Slideshow: Different Body Types At The Beijing Olympics

Every four years, the Summer Olympics provide us with an inspiring display of physical and mental abilities. The athletes who get to compete are at the top of their games, whether that game is archery, swimming, Taekwondo, weightlifting, or any of the other 34 sports represented in this year’s Beijing Olympics. While we might obsess over models’ and actresses’ bodies in the years between the Games, right now there is absolutely no reason why any of us should be flipping through Vogue and dreaming of having a body like Kate Moss’s or Keira Knightley’s. The women vying for medals are a nice reminder that we don’t have to be tall and thin to be fabulous—heck, Kate could never even dream of winning a medal. Every sport emphasizes a different set of muscles, a different type of body. Even within particular sports, different proportions are represented. Take artistic gymnastics. All-around gold medalist Nastia Liukin is about 5’3” tall with long limbs, while Shawn Johnson is under 5’ and has more defined muscles. Let all of this be a lesson: Be happy with the booty, legs, back, and abs you’ve got, because the women competing in the Olympics—whether they’re short, tall, petite, big-boned, super muscular, or lithe—are using their bodies to do incredible things, and so should you.

Don’t forget to watch the Olympics every night at 8 p.m. on NBC!