Top Historic Vegetarian and Vegan Olympians

[jimbo2012]

Carl Lewis

Carl Lewis is probably the most well known, historic vegan Olympian in the world or at least the U.S. He won 10 Olympic medals, 9 of which were gold. His Olympic career ran from 1979 to 1996. He wrote an introduction for Jannequin Bennett in her book “Very Vegetarian” saying, “It’s a myth that muscles, strength and endurance require the consumption of large quantities of animal-based foods. This myth began before anyone even talked about protein.” He ended his introduction with, “Your body is your temple. If you nourish it properly, it will be good to you and you will increase its longevity.”

Chris Campbell

Chris Campbell is a world champion and Olympic bronze medalist wrestler. He is a pure vegetarian and one of the oldest men to win an Olympic medal –At the age of 37, he won the bronze medal for the 1992 Olympic team in Barcelona, Spain.

Hannah Teter

This list may seem filled with wrestlers, runners and figure skaters but there are vegetarians in other aspects of the Olympic games. Hannah Teter for instance is a vegetarian and also a gold and silver Olympic medalist for snowboarding.

She told the Huffington Post in 2010, “I feel stronger than I’ve ever been, mentally, physically, and emotionally. My plant-based diet has opened up more doors to being an athlete. It’s a whole other level that I’m elevating to. I stopped eating animals about a year ago, and it’s a new life. I feel like a new person, a new athlete.”

Bode Miller

Bode millar has been a vegetarian since birth. He has won five medals in the Winter Olympics for different ski disciplines.

Edwin Moses

Edwin Moses was a force to be reckoned with in the track and field arena. He won gold medals in the 400m hurdles at the 1976 and 1984 Olympics. He won 107 consecutive finals in 122 consecutive races and set the world record in his event four times.

Moses is a confirmed vegetarian, humanitarian and advocate for peace. He

Debbi Lawrence

Debbi Lawrence has been a three-time Olympian and holds the world record for the women’s 5K racewalk event. She believes that her success as an athlete is largely due to hard work and a vegetarian diet.

Murray Rose

Murray Rose he is fondly remembered as one of the worlds most historic vegan athletes. He was Australia’s Olympic swimming star. He had set 15 world records and won six Olympic medals, including four golds, which made him a sports legend and hero in Australia.

During Rose’s long career he ate a vegan diet and followed a vegan lifestyle. In 1958 he told Groucho Marx on the radio program “You Bet Your Life” that his gold medals in 1956 could be attributed to his veganism.

Paavo Nurmi, the "Flying Finn," set twenty world records in distance running, and won nine Olympic medals. He was a vegetarian.

Bill Pickering of Great Britain set the world record for swimming the English channel, but that performance of his pales beside the fact that at the age of 48 he set a new world record for swimming the Bristol Channel. Bill Pickering is a vegetarian.

Andreas Cahling, the Swedish body builder who won the 1980 Mr. International title, is a vegetarian, and has been for over ten years of highest level international competition

[eweissenbach]

Everyone else. :icon_wink:

[ilovetv]

Each to his own.

If it's so wonderful, why does it take so much preaching to get people interested in doing it??

Gee. Could it be TASTE? Like the taste of a charcoal-grilled porterhouse steak compared to some "baked, not fried", unsalted lentil chips and carrot sticks?

[jimbo2012]

Taste NO!

It's not hard after U open your mind and read 2 books, it's the pre-conceived notions that make it hard such as the the comment you just made.

U are invited to a real dinner anytime, then my DW will open your eyes and taste buds.

The food will open your arteries......

But based on your prior posts U will likely pass on the invite, to each his/her own.

[ilovetv]

Taste NO!

It's not hard after U open your mind and read 2 books, it's the pre-conceived notions that make it hard such as the the comment you just made.

U are invited to a real dinner anytime, then my DW will open your eyes and taste buds.

The food will open your arteries......

But based on your prior posts U will likely pass on the invite, to each his/her own.

You don't know me at all. In fact, I eat mostly a vegetarian diet....not by forcing myself into that, but by just gravitating away from fatty foods...and meat, which I still like but have it maybe only 3-4 times a year....to keep my weight in check along with rigorous exercise.

I mention "taste" of foods because when people's tastes/cravings are not satisfied by vegan diets, they're constantly hungry and thinking about foods that would taste good to them and that they would enjoy. I've seen too many kids tortured into these diets by their parents who are obsessed with staying skinny, and out of feeling starved, the kids go in the extreme opposite direction, and into obesity and a constant love affair with large quantities of high-calorie foods.

[jimbo2012]

I mention "taste" of foods because when people's tastes/cravings are not satisfied by vegan diets, they're constantly hungry and thinking about foods that would taste good to them and that they would enjoy.

That never occurred with anyone I know, never read that anywhere.

It may occur in your case as not knowing ways to prepare food that taste great and are satisfying.

[graciegirl]

Oh stop.

On your assumption of food makes the athlete I am going to find out what Jack Nicklaus ate all of his life and duplicate it.

He is my hero, a great golfer, a gentleman, a successful business person, he married the daughter of my math teacher, has great kids and grandkids who haven't ended up in jail or rehab and he is cute even though he has a bit of a girls's voice.:BigApplause:

We are all getting gooney on this forum.

[pooh]

Everyone else. :icon_wink:

Pretty clever. :BigApplause:

Sorry Jimbo, you left yourself wide open for that... ;)

[jimbo2012]

Yep! I expect that from the naysayers :cryin2:

My point was that that you do not need meat ( or consume dead animals) to build a strong body as others have suggested.

[Villages PL]

Each to his own.

If it's so wonderful, why does it take so much preaching to get people interested in doing it??

Gee. Could it be TASTE? Like the taste of a charcoal-grilled porterhouse steak compared to some "baked, not fried", unsalted lentil chips and carrot sticks?

One thing that hasn't been mentioned is the fact that all of our senses tend diminish as we get older (some more than others and some faster than others). We are most aware of our sight and hearing but our sense of taste gradually diminishes too. So some older people may not be able to enjoy the healthier foods. This might explain the big attraction to highly processed foods. And it might also explain why some describe healthy foods as cardboard, twigs or grass.

I feel lucky because I still get great enjoyment from plain healthy whole foods. I don't require salt, sugar, fat or seasonings to enjoy the natural taste of whole foods. Perhaps it's because I haven't become desensitized by eating a lot of highly processed foods.

[senior citizen]

WHAT DO OLYMPIC ATHLETES EAT?

Olympic hopefuls have some interesting ways to load up on carbs and protein, and we're not talking about raiding the bulk aisle at Whole Foods. For those who'll engage in the performance of their lives, it's no surprise that bizarre eating habits and food rituals go hand in hand with their competitiveness. From 20 pounds of meat and wine (!) to rigid pescetarianism, here are what the world's best have and will continue to chow on before all eyes are on them.

1,600 Calories, One Food
Yohan Blake, the Jamaican sprinter and 100-meter world champion, has been making waves for stealing Usain Bolt's thunder on the track during Olympic trials. When asked how he gets his athletic stamina, his answer was unbelievable: eating 16 bananas a day. At about 100 calories per peelable fruit, that's three-quarters the amount an average person needs in a day — in bananas!

Got (Lots And Lots Of) Milk?
U.S. gymnast Aly Raisman will be trekking to London soon for her first-ever Olympic Games, but this all-around powerhouse isn't just subsiding on meat, beans, and nuts for her protein intake. The Massachusetts native swears by chocolate milk (http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/features/elite-athlete-workouts/aly-raisman/), and tons of it. She claims it's been "scientifically proven to be the best recovery drink that you can have after your workout" for its high carbohydrate and protein content, and that other athletes pound the tasty beverage, as well. From the looks of how well trials went, we should have been guzzling a lot more of that Hershey's syrup back in the day.

No Pork, No Beef, No Lamb, No Dope
China's Olympic hopefuls are on a newly meat-free diet, but don't get PETA on the phone just yet, since this one's not by choice. Due to the country's pork supply being tainted with clenbuterol (http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/07/03/oly-china-doping-meat-idUSL3E8I31G520120703), Chinese athletes are steering clear of meats entirely in order to avoid the risk of accidental doping. While the World Anti Doping Agency has warned that Olympians could eat the dietary staple in federation-approved cafeterias and restaurants, Chinese athletes have been going cold turkey (and, well, pig) and eating fish and protein powder instead. Some of these competitors include the Chinese women's volleyball team, which, as their coach claims, have been suffering on the court since their dietary shift.

Would You Like Some Cheese With That 20 Pounds of Meat and Wine?
Things were a lot different in Ancient Greece. Opening ceremonies were done without the aid of LED lights, more people knew what the heptathlon was, and Bob Costas was surely nowhere to be found. But, back in those days, protein bars and Gatorade bottles were far from typical athlete sustenance. Early Olympians focused on a cheese-and-fruit-based diet, and one runner apparently started a meat-only fad (http://www.topendsports.com/nutrition/olympic-ancient.htm) when he hit a winning streak while subsiding on animal parts. Best of all, lore has it that wrestler and big-time winner Milo of Croton ate "20 pounds of meat and as many of bread, and he drank three pitchers of wine." Looks like a typical Friday night for us.

As Much McDonald's As Athletes — And Spectators — Can Handle
Michael Phelps has publicly refuted the joke rumor that he eats 12,000 calories a day, but teammate Ryan Lochte, on the other hand, is known to have a bit of an obsession with fast food. While competing at the Beijing Olympic Games in '08, Ryan apparently only ate McDonald's (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/olympics/article-2019109/Ryan-Lochte-sets-sights-London-2012-Olympics-beating-Michael-Phelps.html) throughout his entire two-week stay. He publicly announced backing off of the greasy goods in preparation for London, but we wonder how he'll fare with the world's largest Mickey D's parked just outside the Olympic Arena. If he does choose to slip into his old ways, it shouldn't be too hard to keep the energy up — after all, it'll only take 21 and a half Big Macs to meet Phelps' minimum.

Not Much Of Anything At All
While some sports require athletes to consume, consume, consume, others ask quite the opposite of their Olympian hopefuls. Take Son Yeon-Jae, for example. The South Korean rhythmic gymnast eats "a sparrow's breakfast and lunch" and even skips dinner, an odd move for a professional athlete, and a thin one at that. But, in Son's eyes, it's necessary for a win (http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2012/05/22/2012052200907.html). She admits, "Western gymnasts have longer limbs, so even if we weigh the same, they look slimmer. As such, I have to weigh less to look as good." (No one tell her about that on-campus McDonald's, mmk?)

By ABC News

Jul 30, 2012 8:33am


They Eat What? Food Secrets of Olympic Athlete:


It takes more than just practice to become an Olympian. Gold medal performances require some serious nutrition. Have you ever wondered what these elite athletes eat to stay in peak shape?
Keri Glassman, a registered dietitian and founder of Nutritious Life Meals (http://nutritiouslifemeals.com/), appeared on “Good Morning America” today to give you a glimpse into the diets of some top athletes. Some of their meals could surprise you.
Crazy Calorie Count
Glassman said Olympians eat a lot of food — quantities that for ordinary people would constitute pigging out. One secret of swimmer Michael Phelps’ astonishing performance in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing was consuming as many as 12,000 calories in one day.

Other athletes fuel up on some of the following foods: A pound of pasta drizzled with olive oil (about 800 calories), a dozen eggs (about 840 calories), a pint of Ben & Jerry’s cheesecake brownie ice cream (about 1,000 calories), pizza (about 2,000 calories).

Athletes can eat like this and not gain any weight because their workouts are intense. According to Glassman, Phelps’ workouts can burn 4,000 to 6,000 calories in a day, and those calories must be replenished in order to train the following day.

The body needs carbohydrates, protein, fat, vitamins, minerals and fluid in order to be properly fueled for exercise. Eating right allows athletes to delay fatigue, work harder — possibly giving them the edge they need to set a personal record — and recover faster, Glassman said.

Snacking Secrets
Some athletes eat wacky foods that they swear improve their performance.
Yohan Blake, the Jamaica sprinter and 100-meter world champion, has been making waves for stealing champion sprinter Usain Bolt’s thunder on the track during the Olympic trials. Asked about how he gets his stamina, Blake answered that he eats 16 bananas per day, Glassman said.
Bananas have about 100 calories each.

Jonathan Horton, the lead gymnast on the U.S. team, has a blood sugar problem. His solution is honey. When he starts to feel shaky at the gym, he takes swigs of honey to boost his energy, Glassman said. According to Horton, the sugar rushes to his blood right away and he feels amazing for the next hour or so, she added.
If you want to try it, use natural honey.

Kerry Walsh, the two-time American Olympic medalist and beach volleyball player, eats lots of almond butter and honey sandwiches throughout the day, especially before she competes, Glassman said.

Almond butter is packed with endurance-boosting nutrients including protein, plus healthy fats. Protein helps prevent muscle wasting during exercise and prevents you from feeling hungry during exercise. The healthy fats in almond butter are rich in calories and provide energy for hours.
You can combine a complex carbohydrate, such as whole wheat toast, with almond butter for an energy-rich snack before exercise.

Foods for Recovery
What are the best foods to help the body recover after rigorous competition?
U.S. gymnast Aly Raisman swears by chocolate milk because of its high carbohydrate and protein content, Glassman said.
For Olympic swimmer Ryan Lochte, the recovery meal is grilled chicken breasts with Alfredo sauce, whole-grain spaghetti and a salad with lemon juice and olive oil. Lochte, who recently cut out junk food, candy and soda, has undertaken a rigorous strength-training regimen that involves flipping tractor tires, dragging shipyard chains and tossing beer kegs, Glassman said.

Lochte’s recovery meal has all the important macronutrients necessary for recovery.

Other recovery foods Glassman mentioned:
Pickle juice. The salty-yet-savory juice has high doses of all-important sodium, potassium and magnesium. Sodium prevents muscle cramps.
Sweet tart cherries. Pack these in your gym back. The antioxidants in cherry juice may suppress the enzymes that cause inflammation of the body from the stress of exercise.
Beet juice. The blood-red elixir of the beet is apparently the hottest thing for Olympic athletes looking for a legal performance boost, Glassman said. Beet juice is rich in nitrates, which help muscles use oxygen more efficiently.

[Villages PL]

I hope the point of this thread wasn't missed. There are a lot of people who think that vegans or vegetarians can't be as strong and athletic as meat eaters. Such prejudice has been going around for a long time. So it's nice to be reminded that you don't have to eat a lot of animal protein to be strong and competitive. Thanks, Jimbo, for pointing this out.

Of course it goes without saying that a lot of athletes eat meat and other animal products. My best friend is an athlete and likes to eat lots of fast food. This should come as no surprise. But it's encouraging to know that more and more athletes are choosing to eat healthier foods.