| David Tyree may have been the star of the Super | | | | International Natural Bodybuilding & Fitness Federation |
| Bowl, helping the New York Giants beat the | | | | and International Natural Bodybuilding Association |
| previously undefeated New England Patriots, but in | | | | bodybuilder Robert Cheeke is perhaps the world's |
| my eyes, Kansas City Chiefs tight-end Tony | | | | most recognized vegan bodybuilder and popular |
| Gonzalez is the biggest NFL champion. His team may | | | | strength trainer Mike Mahler says that "Becoming a |
| not have made the Super Bowl, but as The Wall | | | | vegan had a profound effect on my training. ... [M]y |
| Street Journal recently reported, Gonzalez proved | | | | bench press excelled past 315 pounds, and I noticed |
| that a football player can be powerful without eating | | | | that I recovered much faster. My body fat also went |
| heaping helpings of meat, eggs, and dairy products. | | | | down, and I put on 10 pounds of lean muscle in a |
| Gonzalez has acknowledged that the meat-heavy | | | | few months." |
| diet typically eaten by football players can lead to | | | | Other vegetarian athletes, including tennis superstar |
| serious health problems, including heart disease and | | | | Martina Navratilova and Dave Scott, a six-time winner |
| cancer, and is promoting plant-based foods. | | | | of the Ironman triathlon, have repeatedly beaten |
| A number of other professional athletes and Olympic | | | | their carnivorous competitors. Swimmer Murray Rose, |
| superstars have touted the benefits of vegetarian | | | | a vegetarian since birth, has six Olympic medals. |
| and vegan diets. Four-time Mr. Universe Bill Pearl, | | | | Debbie Lawrence is an Olympic racewalking champ, |
| powerlifting champion Bill Mannetti, 1951 Mr. America | | | | and discus thrower Al Oerter has won at least four |
| Roy Hilligenn, Stan Price, the world-record holder in | | | | Olympic gold medals. A healthy vegetarian diet helped |
| bench press, and football player and Heisman | | | | propel two-time Olympic gold medalist Edwin Moses |
| Trophy-winner Desmond Howard all reportedly did | | | | over the hurdles, and Olympian Carl Lewis has said |
| not eat meat. These powerhouses aren't alone-some | | | | that his best year of track competition was the first |
| of the strongest animals, such as apes, elephants, | | | | year that he ate a vegan diet. |
| and giraffes, are herbivores. | | | | |