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Already one of the darlings of the U.S. women's national soccer team, Alex Morgan is about to work her way into the hearts of even more young men this Valentine's Day.
The 22-year-old wunderkind with the nose for goal and supermodel good looks will be featured in the 2012 Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue, set to hit newsstands on Feb. 14. Morgan posed for the magazine in nothing but a body paint bikini , one of three athletes to take part in a body paint pictorial for the magazine's annual most popular edition.
"Initially I was a little nervous, but this opportunity doesn't come
everyday," Morgan told SI.com about posing for the magazine. "I wanted to involve my family with my decision and it helped
that they were very supportive."
Known for a generally steely demeanor on the pitch, Morgan found the prospect of posing in nothing but body paint a bit more daunting than battling defenders and 'keepers.
"I have been playing soccer my entire life. I know how to stay calm and
not get too nervous for games. That's why I would have to say posing in
body paint was a little more intimidating," Morgan told SI.com. "It was a completely new
experience and definitely took some getting used to before I felt
comfortable in body paint. I had to look in the mirror every five minutes
to make sure I actually had a swimsuit on.
Source: Universal Sports (blog)