We recently read an interesting article on playboy.de that goes beyond glamour and celebrity. The piece focuses on two top German athletes who are using a high-profile media platform to address deeper issues in professional sports: ice hockey national team forward Franziska Feldmeier and bobsleigh world champion Vanessa Mark.
As cover stars of Playboy’s March 2026 issue, they bring attention to gender stereotypes, body image, and the unequal perception of female athletes—just as the Winter Olympics approach.
From Elite Sports to the Playboy Cover
The article places Feldmeier and Mark at the intersection of elite competition and cultural debate.
With the 2026 Winter Olympics about to begin, both athletes appear on the cover of Playboy. They framed not only as sports stars but as women who want to redefine how athletic bodies are viewed.
Their decision to pose for the magazine is presented not as a provocation, but as a deliberate choice.
It is meant to challenge long-standing assumptions that strength, muscle, and competitiveness stand in opposition to femininity.
In doing so, the article positions their appearance as part of a broader conversation about visibility and respect in women’s sports.
Franziska Feldmeier on Strength, Femininity, and Ice Hockey
Franziska Feldmeier’s section of the article focuses strongly on body image and expectations placed on young female athletes. She highlights that girls in sports are often pressured to question whether they look “feminine enough,” while male athletes rarely face comparable scrutiny.
Her message is clear: an athletic, muscular body should be seen as something positive. According to the article, Feldmeier wants to normalize the idea that physical strength and femininity are not opposites. She also emphasizes that ice hockey should not be viewed as a male-only domain, but as a sport where women compete at the highest level with skill, discipline, and dedication.
Adding a personal dimension, the article notes that her Playboy cover coincides with a significant moment in her career and life, as it appears during the Olympic tournament and around her birthday—symbolizing both professional ambition and personal confidence.
Vanessa Mark: Identity Beyond Medals and Results
Vanessa Mark’s story takes a more introspective turn. While she had aimed to compete for Olympic medals, a serious knee injury forced her to step back shortly before the Games.
The article presents her Playboy appearance as especially meaningful in this context.
Rather than focusing on sporting success alone, Mark is portrayed as someone who wants to be seen as a complete person. She speaks about how female athletes are often perceived as masculine simply because of their physiques or because they are usually seen in functional sportswear.
By showing herself in a different setting, she aims to demonstrate that athleticism, confidence, and femininity can coexist naturally.
The article also touches on her views about self-acceptance. Mark reflects on how important it is for athletes—especially women—to recognize their own value, even during periods of injury or setback. In this sense, her story extends beyond sports and resonates with broader themes of resilience and self-worth.
A Broader Message About Women in Professional Sports
Overall, the article on playboy.de frames both athletes as voices in a larger discussion about equality in sports. Their appearances are not portrayed as isolated media moments, but as statements against narrow definitions of femininity and success.
By featuring Franziska Feldmeier and Vanessa Mark, the piece argues that female athletes should not be reduced to either performance statistics or stereotypes. Instead, they deserve recognition for their achievements, individuality, and the strength—both physical and mental—that defines their careers.