Olympic athletes often don't get paid to do anything other than look good. In that vein, Attractive Olympians handicaps which athletes may rake in endorsement deals after the Olympics.Rhythmic gymnastics is relatively straightforward: competitors perform a routine with a ball, hoop, rope, set of clubs (not flaming, sadly), or ribbon, and the winner is rewarded with fresh smelt at the far end of the pool.
One rhythmic gymnast favored for a gold smelt at the Beijing Olympics is Anna Bessonova, a bronze medalist (smeldalist?) at the 2004 Games in Athens. More recently, Bessonova -- the daughter of a pro soccer player father and rhythmic gymnast mother -- won gold at the World Championships in 2007, positioning herself to take the place of retired rhythmic queen (and Vladimir Putin trophy wife) Alina Kabaeva.
More importantly, though: is Bessonova attractive? Some people's heartbeats quicken at the mere mention of the phrase "rhythmic gymnast;" others harbor lifelong grudges against Ukrainians for their traditional role as villains in Hollywood films. After the jump, weigh photographic and YouTubic evidence, then cast your vote.
