GREAT VEGAN ATHLETES

Contents:
Part One - Strength
Part Two - Athletics and endurance
Part Three - Skill

-----------------------------------NEWS-----------------------------


May 2010

Scott Jurek has broken the US 24 hour road running title. Scott ran in France, completing 266.008 km, or 165.284 miles, passing the existing record by 3 miles.

See section two for Scott's profile.
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June 2010


After some disappointments and injuries Fiona Oakes made her comeback in Finland where she set a course record and world record for the fastest women's marathon in the Arctic circle!

See more here.

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********************PART ONE*******************
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Part One
STRENGTH



Alexander Dargatz
Bodybuilder



"There simply is no need for us to consume animal products and we cause a lot of harm by doing so; that is the definition of crime. I couldn’t be anything else but vegan after understanding that."

Article on Alex



Kenneth G Williams
Bodybuilder



Kenneth made sports history at the 2004 Natural Olympia in Las Vegas – the most prestigious natural bodybuilding competition in the world – by finishing third out of more than 200 competitors from 37 nations and becoming America’s first vegan bodybuilding champion.

“Being vegan gives me the strength and stamina I need to be a successful bodybuilder.”

Kenneth in video
Kenneth’s own site
Kenneth features in a short film on vegan athletes.



Rob Bigwood
Armwrestler



Rob has placed 4th in the US nationals and has won the left handed super heavyweight World Championships. He's won numerous state championships on the East coast. He made a comeback in 2008 and was ranked 2nd for both left and right arm in 225lb category in the Northeast East United States.

"First and foremost I am an animal lover. When I actually thought about what I was eating made me sick. I did a little research and realized how disgusting and inhuman factory animals are treated, and I didn't want ANY part of that."

"I am a lot lighter now. Before all this I use to be 290 lbs... now I am 225. I don't feel it affected my strength at all considering I still get all my protein but just not from meat!"

Rob’s blog
Rob in action - video



Martin Whittred
Grip



British Hand Strength champion (intermediate) 2001. One of the elite group capable of closing the Captain of Crush #3, Martin has since closed it for 8 reps, and closed it using just two fingers.
Vegan since 1998. “Before becoming a vegan I’ve been a vegetarian most of my life.”

Martin’s training


Pat Reeves
Powerlifter and marathon runner



Pat was diagnosed with a serious genetic cancer many years ago, but continues to live a full and incredible life. She has held of a British Masters' Powerlifting title for many years and of several Divisional, Commonwealth and Masters' records. Competing at 42.9kg bodyweight, Pat’s personal bests include:
90kg Squat
55kg Bench Press (a British record)
130kg Deadlift (a British Record)

“I have now followed a plant-based eating regime for forty-four years - wow - that's so long! Substantially, I have been eating raw and living foods (around 95% living foods) for the last seventeen of those. I credit my current excellent health and phenomenal energy to this method of food preparation - and also my ability to stay on top of the genetically-fuelled cancer.”

interview with Pat
Pat’s profile
Article by Pat (turn to page 54)


Jane Black
Olympic style lifter

Jane has set numerous Master's National and World records and competed internationally representing the USA.

“To me, the dairy industry, coupled with the veal industry, is one of the most embarrassing things human beings participate in."

More on Jane


Robert Cheeke
Bodybuilder and vegan campaigner




“As a vegan bodybuilder, I want to show others that it is possible to gain significant muscle and strength on a vegan diet and I want to inspire others to follow this lifestyle. I love being vegan and knowing that I am having a positive impact on our society. I believe that a plant-based diet is one of the best things you can do for your health, and the well-being of our environment.”

Robert’s site


Robbie Hazeley
Veteran Bodybuilder


Robbie aged 53

"I went vegan in 1989 and that was on health grounds. I started bodybuilding back in 1971 and was experiencing a number of health problems, especially with my knees. Going vegan made a lot of sense on paper and in practice was instrumental in improving my all round health, stamina, freedom from injuries and ability to train more intensely. It was the turning point for me in so many ways."

Robbie competing (film)
Robbie’s training
Robbie’s photos and history


Mike Mahler
Strength Trainer



“While I am an ethical vegan, there is no doubt in mind that a vegan diet is healthy and that I can get everything that my body need for my intense lifestyle.”

Mike explains his choices



Robert dos Remedios
('Coach Dos')
Strength Trainer



National (US) Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Year

“Guess what, guys? You can get jacked and strong as hell without ever eating a single animal product”

Coach Dos in video
Interview with Coach Dos
Coach Dos's own site





Joel Kirkilis
Bodybuilder and lifter



Victoria (Aus) bodybuilding champion, 2009

Competing at 80kg, Joel's best lifts are:
Squat 190kg, Bench 150kg, Deadlift 195kg

"Being a competitive vegan bodybuilder, in a sport which has a significant emphasis on the consumption of animal proteins has provided me with the opportunity to prove that a vegan diet is just as effective for enhancing physical performance yet more importantly it does not involve the cruelty required to produce "traditional" bodybuilding foods."

Joel wins the title
Joel's profile
Lifting videos


Tiffany Croker
Weightlifter



Set the British under 18 records for Squat, Bench Press, Deadlift and
Total for 56 and 60kg, and under 20 for the same at 60kg. (Nine records)


Tiffany's page and photos

Denise Nicole
Successful professional figure model and bodybuilder



Denise’s site




Willie Austin
Former world class athlete and internationally recognised strength trainer



“You know as an athlete and a coach, just seeing the demand and the need in the community for promotion better health – you have to walk the walk. And I felt I had to change my diet if I’m going to support the changing of diet of many other people. To want to be healthier, to want to live longer, to want to live long enough to touch the amount of people I want to touch before I leave here and that incorporated a vegetarian diet at first and eventually I became vegan...Be veg, be strong, and save our planet.”

Film on Willie
Willie's foundation





Jim Morris
Bodybuilder



Former Mr America and successful bodybuilder into his 60s and 70s.
Jim’s site with amazing photos
Jim on TV news


See more vegan bodybuilders here!


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********************PART TWO*******************
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Part Two
Athletics and endurance

Scott Jurek
Ultramarathon runner



Has:
-won Western States 100 mile endurance run seven times
-won Millwok 100k three times
-won Spartathon (246k) twice
-won Leona Divide 50 Mile four times
-set ten ultramarathon course records
-won at least 24 ultramarathons between 77km and 246km.

Scott wins the Badwater Ultra, 2006
Scott’s site listing career highlights and more.
Runner's World on Scott's food.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/13/sport ... wanted=all

Carl Lewis
World champion sprinter



World Athlete of the Decade, 1980s
9 gold and 1 silver Olympic medals, 1984-1996 in long jump, 100m, 200m, and 4 x 100 m relay.
Olympic Athlete of the Century award

“I’ve found that a person does not need protein from meat to be a successful athlete. In fact, my best year of track competition was the first year I ate a vegan diet. Moreover, by continuing to eat a vegan diet, my weight is under control, I like the way I look. (I know that sounds vain, but all of us want to like the way we look.) I enjoy eating more, and I feel great.”

Carl’s official website
Video explaining the decision to go vegan
Carl features in a short film on vegan athletes.


Brendan Brazier
Triathlete and endurance runner



Brendan has competed at the highest level winning numerous triathlons and long distance races.
Brendan’s results
Brendan’s web site
Brendan's food


Rich Roll
Elite-level amateur ultra-distance endurance athlete



Rich has been vegan since 2006, and was awarded the title of one of 2009’s “25 Fittest Guys in the World” by Men’s Fitness Magazine. He is best known for his participation in the Ultraman World Championships, which involves a 6.2 mile swim, 261.4 mile cycle and 52.4 mile run over 3 days.

In 2008 he recorded the second fastest time for the 10 km swim, beating many professional athletes and finishing 11th overall. In 2009 he won the swim and the first day, finishing 7th overall.

"I have found that I am able to repair my body and recover well from workouts and am able to bounce back fresh day in and day out. Believe me, if I felt like I really needed to eat meat or dairy over the last 3 years, I would have. I just never felt like I really needed to.

Ultra marathon legend and plant-strong Scott Jurek claims that his body has become so adept at absorbing his nutrient rich foods that he needs to eat less and operates at a higher efficiency. I can honestly say that I know what he is talking about. And I think he and Carl Lewis (who performed at his peak on a plant-based diet) know what they are talking about."

Rich's site
CNN news article about Rich
Article on Rich's veganism


Fiona Oakes
Marathon Runner



Veggie since 6 and vegan since she was a teenager, Fiona represented Britain as an Olympic cyclist before switching to running. Her personal best for marathon is 2:49:00, despite a knee replacement and a hectic life that includes a job, caring for 400 animals at her sanctuary she runs and fundraises for almost single handed. She has achieved top ten finishes in popular marathons like Florence and Amsterdam. She recently broke the 13 year old course record for the Essex County Marathon by 11 minutes.


In June 2010 Fiona recorded the World record fastest time for women's marathon within the Arctic circle!

“I like to encourage people to think about veganism in a positive way. I try to break down stereotypes and myths attached to veganism by my actions. I am one of only 800 female fire-fighters in the UK - a job which people don't expect to see a female doing, let alone a vegan one. I run endurance events, a thing which people don't think you can do if you are a 'weak vegan'.”

Fiona’s Sanctuary
Fiona’s site
Videos of Fiona at work


Ruth Heidrich
Runner and Triathlete



Six-time Ironman Triathlon finisher, holder of more than 900 gold medals at every distance from 100 meter dashes to 5K road races to ultra marathons and triathlons. She has completed more than 60 marathons all over the world, including Boston, New York, Moscow, and has held 3 world fitness records in her age group at the famed Cooper Clinic in Dallas, Texas. Vegan since 1982.

Ruth’s site



Christine Vardaros
Professional cyclist (cyclo-cross)



US national team member with many successes including a win at 2004s Santa Cruz Classic Criterium.

"I am a professional athlete so I may prove by example that top sport can be successfully accomplished on a completely plant-based diet.... It is especially important to me that everyone knows eating vegan is simple and easy and requires only basic foods that can be found in any supermarket around the world. Go Vegan and No Body Gets Hurt!"

Christine’s profile
Christine’s blog

Adam Myerson
Professional cyclist



Highlights include 4th overall in the USA, 2007 and thirty-eight career victories.

“I’ve been a vegetarian for 14 years, just about my entire racing career. The past 3 years I’ve been completely vegan, which means I don’t use any animal products whatsoever. As a coach, I’m in a position where many of my clients rely on me for nutritional advice, and as an athlete I have specific experience about what it takes to be a vegetarian and still compete at a high level.”

Adam’s career


Jason Sager
Professional Cyclist



Ranked in the US top 10 and former national duathlon champion.
Jason’s blog


Catherine Johnson
Cyclocross



Elite Cross racer since 2004
1st Boulder Cycloross Series in 2005

“I think that being a bike-racing vegan allows you to be healthy, compassionate to animals and the environment, while being tough, aggressive, and competitive on your bike. I think it is important to make a positive difference, fight for social justice, and choose to let your choices speak for not only yourself, but for those whose voices we can not hear.”

Catherine's profile
Catherine's blog

Robert Lichtenwalner
Mountain Biker



Pro mountain bike racer and an ultra distance specialist. Granny gear 24hour solo national champion.

Mountain bike mag features Robert
Robert's results
Supervegan Robert
Robert becomes national champion



Molly Cameron
Cyclist



He has been Oregon state champ twice
National class competitor

"When I turned 15 or 16 I realized that I did not have to eat meat, so I stopped. I went Vegan the same year I got in to bike racing: 1999...I was really motivated to start taking responsibility for what I put in my body."

More on Molly
Molly's own site



Weia Reinboud
Masters High jumper



Has set the world womens age 50 category record for indoor and outdoor high jump.

“I am crazy in many aspects, but it doesn’t bother me. Anarchist, eating vegan and organic, lesbian, free-jazz tenor sax player, feminist, abstract painter, dragonfly specialist, world record holder and so on!"
Interview in veteran’s athletics magazine

Catra Corbett
Ultra marathon runner



Catra has run over 250 ultra marathons. She holds the womens' record for completing the John Muir Trail twice (out and back), a total of 424 miles, and has the second best all time result for a woman running one way (212 miles). In September 2009 she ran her 66th 100 mile race.

Catra’s blog


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*******************PART THREE******************
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Part Three
Skill Athletes

Mac Danzig
Mixed Martial Arts
World champion



"When I decided to go vegan, I was able to make the 155-pound weight class much easier, and I haven’t lost an ounce of muscle. I’m leaner than I used to be, and I have much more energy than I used to."

"Mac has won numerous world titles in smaller organizations on his way to the UFC and is not only a fighter, but also a teacher of mixed martial arts in his current home of Hollywood California. A vegan, naturalist, animal lover and serious photographer, Danzig transcends the typical stereotype of a combat athlete." (Mac's website.)

Fight record:
21 wins
4 draws
1 loss

Mac's own site
Video of Mac
Mac features in a short film on vegan athletes.


Tonya Kay
Professional dancer



“I became a vegetarian twenty years ago and a vegan eleven years ago. Just before going raw (two and a half years ago) I would have called myself a "whole food" vegan, eating no refined flours or sugars and nothing with more than three ingredients.”

Tonya's site



Craig Heath
Figure skater



Competitive History:
Current American Open Bronze Medalist
2001 American Open Professional Championships - Bronze Medalist
2000 American Open Professional Championships - Silver Medalist
1998 World Professional - Bronze Medalist
1994 Dorothy Hamill International Crown Championships - Champion
1994 US Open Challenge Cup - Silver Medalist
1994 US Open Master Cup - 5th Place


“I am a Vegan Vegetarian.”

Craig's site


Salim Stoudamire
Basketball player



Atlanta Hawks

"I don't think you should eat something that had a mother."
"My endurance has gone up, and I haven't gotten tired at all during the whole season."


Basketball magazine interview about Salim's veganism
Salim becomes a vegan (scroll down)

John Salley
Basketball player



John played at the top level for many years
“I’m John Salley and I'm a vegan. I'm a vegan because I'm only four pounds heaver than I was in 1989.”

John in video
John's career stats
John's animal rights
John features in a short film on vegan athletes.


Georges Laraque
Ice Hockey player



Georges was named the number one enforcer by Sports Illustrated in 2008

"I officially became a vegan on June 1, 2009. Even though it's quite a change in terms of nutrition, I have never felt better or so healthy in my life. Considering that I'm a professional athlete, that’s quite important, but with the help of the Montreal Vegetarian Association, and my nutritionist Anne Marie Roy, they have made the perfect meal plan for me that is free of animals and animal-products."

Georges' site
Georges commits to animal rights
Article on Georges

Keith Holmes
Boxer



WBC Middleweight champion, 1996-1998

New York Times:
It is true that he is a vegan. A typical lunch for him consists of a millet casserole with salad and sprouts or battered tofu sandwiches. The average boxer does not eat such a meal... ''It's helped me to eat healthy,'' said Holmes, who is 35-2 with 23 knockouts. ''It helps me get my wind quicker between rounds. It'll help me win the title.''

Keith in the news


Harri Nieminem
Thai Boxer



Harri travelled to Thailand to win the 1996 Thai Boxing title at 60kg. He beat the US champion in the semi and the Thai champion in the final.

Finnish Thai Boxing society



Ed Templeton
Pro Skateboarder




"Once you read about the meat and dairy industry and the things they do, it is hard to keep supporting them...Skateboarders are always ahead of the curve. It is a group inherently in the know, full of artists and do-it-yourselfers."

Interview with Ed
Ed in action



Moses Itkonen
Pro Skateboarder



"I started out being really into animal rights, not killing or mistreating animals, and I feel strongly about that now, but there's way more that I've learned through personal experiences that keep me into it. I've been a vegetarian for ten years now, nine years a vegan. I've found that what I consume comes out in a whole bunch of different ways."

Article about Moses


James Southwood
Martial Artist



"I have been vegetarian my whole life and made the ethical decision to become vegan at the age of sixteen."


James' site



Ricardo Moreira
Mixed Martial Arts




“The only things I’m addicted to are training, competing, and animal rights”

Martial arts magazine article
Ricardo on Vegan Radio
Ricardo's fight video




Anthony Aurelius
Martial artist



Creator of Dynamic Choi Kwon Do. Anthony retired from tournements in 2007, where he was known as 'The Helicopter' following wins using flying kicks.

"I am Vegan and proud not to be contributing to animal cruelty and violence. I also feel a Vegan diet to be the best way to stay lean, fit and healthy. The evidence really is conclusive: eating a nutrient-poor, junk food-based diet seriously negatively affects your health. More recently, evidence is now confirming fast that eating meat, and dairy-based products is disease producing."

Anthony's site
Fitness instruction film


Erle Montaigue
Martial artist



Regarded internationally as one of the leading instructors of the internal arts of taijiquan, pa-kua chang, and qigong


About Erle
Erle's site



Miki Orihara
Racing driver



Miki's vegan restaurant

Greg Chappell
Cricketer



Former Australia captain.

I think the turning point for me was an article that I wrote from the information that he'd given me on some research done at UCLA in California on their track and field athletes, about dairy products, and their fitness and general health on and off dairy products. And the upshot of the article was that these athletes perform better, they recovered better, they trained better, and they were 100% aerobically more fit off dairy products than on dairy products, and I thought Well, for half the training I can be as fit as I am now.

Greg's veganism
More on Greg

See more vegan athletes here.

See this powerpoint presentation.


Are you on this list? Would you like to change the text or photo? Send me a PM.

Are you an elite vegan athlete who would like to be on this list? Send me a PM.

Jim Morris world class bodybuilder - won the Grand masters Mr Olympia title while vegan, but there is some doubt as to whether he's still vegan (it appears it was for health, not ethical reasons to help overcome joint problems).

i'd be suprised if andreas cahling was vegan, he is vegetarian though.

Good list of resourses you have there! We have quite a few top athletes on the board as well, especially on the endurance sports side.

There was a related thread in the endurance sports section a while back:
http://www.veganfitness.net/viewtopic.php?t=447

I think we should start compiling a list here and only include reliable sources and state when it is not verified if someone is or isn't vegan. I think those celebrity lists who state that someone is vegan when they clearly are not is not doing veganism any favours.

Could we possibly "sticky" it?

good idea. though how about if when we get the "articles" section set up someone (perhaps you?) could write a list there?

Then we come to the question of who to list etc. I'd say to keep everything on the cautious side, having quotes and references of evidence up there as well. I'm quite tired of veg* famous lists which are full of meateaters.

I thought with a stickied thread it would be a bit easier for everyone to contribute. But I'd be happy to write something up for an articles section at some point. I also thought it MIGHT be worthwhile to try to get short email interviews with some rumored/known vegan athletes that have little to nothing on the internet about their veganism. That could go in an articles section. I'd also be willing to help with that.

thats cool, stickied!

So if people could contribute to this thread and emph, you could you please then go back to the first message and edit it (the edit button on top right corner of the message) and keep adding any entries? Then we would start building a list.

I think it would be cool to have some sort of reference, an article, interview, personal web site, but i guess you can't always have one.

Good idea about the interviews as well!

a couple more from au

greg chappel.. http://www.animal-lib.org.au/interviews/greg/
peter brock.. http://www.animal-lib.org.au/interviews/brocky/

and a canadian.. http://www.brendanbrazier.com/

hannibal

OK thanks everyone. I've edited the OP. There is defintely more out there. For instance, Bison Dele (a professional basketball player who was involved in a murder/disappeared in the pacific a few years ago.)
And many, many endurance athletes. But that isn't an area I'm very knowledgeable about.

exellent list to build on! Hopefully we will see that list double in the coming weeks when people get their fingers out

Harri Nieminen - Probably don't need a link, he is a member on this board Perhaps should just link to his user profile? username is "harri". Quite a few listed are members here...

Vegetarian athletes addition:
Ian Duckett - Vegetarian competetive bodybuilder www.bodyindesign.co.uk (couldn't get to the web site, but he is defo a veggie, have talked to him. Could use this link as well as evidence:
http://www.robertuniverse.com/casestudy ... allery.htm
"He notes that since he has become a lacto ovo-vegetarian, he's never felt better in his life!"
Andreas Cahling - I saw an article about him in Flex where he talked about his vegetarianism, couldn't find it online

Hey, good idea to keep a strict line and rather not link to other lists, which may as well be BS!

There are loads of vegan pro skateboarders, and some boxers as well, need to do some digging...

You've done good work compiling this list BUT I think you need to divide these into confirmed, evidenced profiles and hearsay. While I understand that this list serves a purpose, it feels a bit like PETA's celebrity list (which I find sloppy). We get so desperate to be normal and prove ourselves that we put up anything just to look good.

We should remember that athletes probably experiment a great deal with their diets to achieve peak performance and if they are not ethical vegans or vegetarians, they may very likely drop it if it doesn't bring the desired outcome or if it negatively affects their performance (like Dave Scott, who felt he needed fish).

I also think we have some emerging vegan sporting role models right here on the board.

I have a few yoga teachers to add, but since yoga is not a competitive sport, a teachers 'status' is measured very differently to the competitive athletes on this list.

There is also a well-respected Tai Chi teacher who should be on this list- Myrddin mentioned him in a message, will trawl through the board and locate his name.

Rochelle
OK I'll divide it into those with evidence and those by hearsay.
Unfortunately that means Cahling goes into hearsay for now, as does my own hearsay (Rosenblatt). Not that I doubt JP's word (or my own), but I need evidence online. I think that's the best way to do it.

And then of course is the online evidence trustworthy? Well, sometimes it isn't and often people disagree with what is, and is not a trustworthy source. I'd say an interview is trustworthy or extended article is trustworthy, but just a name on a list from a vegan site is not. (Of course the owner of the vegan site and list could decide to feel insulted, and I'm sorry about that.)

Also by starting this thread I don't mean to make myself the final word on whether or not someone is vegan. I like democracy.

Also I'll try to update it at least once a week unless I'm on travel.

I don't know. Does this guy belong in there somewhere?
http://www.rawfood.com/arlin.html

Probably not.

I wouldn't put Steve Holt in your list either actually, because he is an amateur, like Arlin. I guess we need to agree some guidelines. Do we include amateur athletes, bodybuilders etc or not? If so add Arlin, if not, you'll need to prune your list perhaps?

What does everyone else think?

Rochelle