Once a year, ESPN The Magazine releases its Body Issue , which highlights and celebrates athletes' physiques in all their wondrous shapes and sizes.

It's empowering and beautiful, and often bucks the standard expectations of what "normal" world-class athletes should look like.

Standing out on this year's covers, which were unveiled earlier this month, was U.S. hammer thrower Amanda Bingson , who told the outlet that she likes "everything about [her] body." The athlete, who at one time was kicked off her high school volleyball team for being "too fat," now says she embraces and loves her size, which she says hovers between 210 and 215 pounds.

"You might be prettier and skinnier than me , but I'll kick your ass in a game of one-on-one," the Olympian added.