Which Sport Has the Most Vegan Athletes?

The question of which sport discipline has the most vegan athletes has been on our minds lately, so we reached out to our friends at Great Vegan Athletes (GVA) to help us find the answer. For over 15 years the GVA team have been regularly reporting on the amazing feats of elite vegan athletes and thus have an extensive knowledge base.

Looking through the GVA website, it’s evident that top vegan athletes exist across nearly every sport, from football to running, skating, surfing, tennis and more.

While there isn’t a single sport with definitive statistical data, based on the GVA athlete lists, the top leading contenders where veganism is the most prevalent are:

👉 Endurance sports including running and cycling

👉 Strength sports including powerlifting and bodybuilding

👉 Martial arts and combat sports such as Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, boxing, MMA and more

Why Are More Athletes Adopting a Plant-Based Diet?

Firstly, let’s look at why more and more athletes are becoming vegan. There are many reasons why athletes from all walks of life are choosing to be fuelled by plants, ranging from ethics to improved fitness, quicker recovery time, and reduced inflammation. An increasing number of elite athletes are excelling in their sport, citing that a plant-based diet plays an important role in their successes.

“I had more energy, vitality and I felt super good. I started to feel much better and the workouts were superb.” ~ Elena Congost, track & field Paralympic Gold medallist

In our investigations across various sources and athlete profiles, three consistent drivers emerge:

✔️ Recovery and Inflammation

Endurance athletes often prioritise anti-inflammatory diets, which plant-based nutrition supports through antioxidants and phytonutrients.

✔️ Body Awareness and Optimisation

Sports that require long training blocks or weight management tend to attract athletes who are highly intentional about nutrition.

✔️ Ethical & Environmental Alignment

Disciplines connected to nature (e.g. trail running, surfing) often correlate with stronger environmental values – closely aligned with veganism. For instance, trail runners often develop a deep affinity for nature, which leads many to reconsider their impact on the world and others.

“Most people I train with see it [veganism] as inspiring, I think it goes with the feeling for nature associated with trail running.” ~ Alistair Gardner, trail and mountain runner

The Sports with the Most Vegan Athletes

Endurance Sports: The Standout

If one category stands out above the rest, it’s endurance sports.

From marathon running to ultra-distance events, cycling, and triathlon, plant-based athletes are particularly well represented in disciplines that demand sustained energy, efficient recovery, and resilience over long periods.

Many endurance athletes are drawn to a plant-based diet for its emphasis on whole foods rich in carbohydrates, antioxidants, and micronutrients – key factors in fuelling long efforts and supporting recovery between sessions. Reduced inflammation and quicker recovery times are commonly cited benefits, allowing athletes to train more consistently.

World record breaking ultrarunner, Harvey Lewis has said, “Recovery time and the ability for the body to rebalance” is a massive benefit. “I did a 24 hour race in September and did a 100 mile trail race just 13 days later. I won the 24 hour race and came second at the 100 mile race. That was only five weeks before the Big Dog Ultra. Just having that quick recovery! … It shows you how quickly the body can recover.”

There’s also a strong cultural overlap. Endurance sports, like trail running and ultrarunning, tend to attract individuals who value health, sustainability, and a connection to the natural world, making veganism a natural fit.

As a result, endurance sports are widely considered to have the highest concentration of vegan athletes, both at elite and recreational levels.

Top elite runners include:

• Harvey Lewis
• Scott Jurek
• Elena Congost
• Lisa Gawthorne
• Sandeep Kumar
• Charlotte McShane
• Budjargal Byambaa
• Morgan Mitchell
• Alistair Gardner
• Vlad Ixel

Strength Sports: Redefining What Strength Looks Like

Strength sports, including powerlifting, bodybuilding, and strongman/woman, have seen a significant rise in vegan athletes in recent years.

Once dominated by the belief that animal protein was essential for building muscle, these disciplines are now undergoing a shift. More athletes are demonstrating that it’s entirely possible to build strength and muscle on a plant-based diet – with careful planning and a focus on adequate protein intake.

This shift has been fuelled in part by improved sports nutrition knowledge, and the visibility of high-performing vegan athletes challenging outdated stereotypes.

“I built my physique and my performance while being vegan. Many think that the two are incompatible – not at all. You can very well be vegan and reach a high level.” ~ Angeline Berva, champion strength athlete

Strength athletes also tend to be highly analytical about their nutrition. Macronutrient tracking, supplementation, and performance optimisation are all standard practice; making the transition to a well-structured plant-based diet more accessible.

The growth rate in vegan participation within strength disciplines is becoming substantial.

Athletes excelling in strength sports include:

• Ryan Stills – powerlifter
• Angeline Berva – strongwoman
• Tom Butts – strongman
• Bradie Crandall – powerlifter
• Shelli Beecher-Seitzler – bodybuilder
• Sophia Ellis – powerlifter
• Nimai Delgado – bodybuilder

Martial Arts & Combat Sports: A Growing Movement

Martial arts and combat sports – including Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, boxing, taekwondo and MMA – represent one of the most interesting areas of growth for vegan athletes.

These disciplines require a unique combination of strength, endurance, agility, and mental focus. Athletes often compete in weight classes, making diet a critical component of performance. A plant-based approach can support lean body composition while still providing the necessary fuel for training and competition.

There is also a significant philosophical overlap. Many martial arts emphasise discipline, respect, and mindfulness – values that can align closely with the ethical motivations behind veganism.

This is particularly evident in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ), which has fostered a growing vegan subculture. This shift is rooted in the sport’s history; one of BJJ’s founders Carlos Gracie Sr (1902-1994) was a nutritionist who advocated for an alkaline, mostly vegetarian diet, creating a legacy of plant-based living that continues to influence practitioners today.

“Carlos was a nutritionist and created the Gracie diet which was largely vegetarian so most BJJ black belts are familiar with veganism and many black belts are vegan.” ~ David Meyer, BJJ black belt, multiple world titles.

This category stands out for its rapid adoption of veganism and strong cultural presence.

High performing martial artists include:

• Mac Danzig
• David Meyer
• Max Urschl
• Luca Anacoreta
• Unsal Arik

So, Which Sport Comes Out on Top?

While no single sport can claim definitive statistical dominance, the overall trend looks like:

1. Endurance sports

• • seems to be leading in terms of concentration and cultural alignment

2. Strength sports

• • experiencing rapid growth and breaking long-held myths

3. Martial arts and combat sports

• • emerging as a powerful and expanding space for vegan athletes

We’re also finding plenty of vegans in sports as diverse as soccer, basketball, climbing and cricket, so who knows which sport will be leading in future years.

Final Takeaway

Perhaps the more interesting takeaway isn’t which sport has the most vegan athletes, but how widespread plant-based performance has become.

From ultra-endurance events to the weightlifting platform and the fight mat, vegan athletes are not just participating, they’re excelling.

As awareness grows and more athletes share their experiences, it’s likely that every sport will continue to see an increase in plant-based competitors in the years ahead.