Raschker on nude shoot: ‘I experienced several positive emotions’
Phil Raschker has been there and done it all. All except pose nude for a national sports magazine. Since her involvement in ESPN the Magazine’s second annual Body Issue has triggered some stark reactions, I sent Phil some shameless questions. Bottom line from Phil: “It was a terrific experience, probably a once-in-a-lifetime experience. This week ESPN is sponsoring a Body Issue party in New York City, and I am really looking forward to it. ESPN has done a fantastic job and they treat us like royalty. It’s one of the best experiences of my life!â€
Jeff Riedel photo in magazine shows her down to her ankles.
Here’s my quickie Q&A with one of the greatest track athletes in history:
Masterstrack.com: How did you get contacted by ESPN? Whose idea was it to contact you?
Phil Raschker: ESPN contacted me by phone. They got my name from USATF. By the way, there is another track and field athlete, a javelin thrower, featured as well. And last year they had LoLo Jones.
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What was your initial reaction? Did you have misgivings?
I experienced several positive emotions; I was surprised they selected a 60+ woman, honored to have been chosen, and excited about the opportunity.
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How did the venue come about? Whose idea was the tall grass or the water hole jump?
The photographer contracted by ESPN did the photo planning and site selection.
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Did you get paid? How much?
ESPN took care of all my travel, lodging and dining expenses. I didn’t receive any compensation.
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Did your photo get edited? Or is that your true muscular and color tones?
No, the photo wasn’t edited. Do you think it makes me look different from when you saw me at nationals? Other than the tiny bikini-type outfit I had on?

What kind of feedback are you getting from friends and family privately?
I have received numerous congratulatory communications from people, especially colleagues in the track and field community. They are thrilled for me and for our sport, and have laughed at the predictable prudish comments a few people have made on your site.Â
Have you posed naked before? If so, where?
No, I have never posed naked before. But remember that I grew up in Germany, and Europeans don’t have the hang-ups that many Americans do about nudity. For example, Europe has numerous topless beaches and coed saunas. While at the worlds in Riccione, some of us took a side trip to France. I was the only female in our group that went to the beach topless on that trip.
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What’s the best thing about doing this shoot?
Physically, doing the shoot was very demanding; I was exhausted and freezing. But I am very pleased with the professional results, the wonderful attention given to me by ESPN, and the attention this is bringing to masters track and field.
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Any regrets? Don’t be shy.
Why should I have any regrets? It was a terrific experience, probably a once-in-a-lifetime experience. This week ESPN is sponsoring a Body Issue party in New York City, and I am really looking forward to it. ESPN has done a fantastic job and they treat us like royalty. It’s one of the best experiences of my life!
27 Responses
And I experienced a bad taste in my mouth.
Thanks for the article and photos. I exchanged a few emails with Phil yesterday as well to congratulate her for “putting it out there” with such a healthy attitude. She’s certainly a great athlete but like all of us, I am a tremendous fan of Phil the person. She’s just such a fantastic person and friend.
As a photographer who has shot Phil in competition many times, I applaud her and the ESPN photographer for his concept. The “Eden” setting is a perfect visual metaphor. Phil IS a force of nature, and her fearlessness in the photos perfectly matches her fearlessness as an athlete.
Masters Track and Field is all about pushing envelopes and defying stereotypes about aging. Phil’s photos do the same thing.
I also applaud the editors of ESPN Magazine for including Masters athletes with younger athletes. It is about time that Masters athletes are treated as an integral part of the overall athletic community, rather than as subgroup that gets little or no attention.
I love it. If you’ve got it, flaunt it, and Phil certainly has it. You go!!!!
I am somewhat puzzled by the intent of this ESPN photo shoot. However these pictures confirm that after 60, it is easy to look fit, but so difficult to look sexy….
Just gross. What’s next?
I’m sticking to my original message:even after
reading more blogs praising Phil Raschker with
her photo shoot.Let her go nude all she wants
but please don’t associate the event with Masters’
Track and Field;she is not being a “role model”
for our sport and I doubt USATF would think so
either.And to be treated “royally” by ESPN for being
photographed naked for the world to see? What is so
great about being naked???Guess I don’t “get” it.
63?
It was so predictable and a little sad that accusations of prudishness be bandied about for any whom questioned why people would want to see a naked picture of an old woman.
I’m not a prude. In fact I’m generally a big fan of naked women. Unfortunately, it’s just not appealing to the eye which presumably is the whole point.
To try and spin it into a celebration of masters athletics smacks of desperation. Perhaps some sort of fetish magazine would have been more appropriate.
I’m speechless.
But what IS ESPN?
ESPN: Entertainment and Sports Programming Network. This is a popular cable network in the US.
That was funny Peter…explaining ESPN…:-)
I gotta say, brave but not my cup of tea. She is a wonderful athlete and probably a fanstastic person, but personally I would rather see LoLo Jones.
I agree with Moraghan. I’d much rather see Phil running on the track with her clothes on than see her running through a field with her clothes off. And no, I’m not a prude either.
Well, this has certainly been more revealing than my October 4 spot! I was congratulated by many when I showed up at (our very conservative Baptist) church on Sunday as a result of the newspaper article Ken quoted. I just wonder what the reaction would have been had I appeared in the ESPN issue – Oh God! Had I been asked by ESPN (not that they would) I’d have been sorely tempted to do it, risking reputation, career and marriage in the process.
Phil dared do what many only dream of being free enough to do (or capable of doing), whether they’ll admit it to themselves or not. Most complaints seem to be prudishness and/or age bias. I think she looks pretty good.
Genocide, starvation, Loe Gehrig’s disease (ALS), rape, religious prosecution, and child slavery are bad.
Being told on a website about a naked woman when I don’t have to actually buy the magazine issue or spend any money or invest any time other than read this blog…..not as bad.
Next up: Your favorite blogger naked as a Jayhawk!
Kidding.
I won’t put you through that.
What an embarrassing colloquy, altogether. Here we are living in the 21st century, but still mired in 19th century attitudes about nudity. No, make that the 16th century, when the Puritans covered everything except their hands and faces.
Ken, for such small mercies, we are truly thankful! Your post refers.
Finally, some real press for Masters Track. Go Phil!
I have absolutely no problem with nudity, but is a nude picture of a 63 year old athlete on ESPN really a great achievement of Master’s Track and Field?
However, I do admire her for her achievements on the track….
The ESPN acronym is backwards. It should read NPSE … Naked People Seeking Eden.
The picture won’t be hanging on my wall, but good for her. Screw the judgmental haters.
does anyone have the private viewing password?
Phil, TOTALLY AWESOME! Admire your courage. You have the most remarkable body for someone 63, and I am so glad you had a chance to share its wonder. How fantastic too that a master can be included in such a photo shoot. You are able to remind the world that some of the “elders” are not getting older, they are getting better.
You have broken many records and now barriers.
YOU ROCK!!!
Phil, One word describes you, your picture and the magazine. Awesome!!!
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