Please Note: this list is presented in good faith — while the majority have been confirmed, there is no guarantee that any of these people still are, or ever were, vegetarian.

 

Sports Personalities and Athletes

 

Aaron Behnke, pro BMX rider

 

Aaron Pryor, welterweight world boxing champion (unconfirmed)

 

Adam Myerson, pro cyclist (vegan)

 

Al Beckles, bodybuilder

 

Al Oerter, discus throuwer and winner of 4 Olympic gold medals

 

Alexander Dargatz, bodybuilder (vegan)

 

Alan Jones, British ski jumper (when captain in USMC did 17,003 consecutive situps as a vegetarian, a world record at the time)

 

Alexis Desolneux, pro stunt bicyclist

 

Amby Burfoot, World Class marathon runner

 

Anastasia Ashley, surfer

 

Andreas Cahling, Mr. International Bodybuilder, Olympic gold medalist in ski jump

 

Andrew Reynolds, pro skateboarder

 

Anil Kumble, cricket player

 

Anton Innaver, Olympic ski champion (unconfirmed)

 

Anthony Peeler, Basketball player, Minnesota Timberwolves, NBA Grizzlies, Washington Wizards

 

Art Still, defensive end, Buffalo Bills, Kansas City Chiefs MVP, Kansas City Chiefs Hall of Fame

 

Arto Saari, professional skateboarder

 

Austin Aries, a.k.a. Dan Solwold, professional wrestler

 

Austin Carr, Cleveland Cavaliers

 

B.J. Armstrong, basketball

 

Ben Matthews, US Master’s marathon champion

 

Bess Motta, fitness proponent

 

Bill “Spaceman” Lee, pitcher, Boston Red Sox, Montreal Expos

 

Bill Goldberg, world champion pro wrestler

 

Bill Manetti, powerlifting champion

 

Bill Pearl, bodybuilder, Mr America, 4-time Mr. Universe

 

Bill Pickering, world record holding swimmer, swam the English channel (swam it faster than anyone in history, 1956)

 

Bill Walton, basketball player, Portland Trailblazers

 

Billie Jean King, Tennis champion

 

Bob Burnquist, professional skateboarder

 

Brad Staba, pro skateboarder

 

Brendan Brazier, Ironman triathlete (vegan)

 

Brian Anderson, pro skateboarder

 

Brian Conley, professional surfer (vegan)

 

Brian Sumner, pro skateboarder

 

Brian Tunney, pro BMX rider

 

Bruce Lee, martial artist, actor

 

Cara Beth Burnside, professional skateboarder

 

Carey Hart, one of the best-known motocross riders

 

Carl Lewis, Olympic gold medalist in track and field (vegan when training)

 

Carol Gould, marathon runner

 

Charlene Wong Williams, Olympic champion figure skater

 

Charlotte Hamlin, bicylcist, 8-time Senior Olympic winner

 

Chip Oliver, linebacker, Oakland Raiders, at one time said to be one of the finest young prospects in football

 

Chris Campbell, Olympic bronze medalist in wrestling (1981)

 

Chris Evert, tennis champion

 

Chris Lambert, pro skateboarder

 

Christine Vardaros, pro cyclist (vegan)

 

Clare Francis, sailor

 

Clay Johnson, NBA champion, The Lakers

 

Cornelius “Connie” Hawkins, NBA Hall of Fame, Harlem Globetrotters, Pittsburgh Rens (unconfirmed)

 

Dan Males, Australian Olympian

 

Dan Millman, world champion gymnast

 

Dane Beardsley, pro BMX rider

 

Danielle Sanderson, International Distance Runner, world-ranked 8th at 100km

 

Danny Garcia, professional skateboarder

 

Dave Scott, six-time winner of Ironman Triathalon (Note: was formerly vegan, is now 95% vegetarian but eats fish)

 

David Johnson, BAA coach

 

Debbie Lawrence, 5K racewalker world record holder

 

Debbie Spaeth-Herring, Georgia State powerlifting champion

 

Desmond Howard, Heisman Trophy winner, Washington Redskins, Jacksonville Jaguars, Detroit Lions

 

Di Edwards, runner, Olympic semi-finalist

 

Dick Gregory, runner (ran 3,000 miles across the USA on a fruitarian diet)

 

Donnie LaLonde, former Heavyweight champion of the world

 

Dough Hepburn, world champion weightlifter (1953)

 

Ed Templeton, professional skateboarder (vegan)

 

Edwin Moses, Olympic Gold Medalist, 400 metre hurdles woprld record holder, undefeated for more than 8 years

 

Elizabeth (Betsy) Beard, member of 1988 U.S. Olympic rowing team

 

Emmil Watson, Gladiators athlete (UK TV)

 

Essie Garrett, ultramarathon runner, instructor

 

Estelle Gray & Cheryl Marek, world record cross-country tandem cyclists

 

Ethan Zohn, professional soccer player, inventor, Survivor 3 contestant

 

Fiona Oakes, Olympic cyclist, marathon runner, runs an animal sanctuary

 

Forest Kirby, pro skateboarder

 

Frederik Kalbermatten, professional snowboarder

 

Gary Fanelli, marathon winner

 

Gary Player, golfer (one of only four players to win the grand slam of golf)

 

Gayle Olinekova, triathlete

 

Gene Stanlee (1917-2005), channel swimmer, bodybuilder, westler, NWA Southern Heavyweight Champion, sold out Madison Square Garden over 50 times

 

Geoff Rowley, professional skateboarder (vegan)

 

George Hackenschmidt (1878-1968), “The Russian Lion”, wrestling champion, Mr. America, “rarely ate meat”, vegetarian later in life

 

George Spitz, marathon runner

 

Gianluca Vialli, football player

 

Glenn Scolnick, football player, Pittsburgh Steelers, NY Giants

 

Goose Gossage, San Diego Padres (was suspended for saying McDonald’s cheeseburgers poisoned the world)

 

Greg Chappell, Former Australian cricketer

 

Greg Johnson, Australian runner (unconfirmed)

 

Harry Bonnie, wrestler (unconfirmed)

 

Howard Lederer, professional poker player

 

Ingra Manecki, world champion discus thrower

 

Irving Fisher (1867-1947), legendary American Economist, health campaigner, Yale University professor. Demonstrated that randomly-selected vegetarians could hold their arms at length 9 times longer than Yale football players

 

Ivan Lendl, tennis star

 

Jack LaLanne, fitness guru (Note: Jack is 99.9% vegan, eats fish occasionally)

 

Jack Maitland, triathlete and fell runner

 

Jack McClelland, channel swimmer

 

Jacques Vaughn, All American Point Guard, #1 ranked

 

James de Donato, world record swimmer

 

Jamie Lynn, professional snowboarder

 

Jamie Thomas, pro skateboarder (vegan)

 

Jane Wetzel, US National marathon champion

 

Jared Souney, BMX rider

 

Jason Sager, pro mountain biker (vegan)

 

Jen O’Brien, pro skateboarder, “Godmother of Women’s Skateboarding

 

Jim Kaat, baseball player pitcher, Chicago White Sox

 

Joanna Conway, ice skater

 

Joe Namath, football player

 

John McCarthy, relief pitcher (vegan)

 

John Salley, basketball player, 4-time NBA star, Miami Heat, Toronto Raptors

 

Johnny Weismuller, actor in classic Tarzan movies, broke 6 world swimming records as a vegetarian

 

Jonathan Boyer, cyclist

 

Jonathan Speelman, chess

 

Josef Brown, Australian Ballet artist, Sydney Dance Company

 

Joy Bush, powerlifiting champion

 

Judy Keden, European & World hang gliding champion

 

Julie Ann Niewiek, basketball commentator

 

Jutta Müller, multiple windsurfing World Cup champion

 

Kane Hodder, stuntman

 

Katherine Monbiot, world champion arm westler (vegan)

 

Kathy Johnson, Olympic silver medalist in gymnastics

 

Katie Coryell, pro surfer (vegan)

 

Katie Fitzgibbon, marathon runner (vegan)

 

Keith Holmes, boxer, world middleweight champion (vegan)

 

Ken Bradshaw, porfessional surfer, winner 1982 Duke Kahanamoju Surfing Classic

 

Kenneth Williams, pro bodybuilder (vegan)

 

Killer Kowalski, champion wrestler

 

Kristi Lees, yoga teacher, certified personal trainer, Holistic Fitness practitioner, writer (Bodybuilding and Yoga articles)

 

Kristen Reislinger, NPC Figure Athlete, nutritional consultant, freelance writer

 

Kristy McDermott, runner

 

Kristy Wade, runner

 

Laban Phiedias, professional skateboarder, American Misfits personality (vegan)

 

Lawrence Phillips, football player San Francisco 49ers, Miami Dolphins, St. Louis Rams

 

Leander Paes, Junior Wimbledon champion

 

Leroy Burrell, Olympic medalist in track

 

Les Brown, veteran runner

 

Leslie Marx, fencer, 1996 Women’s Epee National Champion

 

Lindford McFarquar, bodybuilder

 

Lionel Strongfort (1878-1970), strongman, one of the strongest men who ever lived

 

Lisa Dorfman, athlete, author

 

Louis Freitas, bodybuilder

 

Lucy Stephens, triathlete (vegan)

 

Mac Danzig, martial artist (vegan)

 

Maria Vlasak, elite duathlete (vegan)

 

Marjo Selin, bodybuilder, 1981 Finland National Champion, 1982 European champion, 8-time finalist Ms. Olympia

 

Marlys Staley, untramarathoner, Kentucky 50-miler record holder

 

Martina Navrátilová, tennis champion

 

Marv Levy, head coach of the Buffalo Bills (retired)

 

Matt Field, pro skateboarder

 

Meghan O’Leary, bodybuilder

 

Michael Bennett, world heavyweight amateur boxing champion (Note: eats some fish)

 

Mike Mahler, strength coach, bodybuilding magazine freelance journalist (vegan)

 

Mike Manzoori, professional skateboarder

professional skateboarder, American Misfits personality (vegan)

 

Mike Vallely, professional skateboarder

 

Molly Cameron, pro cyclist (two-time Oregon State champion) (vegan)

 

Monika montsho, wieghlifter, 1991 NW Woman Weightlifter of the Year

 

Moses Itkonen, pro skateboarder (vegan)

 

Muhammed Ali, champion boxer, “The Greatest”

 

Murray Rose, swimmer, winner of many Olympic gold medals and world records

 

Natascha Badman, Ironlady of Hawaii 1998

 

Nate Sherwood, professional skateboarder, writer for Transworld Skateboarding, American Misfits personality (vegan)

 

Nicky Cole, first woman to walk to the North Pole

 

Nicolas Müller, professional snowboarder

 

Paavo Nurmi, Finnish long distance runner with 20 world records

 

Pat Reeves, powerlifter, won British masters for 8 years (vegan)

 

Patrick Ewing, basketball player, coach, Orlando Magic

 

Peace Pilgrim (1908-1981), pacifist, peace activist, first woman to walk the Appalachian Trail. She vowed to walk until humanity found peace. For the next 28 years she walked 8 times around the USA as a vegan

 

Peter Brock, Australian automobile racing driver (vegan)

 

Peter Burwash, Davis Cup winner, tennis champion (vegan)

 

Peter Hussing, European super-heavyweight boxing champion

 

“Pistol” Pete Maravich (1947-1988), basketball star

 

Raja Bell, basketball player, Phoenix Suns (vegetarian since 1978, vegan except for cheese on pizza!)

 

Prince Fielder, Baseball player, Milwaukee Brewers

 

Ray May, Denver Broncos (unconfirmed)

 

Ricardo Torres Nava, climber

 

Richard Blackman, amateur bodybuilder (vegan)

 

Rick McCrank, pro skateboarder

 

Ricky Williams, NFL running back, Heismna Trophy winner (1998), Miami Dolphins

 

Ridgely Abele, world champion in karate, eight-time national championship winner

 

Roa Roa, Argentinian soccer player

 

Robbie Earle, footballer

 

Robert Cheeke, amateur bodybuilder (vegan)

 

Robert De Costella, Australian Olympic marathon champion

 

Robert Millar, Tour de France cyclist

 

Robert Parish, center, Warriors, Celtics, Hornets, Bulls

 

Robert Sweetgall, long-distance walker

 

Roger Brown, professional football player

 

Roger Hughes, Welsh National ski champion

 

Romy Karz, ballerina

 

Ron Murgatroid, cyclist, swept 15 out of 15 bicycle events in Great Britain (1963)

 

Rosalyn Sumners, Figure skater, 1983 world champion, 1984 Olympic Silver Medalist

 

Roy Hilligan, bodybuilder, lifelong vegetarian (now 77)

 

Rudy Tomjanovich, basketball player and coach (vegan)

 

Ruth Heidrich, doctor, Ph.D, 3-time Ironman finisher, age-group record holder (vegan)

 

Salim Stoudamire, NBA player, Atlanta Hawks (vegan)

 

Sally Eastall, marathon runner (vegan)

 

Sally Hibberd, British women’s Mountain Bike champion

 

Sammy Green, runner

 

Sandy Carson, pro BMX rider

 

Scott Bourne, professional skateboarder

 

Scott Jurek, ultramarathoner (vegan)

 

Seba Johnson, Olympian, actress, writer (vegan since birth)

 

Seibu Lions Baseball team, entire team (won the Pacific League championship two years in a row after switching to a vegetarian diet) (unconfirmed)

 

Serena Williams, tennis player (note: Reuters newspaper article said her reasons for being vegetarian are health-based. However, she cooked and ate shrimp on a TV show in 2002)

 

Sergei Trudnowski, pro skateboarder (vegan)

 

Sharon Hounsell, Miss Wales Bodybuilding champion

 

Shawn Smith, Junior Kayaking champion

 

Silken Laumann, Olympic rower

 

Simon Cope, cyclist

 

Sixto Linares, world record holder, 24-hour triathlon

 

Sorya Bonali, ice skater

 

Stan Price, world record holder in bench press

 

Stephen Berra, skateboarder

 

Steve Bellamy, founder of The Tennis Channel, and tennis coach

 

Steve Berra, proskater

 

Surya Bonaly, Olympic medalist in ice skating

 

Susan Powter, fitness guru, television personality

 

Sylvia Cranston, triathlete

 

Taj Mihelich. Professional BMX rider (vegan)

 

Ted Newsome, professional skateboarder, American Misfits personality (vegan)

 

Thomas Hellriegel, Ironman

 

TJ Schneider, professional snowboarder

 

Tom Osborn, coached Nebraska Corn Huskers football for over 25 years, 4 national championships

 

Tony LaRussa, Major League Baseball manager, St. Louis Cardinals, Oakland A’s

 

Tonya Kay, professional dancer (raw vegan)

 

Tyler Lepore, professional snowboarder

 

Tyrone Willingham, football coach, Notre Dame University

 

Vaslav Nijinsky (1890-1950), dancer and choreographer, “The god of Ballet”