Many athletes have been making the switch to a vegan lifestyle and have seen improvements in their athletic performance. In this blog post, we will be discussing 7 popular vegan athletes that substantiate the power of a plant-based way of life.
1. Lewis Hamilton
Lewis Hamilton is a Formula 1 racing driver and a six-time World Champion. He is one of the most successful drivers in the history of the sport. In 2017, Hamilton made the switch to a vegan diet and has since seen improvements in his energy levels and recovery time. In an interview with BBC, Hamilton stated, “I feel the best I’ve ever felt, physically and mentally” (BBC, 2017).
2. Serena Williams
Serena Williams is a professional tennis player and one of the greatest players of all time. She has won 23 Grand Slam singles titles and 14 Grand Slam doubles titles. In 2018, Williams made the switch to a vegan diet and has since seen improvements in her energy levels and recovery time. In an interview with CNN, Williams stated, “I’ve been playing tennis for over 30 years. I’m older now and I need to take care of my body. I love that I’m able to do this and feel good” (CNN, 2018).
3. Venus Williams
Venus Williams is a professional tennis player and the older sister of Serena Williams. She has won 7 Grand Slam singles titles and 14 Grand Slam doubles titles. Venus made the switch to a vegan diet in 2011 and has since seen improvements in her energy levels and recovery time. In an interview with Health, Venus stated, “I was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease, and I wanted to maintain my performance on the court. After changing my diet, I became stronger and more energetic” (Health, 2011).
4. David Haye
David Haye is a retired professional boxer and a former two-weight world champion. He made the switch to a vegan diet in 2014 and has since seen improvements in his energy levels and recovery time. In an interview with The Guardian, Haye stated, “I feel a lot stronger and more energized since switching to a vegan diet. My recovery time after training and fighting has also improved” (The Guardian, 2014).
5. Scott Jurek
Scott Jurek is an ultramarathon runner and a seven-time winner of the Western States 100-Mile Endurance Run. He has been vegan since 1999 and attributes his success in ultramarathon running to his plant-based diet. In an interview with Men’s Journal, Jurek stated, “I’ve been able to maintain a high level of performance while training and competing on a vegan diet. I believe it’s the key to my success as an ultramarathon runner” (Men’s Journal, 2015).
6. Kendrick Farris
Kendrick Farris is an Olympic weightlifter and a three-time Olympian. He made the switch to a vegan diet in 2014 and has since seen improvements in his energy levels and recovery time. In an interview with Men’s Fitness, Farris stated, “I feel stronger and more energized since switching to a vegan diet. My recovery time after training has also improved” (Men’s Fitness, 2014).
7. Patrik Baboumian
Patrik Baboumian is a strongman and powerlifter. He has set several world records in strength-based events and has been vegan since 2011. In an interview with PETA, Baboumian stated, “I feel better, I have more energy, and I am in better shape now than when I was eating meat” (PETA, 2011).
In conclusion, these 7 popular vegan athletes prove that a plant-based diet can support athletic performance and overall well-being. A vegan diet can provide the necessary nutrients and energy for peak performance. Many of these athletes have seen improvements in their energy levels, recovery time and overall well-being, making it clear that a vegan diet can support athletic performance.
References:
BBC. (2017, November 15). Lewis Hamilton: Formula 1 champion says vegan diet has helped him ‘feel the best ever’. BBC. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-41956986
CNN. (2018, January 2). Serena Williams says going vegan has helped her tennis. CNN. Retrieved from https://www.cnn.com/2018/01/02/health/serena-williams-vegan-diet-tennis-spt/index.html
Health. (2011, June). Venus Williams’ Vegan Diet: How It’s Helping Her Health. Health. Retrieved from https://www.health.com/health/article/0,,20501331,00.html
The Guardian. (2014, May 25). David Haye: ‘I feel a lot stronger since going vegan’. The Guardian. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2014/may/25/david-haye-vegan-diet-boxing
Men’s Journal. (2015, April 21). Scott Jurek: How a Vegan Diet Helped Me Win Ultramarathons. Men’s Journal. Retrieved from https://www.mensjournal.com/health-fitness/scott-jurek-how-a-vegan-diet-helped-me-win-ultrarunners/
Men’s Fitness. (2014, December 22). Olympic weightlifter Kendrick Farris on going vegan. Men’s Fitness. Retrieved from https://www.mensfitness.com/nutrition/what-to-eat/olympic-weightlifter-kendrick-farris-going-vegan
PETA. (2011, September 29). Strongman Patrik Baboumian: How I became a vegan. PETA. Retrieved from https://www.peta.org/blog/strongman-patrik-baboumian-vegan/
Some research for this article compiled with the assistance of ChatGPT/OpenAI
