Veganism has become increasingly popular among different categories of people, which include athletes in recent years.
Veganism refers to a practice of vegetarianism which frowns upon any form of animal cruelty or exploitation through clothing, food, or other purposes. While regular vegetarians only refrain from feeding on animals but are allowed to consume and make use of animal products, vegans, in addition, do not consume food products derived from animals such as dairy, cheese, and honey.
These ten athletes have gone ahead to prove that living on a vegan diet will provide as much protein, energy, and nutrients as an omnivorous diet.
1. Venus Williams
Venus was diagnosed with Sjogren’s syndrome in 2011; she decided a change in diet might help with the symptoms. And guess what? Not only did her health become better, but her abilities as an athlete have also greatly improved too. In her over 20 years tennis career, she boasts of 4 Olympic gold and 5 Wimbledon titles along with multiple Grand Slams in both singles and doubles tennis.
2. Tony Gonzalez
Gonzalez is not only a famous vegan NFL player but also an actor. He adopted a vegan diet after accidentally meeting David Pulaski on a flight and enquired about the difference in their meal plates. He has played 17 NFL season and is an analyst on Fox NFL’s pregame show.
3. Brendan Brazier
Brendan is a Canadian endurance athlete who is also an author and vegan diet evangelist. He earned the Canadian Ironman 50k champion in 2003 and 2004, respectively, during which he swam 2.4 miles, ran 26.2 miles and biked for 112 miles. What more energy can he require?
4. Ricky Williams
Ricky is another superb vegan NFL player. Despite always facing ridicule from other players because of his diet, he encourages a vegan diet and currently owns a restaurant for vegans. Before retiring, he played 12 seasons in the NFL and a season in the Canadian Football League.
5. David Haye
As a British professional boxer made a dietary and lifestyle change in 2014. Thereafter, he became passionate and encouraged everyone, especially athletes, to adopt a vegan diet and lifestyle. According to him, cutting out animal products from his diet made him faster, stronger, and fit.
6. Heather Mills
She is a left below-knee amputee who started her career as an entrepreneur but currently skis. She holds multiple Downhill Skiing Championship titles and hopes to show the world that healthy Vegans can excel at sports.
7. Scott Jurek
Scott Is one of the first vegan athletes to declare a diet change publicly. After becoming a vegan in 1997 while he college, his career records include 16 prestigious titles as an American ultramarathon runner. He believes practicing a vegan diet supports his endurance, health, and recovery.
8. Hannah Teter
Hannah is a 32-year-old snowboarder who has won an Olympic gold medal and six World Cup victories. She made the diet switch after watching the film Earthlings and claims that it has made her go a “whole other level” like every athlete desires.
9. Patrik Baboumian
Patrik is a bodybuilder who became a vegetarian in 2005 and a vegan six years later. Patrik had proved it is possible to build upon a vegan diet by breaking the world record for yoke walk in 2013 when he carried 550kg for 10m before breaking his record in 2015 by carrying 560kg.
10. Nate Diaz
Nate is an MMA fighter who currently competes in UFC. After becoming a vegan at 18, he has set a record 25 minutes in a rig (punching and wrestling) with no symptoms of fatigue. He believes fighter become more intelligent and smart on a vegan diet.
Nate Diaz and Tony Gonzalez, from what I’ve found, are not vegan. They eat a “small” amount of animal products, Nate Diaz for instance eats fish and eggs. I’d be willing to bet that some of the other “vegans” on this list aren’t really vegans either.
Once again, at least 1 person on this list isn’t a vegan. Nate Diaz, and possibly others. Remove him from the list.