World Obsesses Over Failed Javelin Thrower

When Leryn Franco glided into the Beijing National Stadium during the Olympic Opening Ceremony, the world’s collective head turned and its collective jaw dropped. No one knew the identity of the phenomenally beautiful athlete, and so the media went into overdrive to find out. Turns out that Leryn Franco is a 26-year-old Paraguayan javelin thrower, and (no duh!) a model. A runner-up in the 2006 Miss Paraguay competition, Leryn supposedly uses modeling to help subsidize her althletic endeavors. She was also in the 2004 Olympics.

Yesterday, Leryn finished second-to-last in the javelin qualifying round with a throw that was 12 meters short of her personal best. This makes her the Most Talked About Olympic Athlete Who Failed To Qualify For An Event.

P.S. As evidenced by the photos below, we clearly messed up by not including Leryn in our Top 10 Hottest Hotties of the 2008 Olympics.

26-year-old Olympic athlete and model Leryn Franco. (Photo: Splash News Online)

26-year-old Olympic athlete and model Leryn Franco. (Photo: Splash News Online)

26-year-old Olympic athlete and model Leryn Franco. (Photo: Splash News Online)

Leryn Franco of Paraguay at the the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games on Aug. 19, 2008. [Photo: Getty Images]

Leryn Franco of Paraguay competes in the Women's Javelin Qualifying Round at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games on Aug. 19, 2008. [Photo: Getty Images]

Leryn Franco of Paraguay competes in the Women's Javelin Qualifying Round at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games on Aug. 19, 2008. [Photo: Getty Images]

26-year-old Olympic athlete and model Leryn Franco. (Photo: Splash News Online)

26-year-old Olympic athlete and model Leryn Franco. (Photo: Splash News Online)

[Top photo: Splash News Online and Getty Images]