You might be surprised to know that neither “Mr. Getting It Done” nor “The Mountain” are the first in their respective fields to do this.
There are athletes across multiple sports that follow plant-based diets. Here are 10 who have given up meat and are still very successful in their fields of choice:
The past M&F cover model and IFBB Pro League Men’s Physique competitor is very proud of his commitment to the vegan lifestyle. He boasts on his Instagram profile that he’s “never eaten meat.” He also does podcasts and creates content around the topic.
Davis is a physician as well as an IFBB Pro League bikini competitor. She was the winner of the San Antonio Bikini Masters show in 2018. She has competed as a professional for five years and has been a vegan for more than 20 years.
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Ilya Ilyin
Ilyan has won two Olympic gold medals and four world championships in the world of weightlifting. He’s now training for the 2020 Games in Tokyo and been following a vegan lifestyle since 2012.
You might recognize this man from Game Changers. A Strongman from Germany, Baboumian has been a full-time vegan since 2011. He’s won various competitions including Germany’s Strongest Man and held world records at different points in his career.
Bryan is a former WWE champion and has been considered a top star in the promotion for almost a decade. He became a vegan in 2009 after dealing with elevated liver enzymes as well as staph infections. He credits the lifestyle for his shape and performance in the ring.
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Kyrie Irving
The Brooklyn Nets star has had beef with different people in the NBA, but it’s no longer on his personal menu. He made the switch in 2017 when he was still a member of the Boston Celtics.
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Tyrann Mathieu
“Honey Badger” credited going vegan for helping him feel more energetic as well as losing 16 pounds. The Kansas City Chiefs safety formally made his transition back in 2016.
Newton is in his ninth year as quarterback of the Carolina Panthers. He has faced various injuries over his career but credits following a plant-based food plan for helping him while recovering.
Williams has won her share of majors in the sport of tennis over the course of her decade-plus career. She became a vegan after being diagnosed with Sjögren’s syndrome, an autoimmune disease that can cause excessive fatigue.
