Page 2 staff

You know what we like here at Page 2?

We like February.

We like mid-February. Short days, bare trees, brisk temperatures, a slow sports calendar ... all of it.

Why? Because to us, mid-February means Anna Kournikova.

Heather's still hot
  • Heather Mitts dishes on Cold Pizza ESPN Motion

  • Last year, Heather Mitts won the title of Page 2's Hottest Female Athlete. What is she up to? Check out 10 Burning Questions.

    • Jennie Finch.

    Heather Mitts.

    Yep, it's that time again, our favorite time of the year. Here at Page 2, the sun shines brightest every February when we open the polls in our Hottest Female Athlete contest. The 2005 balloting begins today with the best, the brightest, the hottest field yet.

    We've put together a group of the most sizzling women athletes we could find, athletes who combine top-notch skill on the playing field with unparalleled sex appeal. From here, it's up to you. You tell us who the hottest athlete in the world is this year. We've broken the field into four groups of six. Your votes will determine the semifinal matchups later this week.

    A couple of ground rules you should know about as we assembled the field this time 'round: 1.) Past champs are no longer eligible (which is why you won't get to vote on Kournikova, Finch or Mitts); and 2.) No athlete who isn't at least 18 years old is eligible. (Around here, we're calling that one the "Sharapova Rule.")

    Oh, and to all you beefcake-lovers out there: Be patient. The Hottest Male Athlete polls will open next week.

    So for now, read on and vote away. But you might want to crank up the air conditioning. It's hot in here.

    Amy Acuff
    high jump    		Christine Arron
    track and field
    Amy Acuff
    		Christine Arron
    Who is she? Made headlines for her nude appearances in Playboy last year, but the three-time Olympian also finished fourth in Athens.
    		Who is she? The fantastic Frenchwoman helped France win a bronze medal in the 4x100 relay in Athens.

    Jennifer Barretta
    billiards    		Amanda Beard
    swimming
    Jennifer Barretta
    		Amanda Beard
    Who is she? Ranked 12th in the WPBA (that's Women's Professional Billiards Association), Jennifer Barretta is proof we've come a long way since Steve Mizerock.
    		Who is she? Has grown up from the 14-year-old who won a relay Olympic gold in 1996 to an FHM veteran who captured a gold (200 breast) and two silvers in Athens.

    Tanith Belbin
    ice dancing    		Gretchen Bleiler
    snowboarding
    Tanith Belbin
    		Gretchen Bleiler
    Who is she? Born in Canada, Tanith now competes with partner Ben Agosto and the pair recently won the U.S. Nationals after finishing fifth in the world championships last year.
    		Who is she? Returned from ACL surgery which wiped out most of her 2004 season to win the superpipe gold medal at the X Games in January.