9 World Class Athletes Who Don’t Eat Meat

Stereotypes would have it that vegetarians and vegans seriously lack in the strength and energy department, because meat isn’t an option. But, given the recent close of the Olympics, we’ve decided that there are several athletes out there that prove that theory wrong.

So, If vegetarianism were that bad for the human body, there's just no way that vegetarians could rank among the top athletes in their countries, let alone on the world stage, at the Greatest Show On Earth.

Don’t be fooled, it's definitely possible to eat an unhealthy meat free diet. I think we all know a vegetarian who seems to subsist mostly on cheese and fries and cookies. If you eat badly, you'll suffer the consequences, meat or no meat.  These are athletes, and vegetarians, so they’re regimes will be just as strict as their carnivorous counterparts. Of course, plenty of omnivorous diets are unhealthy too, and most omnivorous people aren't winning the Olympics, either.

Remember, Olympic athletes of all dietary preferences are usually working with entire teams of support staff who help them to get exactly what they need, through complex scientific consideration of their diet. I’m also pretty sure that there can’t be one set of hard and fast rules across every athletic discipline if you’re a vegetarian, but who knows. I’m sure the basics are the same. So, take some inspiration from the athletes below to consider even a partly plant-based diet a go.

1. April Ross

American volleyball player April Ross, who took home silver from the London Olympics in 2012 and is returning to Rio this year, stopped eating meat in 2015. As she told Beyond Meat, Ross doesn't miss meat and has never felt stronger.

2. Emil Voigt

Vegetarianism can is considered by some to be a trendy thing, But, actually, it’s been around as a concept for a long time. British runner Emil Voigt won the Olympic 5-mile race as a vegetarian, and that was way back in 1908!

3. Lizzie Armistead

Another British vegetarian athlete, Lizzie Armistead, cycled her way to Olympic silver in London, 2012. Sadly, Armistead missed out on earning a medal this year at Rio, it doesn't seem that her long-time vegetarianism (she first expressed interest in going meat-free at age 10!) had anything to do with it.

4. Chris Campbell

This American wrestler had an unusual career. After first wrestling in his 20s,Campbell made a return to wrestling later in life and won Olympic bronze in Barcelona in 1992. In addition to being old for a wrestler, Campbell was a long-time vegetarian athlete. As he told the New York Times, he first went vegetarian in 1979 for health reasons and later decided to keep it up for moral reasons as well.

5. Debbi Lawrence

Lawrence, an Olympic race walker, competed in the Olympics in Barcelona (1992), Atlanta (1996), and Sydney (2000). Once told she needed to eat meat to compete, this successful vegetarian athlete has proven the haters wrong with a carefully planned diet rich in whey, tofu, and plant-based supplements.

6. Martina Navratilova

Navratilova needs no introduction, really. An extremely succesful Czech-American tennis star, she played her first and last Olympics in Athens in 2004 at the impressive age of 47. She publicly credits an unprocessed, plant-based diet for her continued peak athletic performance.

7. Hannah Teter

Snowboarder Hannah Teter became vegetarian after her first Olympics in 2006, but before her next two Olympics in 2010 and 2014. As she told The Huffington Post, "I have such a love for animals that I can’t justify having their heads cut off for me." It doesn't get any more straightforward than that.

8. Sushil Kumar

Kumar, an Indian Olympic wrestler who won silver in London and bronze in Beijing, manages to grapple his victory without meat or eggs. According to Kumar, the reduced menu presented by "pure" vegetarianism (aka lacto vegetarianism) is actually a benefit, making his life simpler. He eats cereal, yogurt, flatbreads, and vegetables, of course. According to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Olympic organizers do provide enough vegetarian and Indian food.

9. Dylan Wykes

Although marathoner Wykes wasn't able to run in Rio due to illness, this Canadian (who participated in the 2012 London Olympics) became a vegetarian for ethical reasons. In an interview with The Huffington Post, Wykes admits that he's not sure that vegetarianism is good for his performance. He balances his ethical convictions with his athletic ambitions by making sure he eats alternative sources of protein (like lentils and quinoa) with each and every meal.