It was actually a pretty big deal in the otherwise conservative country, especially when it came to Nicole Reinhardt, who won the gold medal in the 500m canoeing event which is essentially a sprint.
Amanda Beard is an American swimmer and a seven-time Olympic medalist Amanda was the unquestioned American Olympic sex symbol, a belated answer to Germany's Katarina Witt.
But, she was the best professional tennis player to take off all of her clothes for Playboy and since there are so few professional female athletes, it can be said she was the best professional mainstream American athlete to appear in the magazine.
She is a former world record holder in the 200-meter breaststroke long course.
It was over a long time ago.
We really miss the Attitude Era.