5 Amazing Female Vegan Athletes
Have you heard that veganism can enhance athletic performance?? If so, you’re not alone. Many athletes at all levels are turning to their diets as the next big thing to enhance their performance. From high schoolers to Olympic competitors, athletes from all corners of the world have found that more plants = more power! Here are five athletes who are embracing the vegan diet and making some big waves in their sports!
Dotsie Bausch
Simply Google Dotsie Bausch and likely the first result will be her website: Dotsie Bausch Plant Powered. This woman holds no punches when sharing her athletic secrets. After overcoming an eating disorder, she rose to Olympic glory as a major athlete on the scene. You may recognize Bausch from the acclaimed 2019 vegan documentary The Game Changers. Or, maybe you know her as the oldest woman in h[er]story to take Olympic silver in her cycling discipline in the 2012 Olympics. Either way, Bausch is pretty remarkable.
She is also an avid vegan activist. She’s the founder and executive director of Switch4Good, a non-profit dedicated to helping people ditch dairy! You can also find her TED talks and motivational activism on her site and through her blog. She even offers recipes and information about dairy alternatives. For Bausch, it is about the animals. She has coined the phrase ‘Olympic Level Compassion’--that’s a sport we all can get the gold in.
Serena William
Photo Credit: Edwin Martinez / CC-BY-2.0
For nearly two decades, Williams has been a household name. You probably know of her through her career as one the best tennis players in the world! Serena went vegan after her sister was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease. Recognizing its benefits, she has stuck to it...mostly. When she trains, she is nearly fully vegan. Once in a while she will have a not-so-vegan-friendly snack. In fact, if you wanted to label her you might call Serena a ‘cheagan,’ but she keeps it pretty clean.
Aside from the role a plant-based diet plays in her tennis profession, Williams has also started a vegan leather line. This includes pantsuits, dresses, and jumpsuits in vegan fabrics and leather. She plays hard and looks fabulous, all while being cruelty-free!
Alex Morgan
Photo Credit: Jamie Smed / CC-BY-2.0
In 2019, the US Women’s National Soccer team won the World Cup and forever changed the world of sports and the world for women in sports. The team is made up of some of the most talented soccer players in the world, and this includes Striker Alex Morgan. Morgan dominated many of the games and was vital in the team’s success--she did it all on a plant-based diet!
You would think for one of the hardest training women in the game, her diet would be complicated. In reality it’s quite simple: oats, nut butter, berries, plant-based protein powder, rice and beans, and the occasional Beyond Meat burger. Morgan was a bit skeptical at first, but like many of us, she was faced with an ethical dilemma: how could she love her pet, but eat another animal? So, she tried veganism. She quickly realized veganism helped her thrive--she even has a World Cup title to prove it.
Sarah Stewart
Photo Credit: Sport the Library /CC-BY-SA-3.0
You may not be overly familiar with Sarah Stewart, but after today, you will know her name! Sarah Stewart is a Paralympic athlete from Australia. She is a three-time Paralympian and is the seven-time title winner in the Australian National League!
Sarah also happens to subscribe to a vegan diet. She quickly recognized the benefits of veganism in her competition, but also that veganism seems to fulfill the idea of caring for others and the world. For Stewart, it was about the personal health benefits, the environmental benefits and the socio-economic benefits. Much like her diet, she’s a true triple-threat!
Meagan Duhamel
Photo Credit: Luu / CC-Zero
In addition to being an unstoppable force on the ice, Meagan Duhamel is one of the select few that made the switch from omnivore to vegan overnight. After stumbling on the vegan diet, she decided to make the switch and quit drinking Diet Coke simultaneously. To her surprise, going vegan was a lot easier than quitting the soda.
She has found great comfort in her diet and it has enhanced her performance on, and off the ice--she has a silver medal to prove it, along with improved sleep habits and healthier skin!
Future Vegans
These women are using their talents in the world of sports to shed light on an important cause! It is truly a hopeful reminder that we can all play a role in creating a brighter, healthier, and greener tomorrow! Girls run the world, right? So, join this vegan movement and spread the hope!