It is no surprise that quality nutrition is essential in the world of athletics, and both research and experience are increasingly showing that a plant-base diet helps athletes train harder and smarter and get fantastic results. While a plant-based diet can work wonders for amateur athletes too, here are just a few world-class athletes blazing a trail on a plant-based diet.
Zdeno Chara
Recently converted to a plant-based diet, Zdeno Chara is hoping his higher energy levels will keep him playing in the NHL for years to come. Despite a knee injury taking him out of play for four weeks of the 2018-19 season he continues to be a leader on the team in ice time. At 41 years old, the veteran has no intention of retiring, and hopes his new plant-based diet will allow him to achieve a new level of athletic performance.
Tia Blanco
Professional medal-winning surfer, Tia Blanco has never eaten red meat and has been fully vegan for a number of years. Her ethical beliefs translate to incredible power, control and endurance on the board, too.
The Tennessee Titans
Not the entire team, but 15 players reportedly converted to a plant-based diet as of August 2018. The conversion was assisted by player Derrick Morgan’s wife, Charity, who is a Le Cordon Bleu-trained chef, and prepares meals for the players. The players love the food and have not noticed any decline in performance since making the switch.
Scott Jurek
Undoubtedly one of the best ultra runners of all time, Scott Jurek won the Hardrock Hundred, the Badwater Ultramarathon, the Spartathlon, and the Western States 100 Mile Endurance Run. And he did all this and much more on a fully plant-based diet. His book Eat & Run is a must-read for anyone wishing to optimise their performance through dietary changes.
Honorable mention: Tom Brady
The GOAT is a vegan? Not quite, but according to his personal chef, the superstar quarterback says at least 80% of his diet consists of vegetables and grains and you cannot argue with results. Tom has been the most outstanding player on the most successful team of the last decade. At 41 he has been voted to appear at his 10th consecutive Pro Bowl, and has led his team to an unbelievable 6th Super Bowl win.
Other plant-based athletes include:
- Lewis Hamilton, F1 champion
- Long-term vegan and Germany’s Strongest Man, Patrik Baboumian
- Four-time gold medallist tennis player, Venus Williams
- Olympic sprinter Morgan Mitchell
- Two-time world champion and 2018 Olympic gold medallist pair skater, Meagan Duhamel
- David Haye, world heavyweight boxer
- Kendrick Farris, Olympic weightlifter
- Rebecca Soni, Olympic swimmer
- Nate Diaz, mixed martial artist
- Dotsie Bausch, Olympian cyclist
Image credit: Tia Blanco on Instagram
