Since 2009, ESPN The Magazine has released an annual issue that features photos of renowned athletes posing nude. The Body Issue has become a fixture of popular sports culture that celebrates the immaculate bodies that top athletes can achieve.
Now, Israel’s popular Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper has given the idea a try, photographing 14 of Israel’s best athletes nude in “a first” for the country. According to Israel21C, fashion photographer Gabriel Baharlia spent two and a half weeks with the athletes to produce the images. The results, published last weekend, are as startling as ESPN’s.
Ariel Harush, 27 (soccer)
Ariel Harush is a soccer goalkeeper for the Israeli national team and Hapoel Tel Aviv in the Israeli Premier League.
![Ariel Harush (Gabriel Baharlia/Facebook) Ariel Harush (Gabriel Baharlia/Facebook)](http://cdn.timesofisrael.com/uploads/2015/09/Ariel-Harush.jpg)
Amit Ivry, 26 (swimming)
Amit Ivry is an Olympic swimmer who holds several national records in Israel.
![Amit Ivry (Gabriel Baharlia/Facebook) Amit Ivry (Gabriel Baharlia/Facebook)](http://cdn.timesofisrael.com/uploads/2015/09/Amit-Ivry.jpg)
Gal Mekel, 27 (basketball)
Gal Mekel is a basketball guard who has played in the NBA and currently handles the ball for Serbian team Red Star Belgrade.
![Gal Mekel (Gabriel Baharlia/Facebook) Gal Mekel (Gabriel Baharlia/Facebook)](http://cdn.timesofisrael.com/uploads/2015/09/Gal-Mekel.jpg)
Ma’ayan Shahaf, 28 (high jump)
Ma’ayan Shahaf is a seven-time national champion high-jumper.
![Ma’ayan Shahaf (Gabriel Baharlia/Facebook) Ma’ayan Shahaf (Gabriel Baharlia/Facebook)](http://cdn.timesofisrael.com/uploads/2015/09/Maayan-Shahaf.jpg)
Maor Buzalgo, 27 (soccer)
Maor Buzalgo is a soccer midfielder for the Israeli national team and Hapoel Beer Sheva in the Israeli Premier League.
![Maor Buzalgo (Gabriel Baharlia/Facebook) Maor Buzalgo (Gabriel Baharlia/Facebook)](http://cdn.timesofisrael.com/uploads/2015/09/Maor-Buzalgo.jpg)
Meirav Dori, 29 (basketball)
Meirav Dori is a basketball guard who plays for the Israeli national team.
![Meirav Dori (Gabriel Baharlia/Facebook) Meirav Dori (Gabriel Baharlia/Facebook)](http://cdn.timesofisrael.com/uploads/2015/09/Meirav-Dori.jpg)
Donald Sanford, 30 (track)
Donald Sanford is an American-Israeli Olympian who holds the Israeli record in the 400-meter dash.
![Donald Sanford (Gabriel Baharlia/Facebook) Donald Sanford (Gabriel Baharlia/Facebook)](http://cdn.timesofisrael.com/uploads/2015/09/Donald-Sanford.jpg)