Behind-the-scenes photos, stories from ESPN The Magazine’s “The Body Issue”

If you think you've seen everything from this yearâ€™s "Body Issue" athletes â€“ think again. In celebration of ESPN The Magazineâ€™s sixth annual Body Issue on newsstands today, Front Row shares some behind-the-scenes stories from those who see it all: The Magâ€™s Neely Lohmann, senior deputy editor; Nancy Weisman, senior deputy photo editor; Stacey Pressman, writer and contributor: Of swimmer Michael Phelps, The Mag says: "He came to the set in a full beard and we were concerned he'd be unrecognizable for the cover â€“ he agreed, and from there, we shaved his beard! He also shared that this was his first time being fully naked in a pool. He also did not tell his mother he was doing this. We ran into her while filming his practice - weâ€™re sure he told her, eventually." Of tennis player Venus Williams, The Mag says: "Her shoot took place in a rock quarry in Miami. It was otherworldly â€“ and in the middle of nowhere, with turkey vultures circling overhead and a huge hill of sand to climb. Despite the elements, she seemed to enjoy herself all day, laughing often." Of extreme sports star Travis Pastrana [with wife Lyn-Z Pastrana], The Mag says: "Quite possibly one of the most fun shoots ever: even though Travis was limping from a recent injury, they invited us out to their 20-acre home, complete with foam pit, skate park, BMX park, and motocross jumps. It was freezing cold and started to rain, so they decided to start a mud fight." Of tennis star Tomas Berdych, The Mag says: "After nailing tennis balls into the desert all day, we were informed that they were all regulation tournament balls that had to be returned â€“ so the whole crew literally wandered the desert to find them." BONUS: NFL star Larry Fitzgerald (top) and NBA star Serge lbaka outtake photos:

BONUS: NFL star Larry Fitzgerald (top) and NBA star Serge lbaka outtake photos:

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