If you’re reading this blog, you probably don’t need me to tell you all about the problematic history of media coverage as it relates to female athletes.  From news profiles of the first professional female ball players that focused on their cooking skills to obsessive analysis of the waistlines and hairstyles of the Olympians in London, media of all kinds has shown an embarrassing tendency to focus on everything about female athletes but their athleticism.

Now, I do think there has been some progress. For instance, Nike has done some pretty great work portraying female athletes in action, while ESPN: The Magazine’s Body Issue, while not perfect, has published nude portraits of female athletes that are not only beautiful but also powerful and exciting.  We are a long, long ways from the days when people could only deal with seeing female athletes as long as they have been assured that…