Vegan bodybuilders

Billy Simmonds is a vegan bodybuilder who won Mr Natural Universe in 2009. He also teaches martial arts. He was vegetarian for years beforehand and enthusiastically promotes the vegan diet through organisations in his native Australia. Billy says: "When you look at the arguments to going vegetarian or vegan, you really can't deny it's the right choice, in terms of your health, the environment and the impact you're having on others.

Amanda is a boxing champion, bodybuilder and trainer who is passionate about animals. She has won the Chicago Golden Gloves title four times, and has a North America bodybuilding title. She has rescued dogs and brings her passion for animals to her gym training, where she enthusiastically endorses the vegan diet which has served her so well.

Dusan is a successful bodybuilder and trainer with national titles. Based in New Zealand, he gave up meat and dairy due to family health problems with immediate health benefits, and soon after won two major titles, and has gone on to coach and publish a book on training.

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.

Patrik is a former bodybuilder who has also been Germany's Strongest Man (105kg) and holds the world record for log lift. He is one of the few men in the world to have lifted a 200kg overhead, and probably the smallest. He continues to increase in size and strength and has competed internationally in the highest weight category with some of the most respected strength competitors in the world.

Alex Dargatz is most famous for winning the 2005 World Bodybuilding title, after five years as a vegan. Alex was known for impressive abdominal muscles and also undertook strength straining. He was prompted to eat vegan by the a number if issues, primarily the cruelty of the animal food industries. He went on to enjoy a variety-packed vegan diet based on natural wholefoods, enoying improved strength and stamina.

Australian Joel Kirkilis is a vegan bodybuilder and powerlifter. He has won regional bodybuilding titles and has acheived enormous lifts in powerlifting. He turned vegan to avoid animal exploitation and now trains other athletes. Joel has complete faith in the ability of plant proteins to support strength athletes.

In 2004 Kenneth became America's first vegan bodybuilding champion. In 2003 he entered a prestigious drug-free competition and won it, the following year placing 3rd out of 200 competitors in Las Vegas. He has been vegan since 2000. He continues to work with vegan advocacy organisations to promote veganism.

Robbie is a veteran bodybuilder with an impressive number of podium finishes and titles. Although he started training in his younger years as a meat eater, it wasn't until turning to veganism that he managed to overcome injuries and make an impact on the sport.

Successful figure competitor and bodybuilder, who has also modelled for magazines, adverts and calendars. Figure competitions are based on bodybuilding.