When Koerber competes, she sports a certain look: caked in mud, covered in bruises and scars from head to toe, hair tucked into a helmet, accessorized with bits of broken branches and grass stains. Or as we like to call it: dead sexy.
Originally from North Carolina, Koerber has rapidly ascended the muddy, jarring, bone-breaking world of mountain biking with a fearless, hard charging riding style—while picking up endorsements and photo shoots that capitalize on her killer looks. She's definitely on a roll.
Caroline Wozniacki, Tennis
Wozniacki, originally from Denmark and the daughter of international soccer and volleyball players, took over the No. 1 ranking in women's tennis late last year. But her ascent to the top of our list may have been solidified just a week ago.
That's when she dismantled (dare we say, undressed) three-time Grand Slam champ—and former Super-Hot Tennis It-Girl—Maria Sharapova in straight sets at a tournament in Indian Wells, Calif. It was her second straight win over the Russian glamour girl.
With the Williams sisters nearing the end of their careers, Wonziacki's reign both on and off the court may be just beginning. We say, let the undressing continue!
Hope Solo, Soccer
Every group needs a rebel, but few embrace the hot-head role with as much gusto as this soccer hottie. Case in point: As the starting goalie for the 2007 U.S. World Cup team, Hope unleashed a public tirade at her coach after she was demoted to the bench before the semifinal game.
She was sadly vindicated when the U.S. lost to Brazil without her in the nets, but gained some redemption in 2008 by leading the U.S. to Olympic Gold. Then last year, playing for a professional team in Atlanta, she was suspended by the league for disparaging referees on twitter.
Passionate, yes, which is what we love in our stars.