THE WORLD'S LOVELIEST SPORTSWOMEN

The girl smiling from this week's cover is Francine Bréaud, who won her first skiing title in France 10 years ago. Kikuko Inoue, delicately poised at right, took a first in the Japan Equestrian Championships this rail. Like the six shown on the following pages, they are presented as expressive examples of the many lovely women throughout the world who bring grace and beauty as well as skill to the rugged world of sport.

Ireland gave Molly Wallace her clear beauty and a skill with horses that brought her a red ribbon in the last Dublin show

Spain's gently glowing Gloria Barcenas is a top golfer in a man's country where women only lately are sharing the links

Shooting is the hobby of France's sophisticated Jacqueline de Fels, a countess as much at ease with a gun as in a salon

A onetime European champion who has more trophies than she can count. Italy's water-skiing Princess Doris Pignatelli smolders with dark intensity

Cool perfection of form and Feature mark California's blonde Lori Miller, an American skier acknowledged for skill and beauty on Alps and Rockies alike

A slim, soignée version or an American freckle-faced kid is Patsy Pulitzer Preston, a fisherwoman whose biggest catch was a 1,230-pound black marlin

SEVEN PHOTOS