Game Face: 100 Years of Vanity Fair’s Best Athletic Portraiture
From Edward Steichen to Annie Leibovitz, Vanity Fair has been capturing the greatest physical forms in sport, fitness, and dance for a century. From cheeky shots of celebrities like Jane Fonda and Arnold Schwarzenegger to extravagant, sensual portfolios of America’s Olympic squads, the magazine’s pantheon of photographers have helped to define the genre of sports portraiture. Herein, works by Steichen, Leibovitz, Bruce Weber, Norman Jean Roy, and more.
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Vanity Fair’s visual identity in the 1920s and 1930s. Here, he photographs Olympic swimming champion Agnes Geraghty in a black swimsuit, reclining on a diving board.”,”contentType”:”photo”,”credit”:””,”segmentedSources”:{“sm”:[{“height”:404,”width”:320,”url”:”https://media.vanityfair.com/photos/542868c506f2391147580a7b/master/w_320,c_limit/image.jpg”},{“height”:809,”width”:640,”url”:”https://media.vanityfair.com/photos/542868c506f2391147580a7b/master/w_640,c_limit/image.jpg”}],”md”:[{“height”:809,”width”:640,”url”:”https://media.vanityfair.com/photos/542868c506f2391147580a7b/master/w_640,c_limit/image.jpg”},{“height”:1617,”width”:1280,”url”:”https://media.vanityfair.com/photos/542868c506f2391147580a7b/master/w_1280,c_limit/image.jpg”}],”lg”:[{“height”:1294,”width”:1024,”url”:”https://media.vanityfair.com/photos/542868c506f2391147580a7b/master/w_1024,c_limit/image.jpg”},{“height”:2587,”width”:2048,”url”:”https://media.vanityfair.com/photos/542868c506f2391147580a7b/master/w_2048,c_limit/image.jpg”}],”xl”:[{“height”:1617,”width”:1280,”url”:”https://media.vanityfair.com/photos/542868c506f2391147580a7b/master/w_1280,c_limit/image.jpg”}],”xxl”:[{“height”:1617,”width”:1280,”url”:”https://media.vanityfair.com/photos/542868c506f2391147580a7b/master/w_1280,c_limit/image.jpg”}]}}}” data-testid=”GallerySlideWrapper”>
Edward Steichen’s famous black-and-white portraits of the stars of the day were instrumental in creating Vanity Fair’s visual identity in the 1920s and 1930s. Here, he photographs Olympic swimming champion Agnes Geraghty in a black swimsuit, reclining on a diving board.
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Boxers were a popular subject of articles, photography, and illustrations in the magazine during that era (George Bellows’s paintings of boxers from the magazine’s pages reside in many major museums today), and here Steichen captures the masculinity and power of Italian fighter Primo Carnera.
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Even as Steichen was capturing bodies in motion with his lens, *Vanity Fair’*s cadre of legendary illustrators were drawing them on the pages and covers of the magazine. Here, Miguel Covarrubias draws a tennis player in action on the cover of the August 1932 issue.
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The bodies of swimmers would long hold captive the imaginations of our editors and readers. Here, Steichen shoots diver Helen Meany at the edge of her board.
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Vanity Fair’s a standalone publication would disappear, only to be resurrected in 1983.”,”contentType”:”photo”,”credit”:””,”segmentedSources”:{“sm”:[{“height”:400,”width”:320,”url”:”https://media.vanityfair.com/photos/542868c406f2391147580a76/master/w_320,c_limit/image.jpg”},{“height”:800,”width”:640,”url”:”https://media.vanityfair.com/photos/542868c406f2391147580a76/master/w_640,c_limit/image.jpg”}],”md”:[{“height”:800,”width”:640,”url”:”https://media.vanityfair.com/photos/542868c406f2391147580a76/master/w_640,c_limit/image.jpg”},{“height”:1600,”width”:1280,”url”:”https://media.vanityfair.com/photos/542868c406f2391147580a76/master/w_1280,c_limit/image.jpg”}],”lg”:[{“height”:1280,”width”:1024,”url”:”https://media.vanityfair.com/photos/542868c406f2391147580a76/master/w_1024,c_limit/image.jpg”},{“height”:2560,”width”:2048,”url”:”https://media.vanityfair.com/photos/542868c406f2391147580a76/master/w_2048,c_limit/image.jpg”}],”xl”:[{“height”:1600,”width”:1280,”url”:”https://media.vanityfair.com/photos/542868c406f2391147580a76/master/w_1280,c_limit/image.jpg”}],”xxl”:[{“height”:1600,”width”:1280,”url”:”https://media.vanityfair.com/photos/542868c406f2391147580a76/master/w_1280,c_limit/image.jpg”}]}}}” data-testid=”GallerySlideWrapper”>
Photographer Lusha Nelson put a set of swimming brothers atop a tower of megaphones in this August 1935 issue. A year later, Vanity Fair’s a standalone publication would disappear, only to be resurrected in 1983.
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Vanity Fair’s first Olympic portfolio, shot by new photographic ingénue Annie Leibovitz, the stars of the 1983 Summer Olympic team showed off their physiques. Here, gold-medal-winning hurdler Edwin Moses poises for action.”,”contentType”:”photo”,”credit”:””,”segmentedSources”:{“sm”:[{“height”:414,”width”:320,”url”:”https://media.vanityfair.com/photos/542868d872bd5a4566c66e58/master/w_320,c_limit/image.jpg”},{“height”:828,”width”:640,”url”:”https://media.vanityfair.com/photos/542868d872bd5a4566c66e58/master/w_640,c_limit/image.jpg”}],”md”:[{“height”:828,”width”:640,”url”:”https://media.vanityfair.com/photos/542868d872bd5a4566c66e58/master/w_640,c_limit/image.jpg”},{“height”:1656,”width”:1280,”url”:”https://media.vanityfair.com/photos/542868d872bd5a4566c66e58/master/w_1280,c_limit/image.jpg”}],”lg”:[{“height”:1325,”width”:1024,”url”:”https://media.vanityfair.com/photos/542868d872bd5a4566c66e58/master/w_1024,c_limit/image.jpg”},{“height”:2649,”width”:2048,”url”:”https://media.vanityfair.com/photos/542868d872bd5a4566c66e58/master/w_2048,c_limit/image.jpg”}],”xl”:[{“height”:1656,”width”:1280,”url”:”https://media.vanityfair.com/photos/542868d872bd5a4566c66e58/master/w_1280,c_limit/image.jpg”}],”xxl”:[{“height”:1656,”width”:1280,”url”:”https://media.vanityfair.com/photos/542868d872bd5a4566c66e58/master/w_1280,c_limit/image.jpg”}]}}}” data-testid=”GallerySlideWrapper”>
In the modern Vanity Fair’s first Olympic portfolio, shot by new photographic ingénue Annie Leibovitz, the stars of the 1983 Summer Olympic team showed off their physiques. Here, gold-medal-winning hurdler Edwin Moses poises for action.
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As part of the same portfolio, legendary diver Greg Louganis posed on the prow of a yacht for Leibovitz, in what would become one of the most famous images in sports photography history. His contemplative expression presaged tragedy to come.
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The magazine’s sports photography was not always somber—athletes have also frequently appeared in fashion spreads and alongside celebrities. Here, Olympic swimmer Steve Lundquist takes part in a color story about evening dresses.
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Though not an athlete herself, Raquel Welch looks right at home amidst the bronzed bodies of the 1984 Olympic men’s swim team in a splashy photograph by Bill King.
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Vanity Fair’s robust storytelling. Here, Leibovitz captures John Bigelow, an Olympic rower, in repose, to accompany a story by contributor David Halberstam that followed the man’s lifelong quest for a medal.”,”contentType”:”photo”,”credit”:””,”segmentedSources”:{“sm”:[{“height”:207,”width”:320,”url”:”https://media.vanityfair.com/photos/542868d872bd5a4566c66e60/master/w_320,c_limit/image.jpg”},{“height”:414,”width”:640,”url”:”https://media.vanityfair.com/photos/542868d872bd5a4566c66e60/master/w_640,c_limit/image.jpg”}],”md”:[{“height”:414,”width”:640,”url”:”https://media.vanityfair.com/photos/542868d872bd5a4566c66e60/master/w_640,c_limit/image.jpg”},{“height”:829,”width”:1280,”url”:”https://media.vanityfair.com/photos/542868d872bd5a4566c66e60/master/w_1280,c_limit/image.jpg”}],”lg”:[{“height”:663,”width”:1024,”url”:”https://media.vanityfair.com/photos/542868d872bd5a4566c66e60/master/w_1024,c_limit/image.jpg”},{“height”:1326,”width”:2048,”url”:”https://media.vanityfair.com/photos/542868d872bd5a4566c66e60/master/w_2048,c_limit/image.jpg”}],”xl”:[{“height”:829,”width”:1280,”url”:”https://media.vanityfair.com/photos/542868d872bd5a4566c66e60/master/w_1280,c_limit/image.jpg”}],”xxl”:[{“height”:829,”width”:1280,”url”:”https://media.vanityfair.com/photos/542868d872bd5a4566c66e60/master/w_1280,c_limit/image.jpg”}]}}}” data-testid=”GallerySlideWrapper”>
Iconic athletic imagery was not limited to portfolios and fashion spreads—often it was used as a component in Vanity Fair’s robust storytelling. Here, Leibovitz captures John Bigelow, an Olympic rower, in repose, to accompany a story by contributor David Halberstam that followed the man’s lifelong quest for a medal.
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Not a professional athlete, but certainly a world-class fitness inspiration: Jane Fonda had some fun in this Leibovitz portrait from 1988.
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Dancer-choreographer Mark Morris’s uncommon physique and unorthodox approach to the art form launched one of New York’s most prominent companies. Here, Leibovitz captures his unique (nude) essence.
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In addition to his up-and-down career as an actor, Mickey Rourke fascinated fans for a time with his amateur career in boxing—and treated the hobby with a seriousness and intensity captured here by Leibovitz’s lens.
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In yet another Olympic portfolio, Leibovitz shoots the stars of the 1992 Summer Games in Barcelona. Here, Jackie Joyner-Kersee and Gail Devers sprint across the page.
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Rambo, Rocky, and 1993’s Cliffhanger, posed that year for one of the magazine’s most athletic covers ever.”,”contentType”:”photo”,”credit”:””,”segmentedSources”:{“sm”:[{“height”:414,”width”:320,”url”:”https://media.vanityfair.com/photos/542868d806f2391147580b0b/master/w_320,c_limit/image.jpg”},{“height”:828,”width”:640,”url”:”https://media.vanityfair.com/photos/542868d806f2391147580b0b/master/w_640,c_limit/image.jpg”}],”md”:[{“height”:828,”width”:640,”url”:”https://media.vanityfair.com/photos/542868d806f2391147580b0b/master/w_640,c_limit/image.jpg”},{“height”:1656,”width”:1280,”url”:”https://media.vanityfair.com/photos/542868d806f2391147580b0b/master/w_1280,c_limit/image.jpg”}],”lg”:[{“height”:1325,”width”:1024,”url”:”https://media.vanityfair.com/photos/542868d806f2391147580b0b/master/w_1024,c_limit/image.jpg”},{“height”:2649,”width”:2048,”url”:”https://media.vanityfair.com/photos/542868d806f2391147580b0b/master/w_2048,c_limit/image.jpg”}],”xl”:[{“height”:1656,”width”:1280,”url”:”https://media.vanityfair.com/photos/542868d806f2391147580b0b/master/w_1280,c_limit/image.jpg”}],”xxl”:[{“height”:1656,”width”:1280,”url”:”https://media.vanityfair.com/photos/542868d806f2391147580b0b/master/w_1280,c_limit/image.jpg”}]}}}” data-testid=”GallerySlideWrapper”>
Sylvester Stallone, fitness idol and star of films like Rambo, Rocky, and 1993’s Cliffhanger, posed that year for one of the magazine’s most athletic covers ever.
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Leibovitz photographed repeat subject Martina Navratilova in a hyper-masculinized pose, for a portrait in 1994.
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Olympic swimmer Jenny Thompson’s back was like a mountain range in this image from Leibovitz’s 1996 Olympian portfolio.
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The simultaneous beauty and violence in the sport of water polo is captured perfectly in this underwater photograph from the same 1996 Olympic portfolio.
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Beach-volleyball player Nancy Reno was one of many athletes caught in action.
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The members of the United States Senior National Field Hockey team horse around for Leibovitz.
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Vanity Fair’s most memorable covers from the 1990s, champion weight lifter, actor, and future governor Arnold Schwarzenegger posed in ski boots and a T-shirt.”,”contentType”:”photo”,”credit”:””,”segmentedSources”:{“sm”:[{“height”:414,”width”:320,”url”:”https://media.vanityfair.com/photos/542868d872bd5a4566c66e5a/master/w_320,c_limit/image.jpg”},{“height”:828,”width”:640,”url”:”https://media.vanityfair.com/photos/542868d872bd5a4566c66e5a/master/w_640,c_limit/image.jpg”}],”md”:[{“height”:828,”width”:640,”url”:”https://media.vanityfair.com/photos/542868d872bd5a4566c66e5a/master/w_640,c_limit/image.jpg”},{“height”:1656,”width”:1280,”url”:”https://media.vanityfair.com/photos/542868d872bd5a4566c66e5a/master/w_1280,c_limit/image.jpg”}],”lg”:[{“height”:1325,”width”:1024,”url”:”https://media.vanityfair.com/photos/542868d872bd5a4566c66e5a/master/w_1024,c_limit/image.jpg”},{“height”:2649,”width”:2048,”url”:”https://media.vanityfair.com/photos/542868d872bd5a4566c66e5a/master/w_2048,c_limit/image.jpg”}],”xl”:[{“height”:1656,”width”:1280,”url”:”https://media.vanityfair.com/photos/542868d872bd5a4566c66e5a/master/w_1280,c_limit/image.jpg”}],”xxl”:[{“height”:1656,”width”:1280,”url”:”https://media.vanityfair.com/photos/542868d872bd5a4566c66e5a/master/w_1280,c_limit/image.jpg”}]}}}” data-testid=”GallerySlideWrapper”>
In one of Vanity Fair’s most memorable covers from the 1990s, champion weight lifter, actor, and future governor Arnold Schwarzenegger posed in ski boots and a T-shirt.
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Evander Holyfield took a dip in the pool at his Georgia mansion for the magazine’s Hall of Fame portfolio in 1997.
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In the 1999 Hall of Fame portfolio, Leibovitz captured women’s soccer star Mia Hamm high in the air.
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In the same portfolio, Leibovitz captured cyclist Lance Armstrong high on the adrenaline of his first Tour de France win.
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Surfer Laird Hamilton made a splashy appearance for a story on big-wave surfing in July of 2002.
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127 Hours inspiration) Aron Ralston posed back on the wall for our 2003 Hall of Fame portfolio.”,”contentType”:”photo”,”credit”:””,”segmentedSources”:{“sm”:[{“height”:207,”width”:320,”url”:”https://media.vanityfair.com/photos/542868ec72bd5a4566c66ef2/master/w_320,c_limit/image.jpg”},{“height”:414,”width”:640,”url”:”https://media.vanityfair.com/photos/542868ec72bd5a4566c66ef2/master/w_640,c_limit/image.jpg”}],”md”:[{“height”:414,”width”:640,”url”:”https://media.vanityfair.com/photos/542868ec72bd5a4566c66ef2/master/w_640,c_limit/image.jpg”},{“height”:829,”width”:1280,”url”:”https://media.vanityfair.com/photos/542868ec72bd5a4566c66ef2/master/w_1280,c_limit/image.jpg”}],”lg”:[{“height”:663,”width”:1024,”url”:”https://media.vanityfair.com/photos/542868ec72bd5a4566c66ef2/master/w_1024,c_limit/image.jpg”},{“height”:1326,”width”:2048,”url”:”https://media.vanityfair.com/photos/542868ec72bd5a4566c66ef2/master/w_2048,c_limit/image.jpg”}],”xl”:[{“height”:829,”width”:1280,”url”:”https://media.vanityfair.com/photos/542868ec72bd5a4566c66ef2/master/w_1280,c_limit/image.jpg”}],”xxl”:[{“height”:829,”width”:1280,”url”:”https://media.vanityfair.com/photos/542868ec72bd5a4566c66ef2/master/w_1280,c_limit/image.jpg”}]}}}” data-testid=”GallerySlideWrapper”>
By far one of the magazine’s most extreme athletes, rock climber (and 127 Hours inspiration) Aron Ralston posed back on the wall for our 2003 Hall of Fame portfolio.
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Proving he was officially an intercontinental sensation, British football star David Beckham posed for an Annie Leibovitz cover in July 2004 (and continued to show off his tattoos—and more—in a portfolio inside).
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Vanity Fair’s pages in a portfolio by Bruce Weber in anticipation of the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens.”,”contentType”:”photo”,”credit”:””,”segmentedSources”:{“sm”:[{“height”:414,”width”:320,”url”:”https://media.vanityfair.com/photos/542868ec72bd5a4566c66ef7/master/w_320,c_limit/image.jpg”},{“height”:828,”width”:640,”url”:”https://media.vanityfair.com/photos/542868ec72bd5a4566c66ef7/master/w_640,c_limit/image.jpg”}],”md”:[{“height”:828,”width”:640,”url”:”https://media.vanityfair.com/photos/542868ec72bd5a4566c66ef7/master/w_640,c_limit/image.jpg”},{“height”:1656,”width”:1280,”url”:”https://media.vanityfair.com/photos/542868ec72bd5a4566c66ef7/master/w_1280,c_limit/image.jpg”}],”lg”:[{“height”:1325,”width”:1024,”url”:”https://media.vanityfair.com/photos/542868ec72bd5a4566c66ef7/master/w_1024,c_limit/image.jpg”},{“height”:2649,”width”:2048,”url”:”https://media.vanityfair.com/photos/542868ec72bd5a4566c66ef7/master/w_2048,c_limit/image.jpg”}],”xl”:[{“height”:1656,”width”:1280,”url”:”https://media.vanityfair.com/photos/542868ec72bd5a4566c66ef7/master/w_1280,c_limit/image.jpg”}],”xxl”:[{“height”:1656,”width”:1280,”url”:”https://media.vanityfair.com/photos/542868ec72bd5a4566c66ef7/master/w_1280,c_limit/image.jpg”}]}}}” data-testid=”GallerySlideWrapper”>
Then unknown swimming star Michael Phelps made his debut in Vanity Fair’s pages in a portfolio by Bruce Weber in anticipation of the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens.
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Marion Jones opted for a more covered-up ensemble in her contribution to Weber’s portfolio.
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Then couple Ryk Neethling and Amanda Beard made quite the pair as they trained together at the University of Arizona in anticipation of the 2004 Games.
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More stars of the 2004 Games participated in Weber’s portfolio, including the Hamm twins and Gail Devers.
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Misty May and Kerri Walsh, who would remain stars of the summer for several more Games, here lead their beach-volleyball team.
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More athletes, from rowers to gymnasts.
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In our 2005 Hollywood Portfolio, Norman Jean Roy captures Oscar winner Hilary Swank in an uncommonly athletic pose.
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Model and entrepreneur Christy Turlington demonstrates one of her best poses for photographer Michael O’Neill in a feature on the growing popularity of yoga in 2007.
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The magazine uncovered an unseen photograph from an Annie Leibovitz shoot of golfer Tiger Woods to accompany its wide-ranging expose on his fall from grace.
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forced them to strip to their skivvies for her portfolio.”,”contentType”:”photo”,”credit”:””,”segmentedSources”:{“sm”:[{“height”:218,”width”:320,”url”:”https://media.vanityfair.com/photos/542868ec72bd5a4566c66ef0/master/w_320,c_limit/image.jpg”},{“height”:435,”width”:640,”url”:”https://media.vanityfair.com/photos/542868ec72bd5a4566c66ef0/master/w_640,c_limit/image.jpg”}],”md”:[{“height”:435,”width”:640,”url”:”https://media.vanityfair.com/photos/542868ec72bd5a4566c66ef0/master/w_640,c_limit/image.jpg”},{“height”:870,”width”:1280,”url”:”https://media.vanityfair.com/photos/542868ec72bd5a4566c66ef0/master/w_1280,c_limit/image.jpg”}],”lg”:[{“height”:696,”width”:1024,”url”:”https://media.vanityfair.com/photos/542868ec72bd5a4566c66ef0/master/w_1024,c_limit/image.jpg”},{“height”:1393,”width”:2048,”url”:”https://media.vanityfair.com/photos/542868ec72bd5a4566c66ef0/master/w_2048,c_limit/image.jpg”}],”xl”:[{“height”:870,”width”:1280,”url”:”https://media.vanityfair.com/photos/542868ec72bd5a4566c66ef0/master/w_1280,c_limit/image.jpg”}],”xxl”:[{“height”:870,”width”:1280,”url”:”https://media.vanityfair.com/photos/542868ec72bd5a4566c66ef0/master/w_1280,c_limit/image.jpg”}]}}}” data-testid=”GallerySlideWrapper”>
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