She may not be the cover model this year, but Israeli supermodel Bar Refaeli is back in the 2012 version of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition.

Earlier this year we reported that both Refaeli and Israeli supermodel Esti Ginsburg were not going to appear in the print edition. Guess we flubbed that one. Ginsburg is going to appear only in the calendar, but Refaeli returns with a special segment titled Bar & the Boys, where she poses with NBA star Chris Paul, Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps and Spanish tennis player Rafael Nadal. No big deal.

I guess letting Refaeli chill with a bunch of naked athletes would make her feel better after she lost the cover to 19-year old Kate Upton.