Aly Raisman might be best known for her career as a professional gymnast, which she capped with two Olympic appearances—in 2012 and 2016—and three gold medals, but she’s also known as a three-time SI Swimsuit model in our books. We certainly appreciate all of those other things about her—they’re hugely impressive—but we also adored her willingness to grace the pages of the annual issue in both 2017 and 2018.
After her 2017 debut in Houston, the athlete returned to the magazine the following year, traveling somewhere tropical for her second go-round. She headed to Aruba with photographer James Macari for a seriously powerful set of photos in several different sleek black swimsuits.
“Being able to shoot SI Swim, it’s such a big honor,” she said of the experience. “It’s something I’ve always wanted to do.”
She took advantage of the opportunity, both in Texas and on the beaches of Aruba. We all know the 29-year-old to be extremely strong and powerful, and that’s exactly what she put on display in the idyllic island destination. Between a snapshot of her standing on the rocks fronting the beach in a metallic, Wonder Woman-inspired top and several where she put her strength and flexibility on display, the gymnast thoroughly impressed us.
Each and every image is a testament to her beauty and strength, but we consider the following few to be especially powerful. Here are six of her incredible snaps from her time in Aruba.
