For decades, athletes were told that meat was a non-negotiable ingredient for protein, strength, and endurance. But that myth is rapidly unraveling, and the truth might surprise you. According to a 2023 review published in the Advances in Nutrition, there’s no scientific evidence that a vegan diet can be detrimental to athletic performance, recovery, or muscle growth. The catch? An athlete’s vegan lifestyle demands strategy, especially when it comes to meeting protein quality, iron, calcium, and vitamin B12 requirements.
So, how are elite athletes doing it? With careful planning, nutrient-dense Vegan Superfoods like quinoa, chia seeds, and pumpkin seeds — foods proven to deliver strength without sacrifice. Across sports like poker and bodybuilding, these plant-powered pros are not just surviving without meat; they’re thriving. Here are five vegan athletes who are proving that you don’t need animal products to dominate your game.
1. Jon Pardy: Poker Pro, Reality Star, and Plant-Based Challenger
Jon Pardy, best known as a Big Brother Canada winner and rising poker personality, might not be the first athlete you’d expect to go vegan. But when he accepted a high-stakes prop bet with millionaire investor Bill Perkins, everything changed. The bet? Go fully vegan for six months (no cheats, no excuses) with $12,000 on the line. But what started as a financial gamble evolved into a lifestyle shift.
Now representing top US poker site Americas Cardroom, Pardy shares tables with poker elites such as Chris Moorman and Jeff Boski. Between joining major tournaments like The Venom, he’s also vlogging his plant-based journey on YouTube, highlighting the physical and mental changes he experienced. While Pardy admits the early days were filled with vegan snack foods and nutritional trial-and-error, he also stresses how the right planning made all the difference.
“I feel like it’s tough to be at top health eating vegan if you don’t have a personal chef… but there’s definitely a good way to do it,” he shared in an interview with Poker Mind Coach. Today, he’s proof that plant-based living can give you a competitive edge even in mentally demanding sports like poker, especially when sustained focus and long hours are part of the grind.
2. John Thomas: The Bodybuilder Redefining Muscle Without Meat
If you still think you can’t build muscle on plants, meet John Thomas. At first glance, Thomas looks like your typical iron-slinging, protein-shake-chugging gym rat. But look a little closer and you’ll see the protein source is different, and so is the philosophy behind it.
The Gainesville-based vegan bodybuilder is vocal about his choice to ditch animal products while continuing to sculpt a championship physique. In a recent interview with WUFT, Thomas explained that his shift to a vegan diet wasn’t just about performance but about purpose. He said he hopes to be a “walking myth-buster” who can prove that vegans can be strong.
Thomas ensures he hits his macro targets using foods like seitan, lentils, pea protein, and leafy greens. And his results speak volumes. Not only is he maintaining muscle mass, but he’s also educating others on how to build sustainable strength on a plant-based diet. For young vegans on the dating scene or in the gym, Thomas is living proof that compassion and gains are not mutually exclusive.
3. Venus Williams: Serving Power with Plants
Tennis legend Venus Williams has long been an icon of resilience and athleticism. But after being diagnosed with Sjögren’s Syndrome, an autoimmune disease that causes fatigue and joint pain, she turned to a raw vegan diet as part of her treatment and recovery. The result? A powerful comeback and a renewed sense of health.
Though she later added some flexibility back into her diet, Venus continues to advocate for plant-based nutrition. She credits veganism with helping her maintain energy levels during grueling matches and intense training sessions.
In interviews with Vegan Food & Living, Williams describes her approach as plant-forward and intentional, ensuring she meets nutritional demands with meals rich in protein and whole foods. Her routine includes staples like chickpeas, smoothies packed with leafy greens, and quinoa salads, foods that don’t just nourish but energize. For vegan singles who are also fitness-focused, Venus proves that a health-conscious lifestyle can align perfectly with peak performance.
4. Patrik Baboumian: The World’s Strongest Vegan
One look at Patrik Baboumian and the stereotype of the “weak vegan” shatters instantly. This former strongman champion once carried a yoke weighing over 1,200 pounds, the heaviest weight ever carried by a human. And he did it on a fully vegan diet.
Baboumian went vegetarian in 2005 and vegan in 2011, citing ethical and environmental concerns. Since then, he’s become a poster child for plant-powered strength, featured in documentaries like The Game Changers, which challenged long-held beliefs about animal protein and performance.
His meals are packed with high-calorie, high-protein vegan staples like tofu, lentils, rice, and soy milk. The secret, he says, is consistency and understanding nutrient timing. With a body that could rival any carnivore’s, Baboumian has changed the global conversation around plant-based power. If you’re swiping through a vegan dating app wondering whether your match will “get” your protein goals, just remember: it’s entirely possible to be both jacked and compassionate.
5. Morgan Mitchell: Running Strong and Fueling Clean
Australian sprinter Morgan Mitchell is blazing fast (and entirely plant-fueled). A two-time Olympian, she switched to a vegan diet in 2014 and has never looked back. Mitchell initially made the switch for ethical reasons, but she soon noticed improvements in her energy levels and recovery time.
With a diet full of grains, legumes, berries, and vegan superfoods like maca powder and chia seeds, Mitchell tailors her meals to fuel explosive performance on the track. Her competitive edge? Clean eating, meticulous planning, and full commitment to her lifestyle. For plant-based daters, Mitchell is more than just a role model; she’s proof that a plant-powered life can be fast, strong, and unstoppable.
The idea that athletes need meat is outdated. From poker rooms to weight rooms, these five vegan athletes are showing that you can be mentally sharp, physically powerful, and ethically aligned, all without animal products. Whether you’re vegan-curious, newly transitioning, or a long-time herbivore, one thing’s clear: with proper planning and plant-powered foods, the best version of yourself is entirely within reach.
And who knows? Your next swipe right might just be your new gym partner, your next hiking date, or someone who brings their own vegan protein powder to brunch.
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