German athletes go nude for Playboy

German hockey player Katharina Scholz fears news of her being a Playboy covergirl might overshadow her Olympic campaign.

Scholz and three German Olympic countrywomen will appear on the cover of the German edition, adding their names to the list of athletes capitalising on their games fame with a nude shoot.

"I think now I have to play hockey and later talk about things like that. I think it's a good opportunity but it's not important for me for now," Scholz told Reuters after her team's 4-2 victory over United States yesterday.

"The most important thing for me is playing hockey. And because I am playing hockey, I got the opportunity to go on Playboy. Otherwise I wouldn't. I have no plans on a career in modelling."

American Olympic swimming champion Amanda Beard posed naked in Playboy last year, and in Beijing stripped for a campaign to end the fur trade, while British athletes have been photographed naked to advertise a sports drink.

"For me it was a good opportunity, and maybe when I look back after a few years I will be proud of it. Not everybody can go on the cover of Playboy," the 25-year-old striker said.

"I did it because I am confident of my body and myself."

Germany's September Playboy will have four different covers for the first time when it is published on Thursday, each dedicated to one of the athletes.

Sailor Petra Niemann, canoeist Nicole Reinhardt and judoka Romy Tarangul are the other German Olympians who will feature.

"It wasn't a group decision, we haven't seen each other. The shooting was separate. Everyone decided it for themselves," she said without giving details about the picture that will appear.