Many of the most successful sportspeople worldwide are now vegan. While they may differ in that they have decided to go vegan to avoid animal cruelty, for their health, to reduce environmental impact, or other reasons, they have one large similarity. They have proved that excellence and veganism often go together.


Myths still persist that state that it is not possible to be vegan and be successful in sport. These myths do not have a foundation in science, and athletes build muscle, endurance and ability on plant sources and many go on to achieve great things. The performance of these athletes is proof that veganism can and does enable excellence.

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Jim Morris

Jim is known for possessing an outstanding physique in his later years. At 75 he still trains hard and releases bodybuilding photos. The photograph above is him aged 61, which many people believed was edited as they could not believe the muscular definition of a man of this age. He also had a successful career as a younger man and achieved an impressive set of titles. Jim is outspoken in support of the vegan diet and encourages people to eat a healthy, plant-based diet for the good of their health and sport.

Mac Danzig

Mac Danzig is an internationally recognised Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) competitor who has competed at the highest level. In 2005 Mac won the King Of The Cage Lightweight Championship which he successfully defended four times, and has also won the Ultimate Fighter 6 competition.

Rich Roll

Rich is an elite-level amateur ultra-distance endurance athlete who has competed in the toughest events in the world. He adopted a vegan diet when, at age 40, he realised his health and fitness were at very poor levels. He is also an advocate for a plant based diet, which he believes played a large part in his transition from an unhealthy middle-aged man to the top-level athlete he is today. He is a regular ultraman competitior which involves a 10km swim, cycling over 200 miles and running a double marathon.

Kara Lang

Kara Lang is a former member of the Canadian women’s football team who has played successfully at club and national level.

 

Kara started playing at the highest levels at a very young age, and aged 15 years and 132 days she took the world record for the youngest player to score a full international goal – a record which still stands. Two days later she set the record for a the youngest Canadian senior women’s appearance.

 

Sarah Stewart

Sarah is an international wheelchair basketball player and triple Paralympian with two medals from Paralympics and seven national titles to her name. In 2012 she was included in the Australian squad where she won a third medal (Silver). She is also a teacher of Philosophy and has been vegan for years.

Aaron Simpson

From a successful career as a wrestler during high school and University, Aaron 'A-Train' Simpson has transferred his skills to Mixed Martial Arts. He is known for his formidable wrestling skills and has also become known as a fearsome puncher.

Esther Hahn

Esther Hahn reconsidered her diet whilst recovering from an illness and decided to become vegan. She has since explained that eating vegan makes her feel more energetic and mentally sharp, benefiting her surfing.

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